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I don't know about elsewhere, but in the U.S. any distortion on the Driver Side mirror is illegal. The passenger (right) side is aspherical. Course, if one from the US were to buy a Passenger Glass or full mirror from the UK (left side), then dual aspherical he could have (assuming UK cars have aspherical on the left (passenger) side, which I don't know but assume so.
I would therefore assume a UK spec Passenger (left) mirror would suit your need well for your driver's side. As for the legality, that's up to you to deal with.
Auto parts stores and Amazon sell small, self-adhesive convex mirrors that you can affix to your driver's side mirror to help you see into the blind spot. They're inexpensive and are available in both round and rectangular shape, whichever you prefer.
Auto parts stores and Amazon sell small, self-adhesive convex mirrors that you can affix to your driver's side mirror to help you see into the blind spot. They're inexpensive and are available in both round and rectangular shape, whichever you prefer.
A much cheaper and easier alternative.
I've seen those, but they give the car a SUV looking....LOL
Just have to giggle and add. The best mirror system I've used was on cars in Japan! They mount both half way up the front quarter panels and you would be amazed how easy they are to use and get use to.
I hate my XKR mirrors as they are so bulky they create a blind spot in themselves!
Just have to giggle and add. The best mirror system I've used was on cars in Japan! They mount both half way up the front quarter panels and you would be amazed how easy they are to use and get use to.
I hate my XKR mirrors as they are so bulky they create a blind spot in themselves!
Here's a trick to eliminate the blind spot that I learned a few years ago.
Most drivers keep their outside mirrors looking back along the side of the car while in their normal driving position.
Try this. While in your usual driving position, lean your head so that it's touching the driver's window. Adjust your outside mirror so that you can just see the side of the car. Now lean your head toward the passenger side about the same distance and adjust that mirror the same.
Cars passing will of course be seen first in the inside mirror. Just as it's leaving that mirror it will be seen in the outside mirror and then in your peripheral vision.
It took me a week or so to become accustomed to and trust the new mirrors' position but it sure works for me. No blind spot.
Here's a trick to eliminate the blind spot that I learned a few years ago.
Most drivers keep their outside mirrors looking back along the side of the car while in their normal driving position.
Try this. While in your usual driving position, lean your head so that it's touching the driver's window. Adjust your outside mirror so that you can just see the side of the car. Now lean your head toward the passenger side about the same distance and adjust that mirror the same.
Cars passing will of course be seen first in the inside mirror. Just as it's leaving that mirror it will be seen in the outside mirror and then in your peripheral vision.
It took me a week or so to become accustomed to and trust the new mirrors' position but it sure works for me. No blind spot.
Hope this helps.
Best to all,
This is how I've always set my mirrors. As a vehicle leaves the rear view mirror I have my side mirror set to catch it up to the point where it hits my peripheral vision, or at least visible with a slight turn of my head. I fine tune it on the road while driving.
Good post TFlan, this is also how I set the mirrors in my cars. This thread reminded me of a valet job I had many years ago. I often wondered how the car owners ever saw anything through their mirrors based on the settings.
Guess I'll have to try that, maybe program it into one of the 'memory' positions.
I currently keep mine such that I can easily see down the side of the car, as I want to make sure I don't scrape my 'hips' on my other car as I back out of my garage, and around my other car in the driveway.
I'm thinking of looking into getting the new blindspot detection mirrors for my 2013 XKR. Has anybody looked into this possibility? If so, what are the results?
I run with my mirrors as TFlan says, and have on all my cars for years.
Very easy to get use to, and you don't even think about it after that.
MBK 2015 - As for the Japan fender mirrors... Thanks for the article... Guess it shows my age as I was there for two years ('80-'82) and all cars ran them back then. Funny that I just saw a car with them mounted a month or so ago and thought "You've been to Japan!"... Sigh... Still.... they did work extremely well.
A case of international economics i guess...
Last edited by CleverName; Jul 29, 2016 at 09:03 AM.
Fender-mounted mirrors are not a new idea and they weren't invented by the Japanese. I'm old school and remember them from the '50's when Mercedes-Benz put the streamlined Talbot mirror on the Gullwing coupe. I liked the look so much that I put one on my 1960 Corvette in place of the OEM mirror; the base was slightly larger and the mounting bolts were in the same exact place on the door, so it didn't mess up the bodywork. I kept the OEM mirror and put it back on a few years later after I decided to keep it original. I wasn't alone, as the Talbot mirror was a very popular mod for many years. It's a timeless design that's still being made today.
this is what I did on my Mercedes SL. also had small side mirrors. went to the junk yard and got a right side convex mirror from a pickup ( large mirrors). removed the mirror ( carefully), made a pattern of the side mirror, glued the pattern ( water soluble glue) on to the big mirror, used a glass grinder from years ago when I did some stain glass window treatments and then silicone it onto the existing side mirror. if you take the mirror to a glass shop then might do the trimming for a small fee ( maybe).
going to do one for the XK when I get around to it.
this is what I did on my Mercedes SL. also had small side mirrors. went to the junk yard and got a right side convex mirror from a pickup ( large mirrors). removed the mirror ( carefully), made a pattern of the side mirror, glued the pattern ( water soluble glue) on to the big mirror, used a glass grinder from years ago when I did some stain glass window treatments and then silicone it onto the existing side mirror. if you take the mirror to a glass shop then might do the trimming for a small fee ( maybe).
going to do one for the XK when I get around to it.
Great idea, could you take it one step further and just replace the driver side mirror so it's now heated ?
