[CoopersF15]

I'm regretting not finding a car with Driver assistance plus...

These side mirrors are bloody hopeless and don't give a wide enough field of vision. Yes, I look over my shoulder loads before changing lanes - but in LA, there is always some idiot who dives right into your blind spot from 3 lanes over even though you indicate and you were already in the lane before they were....

Or some fuckwit cuts you up when you look over your shoulder...

Rant over....

The aspherical mirrors are way too expensive ...but they seem to be "euro spec"? So....if I was going to the U.K. soon I could order some U.K. Units from ebay and just swap the glass out - yes or no? Or do I need to order from a LHD country?

The U.K. Left and right mirrors appear to be symmetrical in terms of the mirror optics but I can't be sure.

Any help would be appreciated - such as LHD specific aspherical mirror part numbers etc

Cheers

[ahero4eternity]

How are your mirrors adjusted? I never have to look over my shoulders. Even when I drive in LA.

[ahero4eternity]

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots

[CoopersF15]

I've got the proper adjustments for my sight lines, didn't have this problem in any of my other cars - its just not a wide enough field of view.

I really don't want to get those little stick on mirrors - they are just so naff looking and I don't tow a caravan.

[ahero4eternity]

There are convex mirrors available. $100/pair IIRC.

[ahero4eternity]

https://bimmian.com/Accessories-for-...Glass-Upgrade/

[Arthurrs]

I managed to find a set of OEM eurospec convex mirrors for my car on ebay for around $250! Just do a search on the appropriate BMW part numbers (I got mine from the realOEM website), and you'll eventually find a set! Be sure to get the right features with your mirror to match your car: for my set, I was looking for auto dimming, heated, and passenger side dip when your gear is in reverse.

My view is better around the car with the convex mirrors, but I need to take extra care that I don't cut someone off since the cars in the convex mirrors seem farther away than they really are, and I was previously used to only having a convex mirror on the passenger side. One thing I continue to struggle with is the autodim feature of the side view mirrors, the lights of other cars are dimmed compared to the non-dimming mirrors of previous cars I owned, so it's easy to assume there isn't a car beside me at night because I didn't see the "bright" lights passing me. Just exercise lots of caution at night.

[CoopersF15]

Appreciate the input ArthurS

That's an interesting observation re not being able to see the lights of cars properly with the dimming feature. Im not certain I've been affected by that in the past.

I'll pull up the part nos for what I presume are USA spec convex mirrors...a member had a set for sale but I was too late, and I'll continue to hunt eBay

I'm seeing mirrors (hell, the whole flipping assembly) on UK eBay for about £50 and there is plenty of supply or I can be patient and wait for them to pop up here or in US eBay ...I'm just not so patient when it comes to problem solving - quite solutions and results orientated for these kind of things!

[CoopersF15]

Originally Posted by ahero4eternity

https://bimmian.com/Accessories-for-...Glass-Upgrade/

Thanks for the link - I don't believe these are dimming, just heated?? There's a crazy amount of people that run around with their brights on, dazzling everyone with their utter obliviousness.

But I'd buy these in the meantime until I can get what I'm looking for!

[hinckley]

fwiw, you can get 3rd party aftermarket blind spot warning systems. I've seen very clean installs with small warning lights installed on inside A-pillars. Good high-end stereo/detector install shops can do the work.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by CoopersF15

I really don't want to get those little stick on mirrors - they are just so naff looking

But they work, and two years in I still haven't gotten a ticket from the fashion police.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by CoopersF15

I've got the proper adjustments for my sight lines, didn't have this problem in any of my other cars - its just not a wide enough field of view.

I really don't want to get those little stick on mirrors - they are just so naff looking and I don't tow a caravan.

My suspicion is that you don't have the mirrors adjusted properly, even tho you think you do. I have no problem with blind spots in my car (or any other car) with the stock mirrors. If you have them positioned correctly, a car coming up behind you to your left or right will immediately enter your side view mirror as it exits your rear view mirror. This requires your side view mirrors to be tilted outward considerably more then how most people position them.

[Danddd]

I've always adjusted my mirrors for a blind spot and they covered from the side all the way back with the rear view mirror. On the F31 I do note that there is still a blind spot that can't be covered. At least that's my finding. So I adjusted them so I still have to glance at the side quickly. Never had to do that before. I always loved using the mirrors for safe and spirited driving.

[ahero4eternity]

Originally Posted by CoopersF15

Thanks for the link - I don't believe these are dimming, just heated?? There's a crazy amount of people that run around with their brights on, dazzling everyone with their utter obliviousness.

But I'd buy these in the meantime until I can get what I'm looking for!

I've never used these exact mirrors, but I've had blue tinted mirrors on a previous car and the blue tint helps with high beams.

Originally Posted by jparnes1

My suspicion is that you don't have the mirrors adjusted properly, even tho you think you do. I have no problem with blind spots in my car (or any other car) with the stock mirrors. If you have them positioned correctly, a car coming up behind you to your left or right will immediately enter your side view mirror as it exits your rear view mirror. This requires your side view mirrors to be tilted outward considerably more then how most people position them.

I concur with this. Since learning how to appropriately adjust my mirrors, I've never had a blind spot in any of my cars. It took a week or so to get used to not seeing a portion of my car in the sideview mirrors, but my blindspots are non-existent.

[thetruemc]

I do find that the mirrors are a bit too small as well.

[mfstrby]

[CoopersF15]

Appreciate the helpful hits and tips - I hope they help someone but trust me when I say they are adjusted properly. I haven't seen the sides of my car while driving in 18 years. I didn't have this problem in my European E91...

The field of view is just too acute with the small mirror, it needs to be more obtuse for my tastes, only then I have true coverage I'm looking for.

I'm going to spend the weekend hunting for OEM and if no dice, get the Bimmian ones

[SteveinArizona]

I agree with your concern. I have a fully loaded 330e and the safety feature I most like is the blind spot warning. It amazes me that (a) BMW doesn't make it standard and (b) that the government doesn't mandate it.

My car is in the shop and I have a pretty basic 320i as a loaner and the two things I miss most are the blind spot warning and the HUD (if I get a speeding ticket I am blaming BMW as I have now fully trained my eyes to look at the windshield for my speed, not my instrument display).

[sygazelle]

Originally Posted by ahero4eternity

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots

^^^This


I drove with the side mirror set to just barely see the sides of my car for many years. I switched to the method shared in this link about 4 years ago when I was having trouble seeing out of my F30. Problem solved. It takes a little getting used to, but once I adapted its been great.

I still wish I'd gotten the accident avoidance option but this mirror adjustment made a huge difference for me.

[razzy530]

if you can see the side of your car from the drivers seat position, your mirrors are not adjusted properly. Bring the mirror way outward till you have to lean to see the side of your car.

[CoopersF15]

Originally Posted by razzy530

if you can see the side of your car from the drivers seat position, your mirrors are not adjusted properly. Bring the mirror way outward till you have to lean to see the side of your car.

Please read my various message - I DONT have them positioned to be able to see the side of my car...

[M2Cmtl]

Discovered the proper way of setting my mirrors just this year. Can't believe I never learned about this before. Makes total sense.