Passenger-side mirror? HELP!

Original Speedster mirrors were dealer installed, so they were place everywhere.

I have mirrors on the fender close to the windshield. Looks great. Driver's side works fine. Passenger side is totally obscured by the window frame.

Drivers side door is probably the best functionally (almost all modern cars are on the door where the wing windows used to be).

IMHO the passenger one isn't worth the effort. Too small & too far away.

> On Aug 17, 2015, at 3:36 PM, SpeedsterOwners.com <alerts@hoop.la> wrote:
>

Tom, I appreciate your reply. As a boat-tower for 30 years, I've become accustomed to using my side mirrors as much or more than the inside mirror so when Wolfie suggested the passenger mirror I thought it was a good idea, still do but need to figure out how to make it work. May wait and add it myself after getting the car home.

Strange response for a builder.  The ones with convex glass are more costly - but far better rear visibility (unless you want to tack on a plastic eye ball cheapie).

 

http://www.sierramadrecollecti...-356B-T5-p18328.html

 

 

 

Mirror Mirror on the car, can you show me who is hiding in my blind spot

I have two mirrors one on each door!! To install just remove the door panel drill and install. Builder can do that in minutes.

The door is really the place to have the mirrors, and if you use this technique you can eliminate the blind spot. It does take some getting use to as some really want to see the side of the car but for me I want to not hit some guy who is riding my blind spot. 

IF you get use to this you will be able to look to your sides and the mirror will show you a blind spot driver all the time. Amazing. Works with regular mirrors very well, I do not have convex on the passenger side. 

 

Have fun watching the video.  

Ray 

 

P.S. you lose the ability to see the edge to park so don't hit the curb. 

 

http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Rear‐View-Mirrors-to-Eliminate-Blind-Spots

It's not that strange. If the passenger door position that matches the current driver side mirror position can't be seen by the driver, there's no point spending the money to put the mirror on in that spot. Except for symmetry perhaps.

Wolfie, I appreciate your taste in mirrors but $137 seems steep! I found these a few hours ago: http://vintagespeedsterparts.c...dsteraeromirror.aspx

they're $33.50,but not convex...

 

Ray, your link didn't work but helped me find this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EqglmE0r3o#t=132 youtube video about setting rear-view mirrors, good stuff, weird concept but makes total sense when you think about it.

My driver's side mirror is on the door and I put a convex mirror on the passenger side door. I wouldn't travel without it. I found a convex right side mirror for about $70...can't remember where.

Justin, I disagree, it seems incredibly strange that a mirror, in the exact position on the passenger door, as the mirror on the drivers door, would not be visible to the driver.

 

I'm going with Ray's recommend and installing the same mirror that Kirk put on my door, on Kathy's door when we get home with the car.

 

On the way home, I'll make sure I crane my ancient neck and do a visual check before changing lanes.

 

I called Eddie Jannis who lives nearby and he uses a convex interior (center) mirror which as he put it, works great with the top down, not so great with it up...

http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Rear‐View-Mirrors-to-Eliminate-Blind-Spots

 

 

Try it now 

@ Will

 

Make sure you're comparing apples to apples when people make suggestions on the mirror.  So far two people have said they have the mirror on the door but both of those guys have IM's and you have a VS. (No offense guys, IM's are great cars)  I'm still fairly new, one year of ownership, but I have learned a few things, some by mistake, some by research.

 

Make sure the inside of the door on the passenger side is identical to the driver's door before you drill any holes obviously.  Both of my mirrors are mounted on the fender and line up with the side of the window frame.  I like the look of both mirrors but I generally just glance over my right shoulder any time I change lanes or move right.

I personally feel that two mirrors are a necessity and any top up driving is absolutely dangerous without a passenger mirror imho. Also, I would insist on having the builder install the door mirror. It is what he does and it is his skill that you are buying when you buy his car so pay him to add it to your door it will be well done with no mistakes since it is not his first rodeo and it might save you a lot of agony. Ray

Ray, I found the video I posted by following your link but there is an illustrated article you have to select (I know, how hard is that?!) and then scroll to the bottom of the article to find the video.

 

I didn't know young kids were so smart, that's a great concept, I will definitely use it! Thanks!

 

BTW, Max Zimmer mentions a bunch of you guys in his book: Actual Mileage which I (sadly) finished this morning. Wish he'd write another like it!

 

I now feel like I'm hob-nobbing with famous folk...how special!

Ray, I really think I'll do the install as Kirk has vehemently stated that the driver cannot see out of the passenger mirror when installed on the door. I don't want to put him in the position of doing something he thinks is wrong.

Will

Well Will,  I looked at the VS site and it does look like the mirror is placed quite far upfront.  Other guys would have to chime in here since my IM has it on both doors, I am including a pict so you can see to locations, from looking at some pictures a VS might not have the mirrors at the same locations and maybe that is the issue with your VS. 

But I would think it is quite doable on both doors. 

