Interior/Exterior Split or Aspherical mirror
5th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,010
Likes: 0
From: Chesapeake, Virginia
Originally Posted by ///ACS330Ci
OK, now that I have the Euro spec mirrors how do I get the original glass off? 
My passat mirrors you just pulled/pryed them off by hand gently pulling them they will pop out..
How did you order them ? Still think this is something that I want to do too someday !
5th Gear
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: AZ
Originally Posted by Passat774
Since, you have cool wheels
My passat mirrors you just pulled/pryed them off by hand gently pulling them they will pop out..
How did you order them ? Still think this is something that I want to do too someday !
My passat mirrors you just pulled/pryed them off by hand gently pulling them they will pop out..
How did you order them ? Still think this is something that I want to do too someday !
I still have friends in Germany
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,233
Likes: 127
From: San Francisco
I purchased a left side OEM split/aspherical mirror from MikeyTheMINI at www.newministuff.com a few weeks ago. He hasn't added it to the website yet. I was ordering another item and arranged through e-mail to add the mirror to my order. It cost 23 pounds UK (about $41 US) plus shipping.
I like the mirror a lot. The inner 3/4 of the mirror has a mild convex curvature and the outer 1/4 has a stronger convex curve. The field of view is very wide and you can easily see everything with no blind spots. Because it is convex, you do have to pay attention to distance perception.
I can compare it with the Multivex mirror. The Multivex is flat for about the inner third of the mirror, then gradually becomes convex, and the curvature continuously increases going towards the outside edge. This design has certain advantages because it gives a wide view but distorts the image less, where less curvature is needed. The downside is that the "objects are closer than they appear" effect is not constant, but has a differing amount depending on the location of image on the mirror, and you have to adjust to using it. I started with Multivex mirrors on both left and right sides. I love the right side Multivex and it has been a great benefit for the rear and side visibility of the convertible.
I found it tricky to adjust to the left side Multivex for distance perception because of the changing curvature across the width of the mirror. An example is merging into a faster moving traffic lane on the left. As a car comes up on the left and passes, the image moves towards the outer part of the mirror where the curvature and depth perception is constantly changing. I can't explain why, but I don't feel the same awkwardness with the right side Multivex. I kept the right side Multivex and decided to return the left side at the end of their 60 day return policy.
Truth be told, a regular left side mirror works fine for me and I don't have problems with blind spots by properly adjusting the mirror. However, I welcome finding a "better" mirror that makes it easier to survey the scene around me, increase safety, and reduce driving anxiety.
Being happy with the right side Multivex, I wanted to try the OEM split/aspherical mirror for the left side. Its field of view is not as wide as the Multivex, but still very wide and eliminates the blind spot. I had hoped that the inner part of the mirror would be flat for optimum depth perception. It turned out to be convex, but failrly mild so the distortion isn't bad. It has a fixed, constant curvature that makes it easier to judge distance than with the Multivex.
So I have ended up with a combination of Multivex on the right and OEM split/aspherical on the left. This combination works very well for me and adds a good margin of safety. The "motoring experience" is also enhanced whenever you improve your visibility.
I highly recommend that convertible owners in particular should get either of these wide angle mirrors for the right side. For me, it was not a small change but a real enhancement.
I like the mirror a lot. The inner 3/4 of the mirror has a mild convex curvature and the outer 1/4 has a stronger convex curve. The field of view is very wide and you can easily see everything with no blind spots. Because it is convex, you do have to pay attention to distance perception.
I can compare it with the Multivex mirror. The Multivex is flat for about the inner third of the mirror, then gradually becomes convex, and the curvature continuously increases going towards the outside edge. This design has certain advantages because it gives a wide view but distorts the image less, where less curvature is needed. The downside is that the "objects are closer than they appear" effect is not constant, but has a differing amount depending on the location of image on the mirror, and you have to adjust to using it. I started with Multivex mirrors on both left and right sides. I love the right side Multivex and it has been a great benefit for the rear and side visibility of the convertible.
I found it tricky to adjust to the left side Multivex for distance perception because of the changing curvature across the width of the mirror. An example is merging into a faster moving traffic lane on the left. As a car comes up on the left and passes, the image moves towards the outer part of the mirror where the curvature and depth perception is constantly changing. I can't explain why, but I don't feel the same awkwardness with the right side Multivex. I kept the right side Multivex and decided to return the left side at the end of their 60 day return policy.
Truth be told, a regular left side mirror works fine for me and I don't have problems with blind spots by properly adjusting the mirror. However, I welcome finding a "better" mirror that makes it easier to survey the scene around me, increase safety, and reduce driving anxiety.
