Auto fold mirrors: hear motors but don't move, totally "loose"...

[reyxlp]

Have read the other threads I could find re: auto folding mirror issues but one with my same symptoms.

My auto fold mirrors will not move by the auto close/open function. I can hear their little motors running but they don't move.

Also, they are completely "loose." They used to kind of "click into" and stay in the open or closed position if you pushed them manually but now they are completely loose and even gently brushing them as you walk past can move them out of alignment.

To be clear, I'm not talking about the glasses themselves, those work great (for now lol).. It's the housings.

And the switch seems to work fine because if I put it into or out of the "fold" setting I can hear both mirror motors run for a while.

If I had to guess, seems like whatever the motor turns to move the mirrors is broken or disengaged, etc?

Before I try and figure out how to remove them and open them up for a look, wanted to ask here first in case someone has already been down this road and can advise if they are repairable or not.

This is US market 2003 S8. And pass side mirror had this problem when I bought the car couple of years ago, driver side worked fine back then until a few weeks ago suddenly and seemingly unprovoked.
Thanks very much!

[steamship]

Can't provide a solution, but that's been on my 'to do' list for a while now. Mine are similarly loose, but not to your degree. When I'm driving, I can occasionally see the driver side one move slightly, as if the 'notch' they click into is worn. The worst thing about it is that you have to remove the door card in order to remove the mirror housing from the door.

[HPsauce]

And to remove the door card you WILL sacrifice some of the clips (been there done that) though I recall reading that there's an alternative design to buy as a replacement that is reusable.
Long time since I took off a door mirror, but my recollection is that getting inside and fixing them is virtually impossible. As a result I just never fold mine now to avoid such problems as far as possible.

[sarg]

not sure if they do them, but my Dad bought some clips for his 1999 BMW from here recently

https://vehicleclips.co.uk/pages/about-us

[steamship]

Originally Posted by sarg

not sure if they do them, but my Dad bought some clips for his 1999 BMW from here recently

https://vehicleclips.co.uk/pages/about-us

They have a decent selection of the common Audi ones, but not the ones for the door cards. The part number is 4D0867299D, and readily available online. There are 16 per door.