 

Anyway, if your talking to your builder I'd slide it in there what have you got to lose.  Ray

My final comment, if it is possible, with the size of mirrors we have it does feel conforting to use convex mirrors etc but if you do adjust and lock them into place as per the video link I provided and you take the time to change your mind and adopt this way of viewing the world backwards you will never go back and it will save you your car and possibly your life.  Top up, Top down you will simply no longer be blind sighted... lol Ray 

Old subject so do a search to learn more about this.

 

I don't know if they still do, but Vintage used to install two left side mirrors (yes, they are different.) The problem was that the right side would not adjust so it was not useful at all.  Gordon suggested  acure but I couldn't get it to work for me---maybe I didn't understand the directions because others said it worked well.

 

You can buy a real right side mirror from Sierra Madre and that's what I did.

 

Mine are on the fenders and are wonderful for safe driving.  As with a motorcycle do a "head check" in addition to using the mirrors.  Do some experiments when you are on the highway to see exactly when a car coming up on your left or right side comes into view so you know wether ot not you have a blind spot---I don't but I still do a head check anyway just to make certain.

 

For me, both a left as well as a right side mirror mounted on the fender is the way to go.

 

These are teeny weenie cars and we just can't be too careful!!

BTW Nice car Ray.  The over-riders on the bumpers look real nice.

I have two Raydyot mirrors on my IM, both on the doors, and I can see out of both when driving.

 

 

 

Will, whatever you decide to do there's a gigantic difference in quality with that mirror from Sierra Madre.  It's worth every penny.  It's a bling item that everybody sees and the finish will last for years and years.  The only problem is if you have one standard VS mirror and one from Sierra Madre, the difference is very noticeable.  To keep them looking similar maybe just find a mirror for the right side with the convex glass instead of the entire base.  Use the VS base. Hope that made sense:-)

Will,

 

Make sure you put down some masking tape over the area that you drill for the mirror. Go with a very small bit first, then graduate your bits to the correct size so you don't chip your paint.

 

You know there are some really good and informative things about your car in the resources section but you have to be a Supporting Member to see them. This site is worth every penny IMO.

Thanks for the comments on my car as you can see I tried to keep an original look including the mirrors but Bob I do like those mirrors they are much bigger and look real cool on your new british racing green MONSTER. Ray 

 

P.S. I love the overider bars, by the way I have the overiders in the back with the exhaust going through the bumperettes same as my old IM. 

Drivers mirror is already installed so I will match the passengers with whatever Kirk's using, probably one like in my link above which isn't right and left but I don't know so I'll wait until we pick up the car and install it when we get home.

I've rigged 8 bass boats so drilling 2 holes will be easy. Rusty, the trick is to chamfer the holes before running screws in, or before using through-bolts, this keeps the gel coat from spider-cracking.

www.centralcoastbassfishing.com

Will

Get Kirk to send you a picture of the drivers side mirror. Then you could see if it will line up on the opposite side with full view.

Sounds like he is just not interested in pulling the door panels off to accommodate your request.

These two shots show the mirror

Car looks great, how exciting!

I don't see why you wouldn't be able to see it. Unless you're really short and have the seat under the steering wheel. 

I have a mirror mounted on the door on the passenger side and I can see fine as long as the top is down. The side curtains block most of my view.

I have the Durant mirrors instead of the Aeros but the placement looks to be about the same.

Take a look at my photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Will, Kirk told me exactly the same thing - driver's side only, mirror gets mounted on door; both side mirrors, mirrors get mounted on fenders. I wanted mirrors on both sides, so they were mounted on the fenders.

 

What I found is that these mirrors, with the standard flat glass, are small and designed for being used close to the driver (on the driver's door). If you mount one way out on the driver's fender, it's too far away for you to see a wide enough angle of view through it. What I ended up doing is ordering the convex glass that Marty mentions from Sierra Madre for the driver's side. Besides being of a higher quality finish, the wider angle of view lets it function much better as a useful mirror. With yours mounted on the door, you may not need to do that.

 

The one on the passenger side is a joke. Yes, I can see it even with the side curtains in, but it's so far away, it's like looking through a telescope (this is why the passenger mirror on normal cars is always a convex mirror). I put one of those cheapie NAPA wide-angle mirrors on it which turns it into a fisheye reflector. It's still almost worthless, but at least lets me see cars that are very close and in the blind spot.

 

If your mirror is already mounted on the door, I would leave it there and drive it that way. You can always switch in the wide-angle convex glass later. And if you drive top down most of the time like I do, you may not need a mirror on the passenger side.

 

You can always add one later, choose the glass you want, and place it exactly where it works for you.

 

 

Just for info, I have both mirrors mounted on the doors and I have a Chesil (UK car)

My recommendation is to leave it.  You will like it on the driver's door.  Drive it and see.  I only drive with the top up when forced by the weather.  With the top down, rear view mirrors are kind of worthless.

Kirk called today and is installing the mirror on the passenger door. He's sanding the base to change the angle it sits at for more visibility.

 

 

I have the mirrors on my fenders so this may not apply, but I find them quite useful, top up or down, particularly since I converted them to convex.  I just have to remember that everything shown is closer than it looks.

I bet he heard of this post...