Being happy with the right side Multivex, I wanted to try the OEM split/aspherical mirror for the left side. Its field of view is not as wide as the Multivex, but still very wide and eliminates the blind spot. I had hoped that the inner part of the mirror would be flat for optimum depth perception. It turned out to be convex, but failrly mild so the distortion isn't bad. It has a fixed, constant curvature that makes it easier to judge distance than with the Multivex.
So I have ended up with a combination of Multivex on the right and OEM split/aspherical on the left. This combination works very well for me and adds a good margin of safety. The "motoring experience" is also enhanced whenever you improve your visibility.
I highly recommend that convertible owners in particular should get either of these wide angle mirrors for the right side. For me, it was not a small change but a real enhancement.
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 603
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by JaredRS
Here's something that someone taught me a few weeks ago, and since I've done it it makes me wonder why people in the U.S. shell out money for silly blindspot products.
Most people have their side mirrors adjusted so they can just barely see the edge of their own car. But what happens? You basically see the same thing in your side mirrors, as in your center mirror. Slight differences, but for the most part, it's the same image.
Now, try this: sit in your drivers seat, and lean your head against the left front window. Now adjust your mirror so you can just barely see the edge of your car.
Now, lean to the right so your head is in the center of the car, and do the same with the right mirror, adjust it so you can just barely see the edge of your car.
Ok, so having done this, the end product is that when a vehicle is passing you, right as it dissappears from the view of your center mirror, it will just as quickly enter the view of the side mirror. POOF, no more blind spot! And you totally know it works when you see part of the car in your center mirror, but part of it creeping into the side mirror.
It takes a few weeks to get used to, but now that I've learned to trust it, it's simply foolproof.
That's my worthwhile contribution to this website. Since I don't have a MINI. Yet.
Most people have their side mirrors adjusted so they can just barely see the edge of their own car. But what happens? You basically see the same thing in your side mirrors, as in your center mirror. Slight differences, but for the most part, it's the same image.
Now, try this: sit in your drivers seat, and lean your head against the left front window. Now adjust your mirror so you can just barely see the edge of your car.
Now, lean to the right so your head is in the center of the car, and do the same with the right mirror, adjust it so you can just barely see the edge of your car.
Ok, so having done this, the end product is that when a vehicle is passing you, right as it dissappears from the view of your center mirror, it will just as quickly enter the view of the side mirror. POOF, no more blind spot! And you totally know it works when you see part of the car in your center mirror, but part of it creeping into the side mirror.
It takes a few weeks to get used to, but now that I've learned to trust it, it's simply foolproof.
That's my worthwhile contribution to this website. Since I don't have a MINI. Yet.
John
Just a heads-up about quality if you might be tempted to get some Helix brand (or cheapie China ebay alternative) --- I got a pair of the Helix aspherical mirrors last month and I like the blue tint polarization because it does indeed help with night-time headlight glare.
The driver side takes a while to get used to with the depth perception thing and at first I was nearly cross-eyed but after a while acclimatized and have grown to prefer it over flat glass.
Sad thing is the lousy adhesive...
...my pass. side just flopped off after going over a bump and if it hadn't been plugged into the heat element wires then it would've just smashed glass on the ground.
An easy fix though yes, JB Weld or something LOL
But decided to try and find OEM versions --- quite pricey and the pass. side is NLA anyway.
Gave a quick look on ebay and got lucky with someone selling a NOS set for $40,
so I grabbed 'em.
Very pleased with the quality of construction as well as glass structure by which I mean the Helix ones were like looking through a fish-eye lens
whereas the OEM units are more uniform in vision until the curved ends.
The driver side takes a while to get used to with the depth perception thing and at first I was nearly cross-eyed but after a while acclimatized and have grown to prefer it over flat glass.
Sad thing is the lousy adhesive...
...my pass. side just flopped off after going over a bump and if it hadn't been plugged into the heat element wires then it would've just smashed glass on the ground.
An easy fix though yes, JB Weld or something LOL
But decided to try and find OEM versions --- quite pricey and the pass. side is NLA anyway.
Gave a quick look on ebay and got lucky with someone selling a NOS set for $40,
so I grabbed 'em.
Very pleased with the quality of construction as well as glass structure by which I mean the Helix ones were like looking through a fish-eye lens
whereas the OEM units are more uniform in vision until the curved ends.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 313
From: The Netherlands
I use these and they work very well for me, helps me on the highway but also for parking the car as I can also see the ground. Not the prettiest solution, but functionality over form for me in this case.
https://aliexpress.com/item/4000945138343.html
https://aliexpress.com/item/4000945138343.html
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post