So as we all know the blind spots on any convertible are pretty sucky when the top is up. wondering if any of you have come up with solutions around this including convex mirror and stuff.

any thoughts?

 

ECS sells the OE European side glass.


I love it... Upgraded every past Euro car I've owned and plan to upgrade the Mini ASAP.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2009-C...16A/ES2608509/

 

Car Talk's solution to solving the problem with the equipment you have at hand. All it costs is a couple of minutes.

http://www.cartalk.com/content/avoiding-blind-spot-5

 

If I had an extra $200 I like danjreed's suggestion but we went with $10 round 1-1/2" blind spot mirrors instead. Works fine if you don't mind the look.

 

Another solution is the autobahn mirror: http://www.autobahnmirror.com/index.html

They give amazing coverage!

 

Shame those aren't available with auto-dimming. Guess I'll have to stick with properly adjusting my existing mirrors.

 

Mirrors don't help when you're parked between 2 huge SUV's and you're trying to back out. I just back up really slow and hope for the best. I want 2 back up cameras that face left and right. I just haven't found a monitor that I like. The cameras are the easy part.

 

There is that company that makes a thing for displaying backup camera images on your Nav screen. Not sure how it would do with two, though.

 

I find that if I adjust the mirrors properly I don't really have a blind spot when driving/changing lanes, etc. I do concede that backing up in a parking lot is a different story. I definitely feel a bit blind when doing that. Like Frig said, just take it slow. I'm not sure there is much of a solution since as he points out, the problem isn't so much behind you as it is seeing left/right around much larger vehicles.

 

If you can see the back of your car in the side mirror... its adjusted wrong... turn them out so you can actually see what's in the blind spot... the back of your car is not going anywhere so it doesnt need to be in the mirror...

Then adjust as necessary for backing up so you can see what you need to

 

This may be my solution for a small dual monitor if I can find one. I ordered 2 of these holders which will come out in July. http://www.gizmag.com/ngroove-snap-c...04/pictures#10

 

I agree, adjust the mirrors out more. As for parking lots, I try not to get into close in parking as much as possible, I hate door dings. Anyway, any car is tough when you are in tight parking spots with big SUV's on o e side or the other. Actually, I was expecting to have more difficulties in association with blind spots, but I don't really notice that much. Backing out of my driveway is about the most troublesome.

 

I adjusted my side mirrors properly and don't have any issues. Problem solved for free! :P

 

Frig,

Send your wife out...let her back you out between the two SUVs...saves money on the back-up camera and it's free...

You should never park between two SUVs...you should have parked in the boonies and walked 10 miles like I do.

 

I wonder why the kit with a left and right aspherical mirror costs $209.95, but you can get a left or a right aspherical mirror separately for $98.48 each ($98.48+$98.48=$196.96).

 

I just drive my car like everyone else and park wherever I find a spot. Unfortunately it seems like 95% of the vehicles on the road today are HUGE!! It's tough to stay away from them. I guess I'll just keep the top down and everything is solved.

 

I've started to back IN to parking spaces where it's allowed (Logan Airport in Boston insists on head in parking, for some reason). It's much safer with our cars to back in and drive out forwards, especially with minivans and SUVs involved. The side benefit is that you park driver's door to driver's door that way if the other people went in head first, so you can leave a little more space driver's side and a little less passenger side. Most cars at grocery stores, gyms etc. are single occupancy so the passenger door never gets opened. I always look on the passenger seat of the other car. If it's covered in junk then you can be pretty sure no one is getting in that side.

Be sure to look in the back for car seats though, especially booster cushions. Getting kids in and out of cars is tough, and if the kids open the door themselves...

If I spot the warning signs, I'll move to another spot.

 

The simplest (and cheapest) solution to blind spots is to keep the top DOWN! Of course, this doesn't work when it's raining or snowing, but hey, you can worry about that then!

 

This really works. Tough getting used to but once you do it is the best answer

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Ya, I've been doing it for a couple years and couldn't agree more.

 

I ordered a left and right Euro aspherical mirror from ECS Tuning on Wednesday and they arrived Friday. I just installed them. I'm awaiting feedback from my better half, but I like them.

 

Very cool.


They take a drive to get used to... Once you have them you always want them.

 

How was the install difficulties?

Bill

 

Well, I cracked the original passenger side mirror while removing it. The only instructions for removing side mirror glass I could find were for 1st generation MINIs. They all suggested tilting the mirror "up" as far as it would go and using your fingers to pry on the bottom edge. That technique didn't work so well. It came off, but cracked in the process.

So for the driver's side mirror I adjusted the mirror as far "left" as it would go and pried with my fingers behind the resulting gap and the mirror popped off with no damage. Installing the new mirrors was extremely simple: just recenter the power mirror adjustment and line up the tabs while pushing in.

 

+1

Most people don't know how to properly adjust their mirrors. This method works with all but the largest and widest vehicles, like huge duellies or vehicles with trailers.