We just bought a 2008 conv S for my wife and while she loves it so far, there is one thing she would like to improve and that is the rear visibility. From what I have read, it sounds like one can remove the rear headrests on later models, but the options are limited for the earlier ones. Does anyone have any secret tricks that could be taken to remove the headrests and/or roll bar? I am guessing the roll bar is an integral part of the body structure and needs to be there, but has anyone tried putting a newly fabricated roll bar in its place. I am not familiar with the details of the existing set up, but was thinking having the cross piece higher or lower would help open things up a bit. Am wasting time trying to figure out a way to improve it, or should I tell my wife it is what it is?

Thanks,
Jay

 

Rear visibility is a challenge on the cabrios pure and simple. The best way to overcome is to get used to the side views. You do not want to mess with the roll bars, they're there on purpose. Use the search engine and look for the T.I.T.S & A.R.S.E. thread. (The Inverted Turtle Society & Anti Rollover Support Enthusiasts) Here's a link from Click & Clack, the car guys on how to set up the side views.
http://www.cartalk.com/content/avoiding-blind-spot-1
It's something you just have to get used to. I hardly ever run my top up except when my co-pilot whines louder than the SC so visibility is at the max.
Here's some other websites that can be of assistance.
You really X3 want one of these. They can also be gotten from Way Motor Works. http://www.lightinsight.com/
For fuel, use any of these only or you can join the O sensor replacement threads:
http://www.toptiergas.com/
Used to be, around here, that pictures were loudly called for. One wag always pointed out that 'Without pictures, it didn't happen'.

 

I use the little round 'stick on' convex mirrors on the rear view mirrors. Takes a little getting used to...but they work for me. I am also going to install 'blind spot' sensors. I need all the help I can get. And yes, I do know how to adjust my side view mirrors.

I will also be towing a 7' high trailer. I plan on installing a rear view camera for that.

 

An adjustable convex blind spot side mirror and a broadway wide angle attachable interior rear view mirror solves the issue during the day for me in a hard top coupe.However the wide angle interior mirror does not have a night dim mode which I am not too thrilled about. Wonder if the wide angle interior mirror might help the convertible?

 

I didn't know that technique had a name.

I don't lean me head against the side window when setting up as that pushes the mirror out to far on most cars, but they are out far enough so that my adjacent lane blind spot is completely gone.

I've always set my mirrors up like this, and taught my wife and kids to do the same.

And unlike those silly commenters on the Click & Clack link, we never have a problem backing up. It's called moving your head so you can get a better view, ie lean slightly right/left to see the corner of your car.

With this technique I've never seen the need for those stick on mirrors.

Regarding the convertible and roadster the single best tip is to drive with the top down. That's why we bought one, right?

 

My wife's concern right now is the view directly back from the rear view mirror and so the rear view mirror is the first thing I was trying to figure out. For the sides, I have used the convex mirrors extensively on my trucks and find them very useful, and my wife understands that will probably be part of the solution. She typically drives with the top down and so most of the time so the rear view will not be a major issue, but I though it would be worth checking into.
I also do not take the roll bar replacement option lightly. I realize they are there for a reason, but I know other cars have aftermarket roll bars that have been made that address short comings in those cars and was hoping someone had done something similar for the Mini. Since that does not seem to be the case, we will work with what we have.

We brought the car home yesterday at dusk, so have no pics yet. I'll try to get some pics later today and get them posted.

 

Regarding those stick on convex mirrors; isn't the issue with the convertible and roadster that the view directly behind your car is restricted by the fabric top and roll bars?

Those stick on convex mirrors are designed to improve your view to the side where the c pillar blind spot is.

Can they see around the corner of your car and show you what is directly behind?

 

Yes, this is exactly what the concern is. There is not much that can be done with the fabric (except enlarging the window) but I was hoping for a solution that would enable opening up the roll bar space some.

 

As Goldsmithy suggested, have you considered adding a rear view camera system? You might purchase a rear view camera and monitor for under $200.

Here is one example:

 

I and my wife drove an '06 R52 convertible for 9 years. We quickly learned to adjust to the rear visibility and got very comfortable with it.

That's an issue, but it's secondary. For driving in traffic, the far more important safety issue is the huge side blind spot caused by the large expanse of fabric on the side. It's like driving a hardtop MINI with the rear side window blacked out. Picture merging to the lane on your right and trying to see what's there.

The key is to re-learn how you use your rear view mirrors. If you think about it, trucks and vans have even worse rear visibility, and those drivers handle it by using their mirrors properly. Most drivers angle their mirrors so they can see the side of the car, which is useless. You need to angle the mirror much further out so you can see into the blind spot.

It helps to use rear view mirrors that give you a wider field of view than the standard. I hate the stick-on convex mirrors because they look tacky and you have to squint into the little spot. I got Euro aspherical convex mirrors (https://www.ecstuning.com/News/MINI_..._Spot_Mirrors/), and it really helps on the passenger side. On the drivers side, I ended up staying with the original mirror because it's a bit disorienting to switch between cars where one has a flat drivers side mirror and the other has a convex. There is no visibility penalty for the drivers side rear view mirror on a convertible anyway -- it's the same as driving a non-convertible.

If you have the factory Nav system, you can get a rear view camera and display it on the Nav screen. I had it on my R52 and it was great.

 

+1 on blind spot mirrors.


The factory back up camera with the Nav was so cool. Too bad they NLA it. There is always aftermarket version that hook into the factory Nav.