steverhode

If you manually retract the mirrors after you park the car, using the button, what happens when you turn it back on and start to move? Do they automatically unretract? [Haven't got my GS 350 so I can't try this at home.]

2thfixr

Nope, not automatic

steverhode

So the car is happy to have you driving along with the side mirrors closed?! Wow.

I figured it would be smart enough not to allow that in the same way it knows to turn off your headlights if you leave the headlights on, turn off the engine and leave the car.

2thfixr

Yes, the car is not that smart. OTOH, what does this say about someone who drives with their side view mirrors folded because they forgot to flip them out.

jbbreeden

Mmmm. I wonder if you could get a mile or two greater top speed with the mirrors folded in?

2thfixr

I would think that it would hurt gas mileage. When the mirrors are folded in, the leading edge of the mirror becomes flat and there are more areas to increase drag. If you try it at speed, you will hear a lot more wind noise and that means more turbulence and drag. Mythbusters did a segment on pickup trucks testing the myth about better gas mileage when you drive with the tailgate down. Contrary to what you would think, tailgate up is the most efficient because there is a pocket of air swirling around in the bed causing the air to cleanly pass over the tailgate. Tailgate down, drag was increased. They took 2 F-150s out on a long distance drive with the same fuel load and same speeds. I believe the truck with the tailgate up did about 30 miles more on the tank.

jbbreeden

Dang! I forgot about the Kamm Effect. Lexus wouldn't miss something like that. I recall how proud they were of the dimples (like a golf ball) on the LS underpan to reduce drag (like a golf ball). I still find it amazing that the LS, as large as it is, can get a smaller drag coefficient than the GS: 0.26 for the LS vs 0.27 for the GS.

Argelius

My BMW 330 (which I just traded in for a GS450h) had folding mirrors that would:
[1] not automatically fold, but could be folded either by button on the door, or holding the door handle momentarily after locking the car
[2] automatically unfold at 5 mph...

Such a simple thing. Too bad Lexus dropped the ball on this one.

shel

Actually this is a very dangerous oversite on Lexus' part. I folded the mirrors when parking in a tight space and my wife later started the car and took off without noticing that the mirrors were folded and nearly panicked when she couldn't see them. I can see differentiating from the automatic folding features of the more expensive LS but the unfolding should be automatic upon moving for safety reasons.
Would be grateful for any fixes. If Lexus reads this they should provide a software update via a service bulletin.

jbbreeden

Good idea. Write or call the lexus owner's web site. It seems something as simple as a relay would do it.

Yang1815

iTrader: (1)

Is it possible that not even a relay is needed and like shel suggested, a software update would do it?