Has anyone removed the rear view mirror and replaced it with a dash mounted one? The 06 mirror is way too big and is an accident waiting to happen. I have removed the mirror which now give me an awesome clear view of the road, but now have no rear view. I use the side view mirrors which is fine, but I would still like to have a way to look in the back seat and out the window if possible. I have a cabrio, so I am not sure what the best solution is for when the top is down. I am not sure if a dash mounted mirror would be high enough to see past the folded top. Someone else out there must have the same problem as me........

 

some vendors for miatas offered sliding mirrors on a chrome rod. Adjust to where you wanted....

Rspeed might carry them, if not try mertomotorsports.com. I don't know if they would be long enough, but it's a place to start.

I had a problem seeing out the back of the cabrio with the stock mirror....good luck with a small one on the dash!

-jac

 

That may be your best bet - the Miata one. I have seen it as well.

But you have to remember, vision out the rear glass is limited at best due to the "roll bars".

 

Thanks for your suggestions, I think I will start with those.

I am not looking for a great view out the back, its the great view out the front that I want. The position of the mirror combined with the size of it is what has me looking for a better option. The mirror is WAY TO BIG for the size of the windshield.

I used to own a Cobra and its small rear view mirror was just fine for me, I am just not sure if the same type of dash mounted mirror would allow me to see behind me with the top down. With the cobra it was no problem because there was no top or back window.

 

rally-it found this one


There is a bit in this thread about it.

 

I have searched for hours trying to find the mirror in the picture above. Does anyone know where it can be purchased? That is exactly what I am looking for.

 

Maybe we are different heights or have very different seating positions, but my mirror in my 03 and the larger one in my wife's 06 have never seemed to be in the way. One mounted on the dash would definitely be in the way.

But it is a problem for you, so something should be done. Have you considered simply doing away with the rear view mirror and relying on your side mirrors? At various times my truck rear view mirror likes to come unglued and I get by just fine until I put it back on. ..

 

This is actually kind of amusing, lots of people complained that the mirrors in the '02s to '04s were too small. I think you're the first person I've seen complain that the new larger mirrors are too big...

I've got to wonder though, especially with the top up, will a mirror on the dash really give you any usefull view? Maybe the smaller '02 to '04 mirror would be a better option for you...

Just a thought...

 

I've never complained about it but I agree that it is too big and hung a bit low. It blocks too much of the front view. I would love a dash mounted one.

 

...and there's a reason why no one puts them on the dashboard any more, the angle's all wrong. It looked great, but the mirror was angled too high to clear the top when folded so the view was pretty useless. On the convertible MINI it'd be ten times worse, and I can't imagine anyone making a mirror that would fit the contoured top of the dash. I just wish they'd made the rear view mirror for the ragtops smaller...

 

Why not just take a small mirror out to the car, and hold it where you think a dash-mount should be, then move it up and down to see how high it has to be for you to see over the folded top?

 

I used to have a French Renault 4 with the rearview mirror down in the center of the dashboard. That is a very "Frenchie" thing to do.

 

I am 6'3 and the current mirror takes up all of my vision on the upper right hand side of the windshield. In order to see what is coming from my right, I have to duck under the mirror. I did remove the mirror and it was great, I felt much better about my safety, only problem was I didn't realize when I removed the mirror, I lost the ability to lock the doors since the remote receiver is in the mirror. I put the mirror back on so the key remotes would work, but now im back to the same problem again. I found a perfect mirror that mounted between the buttons for the roof control, but after using it for a day or so, I took it down because it was a convex mirror and did not give any view out the back. I think I am going to have to fab up something myself to see if I can get around this problem.

 

There is someone on MINI2 who has removed their mirror and moved the keyless entry out of it: http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=107746

Have you tried a rearview mirror that sticks on the windshield? That is the OEM configuration for many cars, and you'd have a wide variety to choose from. At least some of them must be pretty small.

The ultimate solution, bar none, if your car has Navigation: get the MINI rear view camera. I have it, and it is fantastic for the convertible.

Finally, a really goofy idea that is probably impractical. Flip down your sunvisor and use its mirror (or mount a bigger one) when you want to see out back.

 

My understanding is that the "MINI Rear view camera" only works when the transmission is put in reverse gear. It is not intended for forward driving.

 

It is easy to add a switch for on-demand viewing. It was discussed here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=53297

 

Actually, I kvetched about it quite a bit when I got my car. Even before, perhaps. Maybe I can find someone to try swapping mirrors with me at the Dragon; I haven't determined if a pre-facelift mirror will fit on my April-'05 build MCS.

I stuck a couple of convex blind spot mirrors on my wing mirrors and that helps a *ton* with visibility. Not enough where I'm willing to forego the rearview mirror, or deal with the hole in the headliner, however...

 

I'll jump in here and say I loved the size of the 03 mirror. The only time I had to remove it due to seeing was during the Dragon. The 06 mirror. I can honestly tell you that I can sit at a 4 way stop and not see the car at the stop sign to my right. It all depends on the position you sit in. I'm just 6'0" so I'm not tall but it's enough of an annoyance that I may just go without it.

I have tried to search for alternatives but haven't found any yet. One thing I have thought about is similiar to the rear camera option for those with NAV. Purchase a small camera, similiar to a bullet cam, and mount it in a position in the car that gives good vision out the rear. The problem I ran into is a tv screen. I measured and at the very front center of the windshield, so as not to be in the vision of the road, it would require a 2"Xwhatever width was wanted. I can't find a screen that size.

I haven't checked but I do believe a smaller mirror from an 03 has the same mount.

 

How about a Sony PSP? That screen's about the right size...