I'm going to swap the rearview mirror out for something smaller. My stock mirror is in fine shape and I'd like to keep things reversible from my tall guy hatchet work.
It looks like if you were to pull just the mirror body off, there's a pretty round semi standard ball there I could use. It's looking like I'd have to pry open the body though - no external fasteners or clips I can see. Or maybe it just pulls off hard, but seems unlikely.
Anyone have any experience trying that? This is the style I have - on an 03' XKR Convertible.

 

I just finished repairing mine also 2003 Convertible, with the mirror disconnected I was getting check light messages and the automatic light system didn't work. I know the mirror is big but it has other functions.

 

Oh nuts, I was aware of the secondary functions of the mirror, but I didn't think of warning lights. I'll have to try that out today to see what comes on.

The automatic lighting system - you mean the headlights right? I figured I'd lose the auto switching on/off and high/low for oncoming traffic - (if it has that - haven't actually driven mine at night yet lol). Also the rain sensing. But I can live without all that for the tradeoff in visibility (I'm tall). But a check engine light would be a bummer.

 

If you open the mirror up (it should just prise apart if it's the same as my 2001 which suffered from the dip function failing), there is a small PCB with the electronics on the back of the glass. I can't see any reason why you couldn't mount that PCB on your new smaller mirror.

I also have the problem of the mirror obscuring my view and have toyed with the idea of removing the mirror entirely and replacing it with an electronic mirror mounted on the dashboard as if it was 1965 again.

 

I'm afraid to break it with the prying plastic - hate to have to buy a new one if I sell it. I think I can just fabricate a mount block that will use the existing glued plate/rain sensor.

I did try it yesterday and didn't get any warning lights. Bear in mind my rain sensor is still plugged in while the mirror is off, so maybe that's what people run into. But definitely lose auto dimming etc.

I tried the 'dash level mount' yesterday actually, via a suction cup mounted mirror below my primary view out the front. Unfortunately, at a stop light you could see the upper half of an SUV behind you, but as soon as you pulled away, you don't see anything worthwhile but sky. No one behind you one the road or the road itself. So I think it needs the elevation unfortunately. I have a couple small mirrors to try that I can just fabricate a mount to the OEM glued rain sensor that the stock one was mounted to. My thought is to mount it slightly off center towards the driver so that it's in the line of site with the mount pad so it doesn't block any additional external view are than the black part of the window has - which you can't really change.

Also get rid of the sun visors if you're tall - big difference! I just need to make some plugs to keep the holes tidy.

 

The holes. Are the sun visors mounted in the convertible top?
I’ve been searching for a 2003-2006 xkr conv for a couple years, hence the stupid questions.

Also I’m 6’3, longer torso. Will I have issues fitting with the top up?

 

Buy a set of spudgers from Amazon then try gently prising the mirror apart. Better than using a small screwdriver.

I struggle to see how losing the auto dim/auto lights function would trigger any kind of warning lights or codes. All the auto lights does is ground the lighting stalk switch when it is in the AUTO position. When not in AUTO position it isn't connected.

I was thinking of getting an electronic rear view mirror with a camera mounted on the back of the car. That way you can put the mirror where ever you want it. The sun visors don't cause me any issues, the main thing for me driving a RHD car on the right side of the road, is the mirror blocks my view to the left, where the oncoming traffic is, so not ideal.

For Circumnavigator - the sun visors are on the windscreen surround, not the convertible roof.

 

At 6-foot-7 I have learned to do the buck-and-duck with my head and neck in order to see around the rear-view mirror, especially at intersections. Years ago I had a couple of close calls where I did not see the vehicle pulling into the intersection on my right because the mirror blocked my vision in that exact spot. Those instances taught me to be more careful....

 

Wow I can't imagine fitting at 6'7"! I'm 6'4" longer legs than torso, and when my hair is long (think Rick Astley) it brushes the roof of the convertible. No way I could wear a helmet for a track day.

I've done the following things that are not friendly if you share the car with another non-tall driver:
-Cut up the seat pan - drop the seat base by a little over an inch extra (sacrificed up/down motor/adjustment)
-Removed the visors - big difference! (just tried it - so haven't made covers for the holes yet)
-Put the key on a quick release so I don't have a keychain hanging. Knee still touches key, but not annoyingly so.
-Getting rid of the mirror. This is the worst part - there could be a bus at a the stop sign coming from passenger side and I wouldn't see it at all sitting up normally.
-Don't wear big shoes/boots (and I'm only size 12 - not crazy big).

If you were really aggressive with fabrication, you could probably drop the seat pan another 3/4" and also move the whole seat back another 1" by fabricating offset rails. I'm pretty happy with the setup currently though at my height so haven't gone that far.