Don't want to scratch up my rims, and I love this feature on other cars I own. Can you setup the mini to do this?

 

Here's a tip: if you don't wanna scratch up your rims just back up really careful-like. IMO having the mirrors change when you're in reverse is pretty stupid (most times you want to see straight behind you). It's just something else t go wrong with the car. There's enough of that already.

 

I have it on my Lexus SC and LS - very useful when backing up and parallel parking. I'm sure there's a mod being sold on ebay somewhere.

 

I use this feature all the time on my other cars... This combined with PDC has saved my rims and bumper many times over. This is why I'm looking for the feature...

 

I miss this function from my BMWs. I would imagine some sort of interface with the mirror motor that is triggered by the activation of the back up lights is in order. of course it would have to be intelligent enough to bring the mirror back to the previous position as well.

 

So I'm guessing then the answer is no

 

I do it every time I back in by a curb. Manually. A pain. But worth it. Wish it was automagic... but don't know of a solution yet.

 

you've obviously never used the feature. Once you've had it it's very annoying to go back to not having it.

 

Interesting, we just bought a 05 BMW 330ci and it has it, it's driving me nuts, don't like it. Kinda dangerous if you ask me, can't see anything except the ground. I have never gotten close to hitting the curbs with my Mini, even when parallel parking.

 

you should be able to switch it off by moving the mirror control selector to the passenger side. at least in the e46 and e39 models that is how you turn off the feature.

 

You can turn off this feature on your BMW. Just slide the mirror selector switch to the right and the mirrors don't dip. If you slide it to the left, they will.

 

While PDC and dropping mirrors have their place, I find it a bit amusing that they are needed in a MINI.

 

With the high waist of the MINI, visibility isn't that great. It is much better in my 1990 Acura Integra.

 

Correct me if i'm wrong, but isn't that what your rear view mirror is for? It drives me NUTS when I'm driving BEHIND people and I can see them in their side view mirrors. Adjust your friggin mirrors correctly! Your side view mirrors are for blind spots! If you can see half of your car in the mirror how the hell can you see your blind spots!

OT: I took a motorcycle safety course about a year ago. During some of the videos it diagramed the "View" from the side mirrors, then explained how people can't see you in their mirrors if you ride to their left in the other lane. For the record, you shouldn't be able to see the cars behind you in your lane in your SIDE VIEW MIRRORS!!!! I have NO problems seeing motorcycles, people, other cars, or anything else in my side view mirrors, mainly because they're adjusted properly!

When a car on my right or left is overtaking me, I track them in my rear view mirror JUST until they disappear, then I adjust my side view mirrors so that I can see the car. By the time it's left my view in the mirror, I have it in my peripheral vision. And hey, I can't see my gas cap out of my side view mirror, imagine that, not needing to see your OWN car out of a mirror on the car you're in.

Seeing behind you is what what a REAR view mirror is for...

It's no wonder 10 people a day change lanes into me.

On these tilt mirror things, I've had them on other cars and it's a nice feature to have. Makes it a lot easier to parallel park. If your mirrors are adjusted properly I can't imagine how it could possibly be "Dangerious".

 

Yea we figured it out, thanks

 

Since I was the one that said "kinda dangerous if you ask me" I assume you are adressing me? Well since i've been driving for over 32 years I think I would know how to adj. my mirrors, thank you. I like to see a sliver of my car from the side mirror for orientation purposes, anyone else do that?

 

I do that. But of course I drive drunk so it is hard to stay oriented.

I am kidding. I used to adjust them that way for the same reason. Then I decided to swing the mirrors out a bit more to get more of the blind spot. Took a bit of getting used to since you do loose that orientation crutch. In the end once you do get used to it your rearward awareness is improved.

 

Leaning your head 2-3 inches usually provides enough of an angle to see a small section of your own car for orientation purposes. Yes, it is different, but then I'd much rather see the car in my blindspot than my rear quarterpanel.

 

Yes, you can also lean the other way and see your blind spot, and still keep your orientation .

 

I too use the sliver method. But I don't tilt to look in the blind spot, when I turn my head to check my side mirrors I can see the blind spot in my periphial vision. Takes about the same amount of time to tilt either direction, so it is a wash.
I think the how you look is a small matter. The big deal is THAT you look.

 

How would leaning to the right enable you to see further to the left?

Like I said, I have a lot more reason to see the cars in my blind spot than to see part of my car

 

...................P.S. Sorry Cory986 about what happened to your thread .

 

It's ok i got my answer and i'm just as ocd as the next guy and tend to hijack threads because of it....

 

The best way to adjust side-view mirrors, if possible, is so that a vehicle overtaking you on either the left or right is visible first in the rear view mirror, then, as it overtakes, becomes visible in the side view mirror as it moves out of the rear view mirror range. As the vehicle overtakes it should become visible to your peripheral vision as it leaves the range of your side view mirror. This is not possible on all cars (for example, the Clubman has a fairly small rear view visual area). Many defensive driving courses recommend that the side view mirrors be positioned to view further to the sides, as many drivers have too much of an overlap with the rear view mirrors at the expense of the side view "blind spot". After all, it's not possible to hit a car that's 50 feet behind you, but pretty easy to hit one just behind and to the side. The only problem with this adjustment technique is that it requires you to temporarily drive slowly enough to allow other vehicles to pass, so you can get the adjustments right. This may be quite a bit to ask of some on these forums.

 

There's a technique that reasonably achieves this sort of mirror positioning. It goes something like: for the driver's mirror, put your head right up against the window, then adjust until you barely see the side of the car; for the passenger's mirror, center your head between the left and right sides, then adjust until you barely see the side of your car.