Josh, you are correct..they fold in and quickly fold back out ..bad design, what can I say...I just want to know what can make the mirrors fold back out since the clips are in place and properly installed.
Oh, almost forgot...last time I tried to play with the switch before putting everything back together, I got a few audible beeps coming from the mirror which was really weird...like a beep beep beeeeeeeep sequence then it stopped .I'm like what in the world is that?:yikes:

They made noise? Maybe the problem is they are possessed.

Do you have INPA? I know I get a mirror fault code. Something about a position parameter not being met. I think mine is because my mirror is not folding properly. Maybe you might have the same thing and the switch itself is bad since the alignment is correct.

Attempt #2 and success! I fixed my folding mirrors problem. Mine would fold in and fold right back out. I could not for the life of me open up the drivers side mirror so I moved to the passenger side. After about 5 minutes of fiddling around I was able to open it up. Took off the cover for the micros with and the little silver metal clip that activates said micros with was loose and rattling around in the mirror housing. I used pliers to squeeze it tighter and reassembled onto the switch. Vodka! Haha voila*, and the mirrors work like they should.
Bit of advice for anyone trying. Start at the bottom of the mirror closest to the vehicle. Insert a small flat screwdriver and sort of twist it gently til it gives a little. There is another clip ok the outside edge middle, repeat. And three more clips along the top. Patience is key. I used a thin piece of paper like cardboard between the painted mirror cap and my screw driver to avoid damage. Good luck!

Edit: took a closer look at my mirrors, passenger side folds in about and inch more than drivers side. I'm not too worried though, more of a hassle to open the casing than the reward is worth

Thanks for the tips - I have the same problem and will try this fix soon. I wonder, did you manage to find any images of this fix? All the links in this thread seem to have been removed.

Folding mirror problem (with pic)
 

I had this same issue, in my case it was the internal spring, an easy fix. I think the toughest part is removing the mirror cover. I learned from a BMW tech to use a couple credit cards (or BMW gift cards! lol) to push the clips away from their latch points. once i learned that, it was easy! oh and put a protective cloth/towel around the mirror to avoid any scratching!!
I found my limit switches were ok, but the mirror wouldnt sit properly because someone had bumped it. later i determined the notch and tab in the pic were out of position, once i realigned them (simple screwdriver to move it over) it all worked flawlessly again! hope this helps!

:cool:

I just rebuilt mine - new gears and housing. Now when I operate it it seems to be working in the opposite way that it should - eg. drivers side opens passenger side closes and vice versa. Did I just reconnect the motor wires the wrong way around or will I need to reposition the housings too?

That probably explains the issue with mine, I'll check that today. Thanks for sharing.

BMW X5 4.8iS 2005

Where did you get New Years and housing?

Great thread otherwise. Thanks all.

Your driver side mirror is out of phase at the internal gear. You have to clock it to its ‘mirror folded out’ position before you slide the internal gear onto the motor/worm gear. Use a flat head screw driver and push against the teeth, spinning the mechanism in its housing. This is all based on the assumption that you wired the new motor correctly.

I have one of two mirrors that fold, but I suspect that the problem is in the switch in the driver side door than the actual mirror motor. What I found today:

Passenger side mirror:
*cover has been removed before.
*the entire motor assembly was clocked 90 degrees counter-clock on the mirror assembly (that attaches to the A-pillar).
*inside the motor assembly all gears moved freely (this is good)
*the actual gear on the motor shaft works
*the entire assembly was absolutely misaligned by whoever installed it
-the base of the motor was off 90 degrees
-the inner ring gear was out of its four respective grooves
-the entire inner assembly with the inner ring gear was out of phase 90 degrees to the outer motor assembly casing
-the actual folding part of the mirror was then out of phase by 33 degrees to the motor housing

The entire assembly is finally aligned. However...

*both the driver side and passenger side mirrors needed to be repaired at that tiny little sensor with the metal tongue that senses when the mirrors are open/closed
*passenger side metal tongue was just rattling about off the sensor

Those metal tongues are fixed, but here is why I suspect a faulty switch and unfortunately I don’t have access to my multi-meter:

At the drivers switch:
*driver side mirror is fully functional as in I can adjust glass angles vertically and horizontally
*passenger side mirror only adjusts vertically. Horizontal adjustment happens only one tiny bit at a time irrespective of holding down the adjustment button
*the glass by hand can be normally moved around by hand
*reverse tilt works and returns

Memory recall function:
*recall function causes the passenger mirror to fold in and not fold out
*recall function does nothing to the driver side mirror

Folding mirror button:
*driver side does nothing
*passenger side folds in but not out

If there is a mirror reset procedure, let me know else I am open to suggestions!