Any way to easily get this off? I noticed it is often getting in my line of sight. I would like to put a back up cam on that I could view though the stock GPS screen to replace the mirror. Has anyone else done this?

Sean

 

Yes people have done this. I'll do a search and give you some links.


Edit:

Its OEM, like I thought.

Here's some links:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...Reverse+Camera

Here's a review on MotoringFile
http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/03/..._camera_review


Edit 2:

Here is another thread with some good info
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...=Backup+Camera

Hope this helps ya!

 

Thats cool, thanks!

It looks like it wont work while your driving however, which is a bummer. Nevermind, found the link to the switch.

 

The link in my 2nd Edit has info about keeping it on.

 

Cool, now i just need help with finding the funds

 

Sorry can't help ya there. I have some things I want to do to my MINI.

 

Keep in mind that the OEM camera mentioned uses a fisheye lens, designed to look at objects very nearby when you are in reverse. It probably will not be appropriate for viewing traffic a decent distance behind you without modifying the angle and/or replacing the lens/camera with a less distorted viewing angle.

As for the rear-view mirror, I gather you've already tried pushing it up higher? Perhaps simply relocating it instead of removing it altogether will work better?

 

Not sure what you mean by pushing it up higher, mine appears to have a fixed point.

Yeah, the fish eye would be a problem, and for the money, the whole project is more expensive than I can currently afford. I would just like to be able to see more.

 

You could remove the stock one & put a Wink Mirror up near the headliner.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/gro...pID=MIRRORWINK

 

Anyone have any experience with this product? This looks like a great solution...

 

Always great to see the creativity of fellow MINI owners...
but does anyone know if removing that rearview mirror would result in a 'Fail' during state inspection in your particular area? The rearview actually fell off of my Land Rover Defender 90 about a year ago and they failed me and said to come back when it was fixed.

In any case, best of luck, I hope it works out. In the immortal words of Hannibal from the A-Team, "I love it when a plan comes together!"

 

Ya know... I really wish there were a way to raise up the rear view mirror on my cabrio... not only does it block a surprising ammounft of my view, but when the top is down, half of the mirror is blocked by the folded roof! Mounting one higher up, one that's not tapered on the ends and with a greater FOV would be awesome...

BUT...

My only experience with these Wink mirrors is from cabs- some DC cabs seem to have them installed quite a bit (at least they did back in the 90s), and I always thought they looked taaaack-ay. A mirror thats rectangular and 20% wider/20% narrower and that mounted 2-2.5 inches higher would be PERFECT.... I wonder of the stock bracket can be dismantled... Hmmm.... (rubs hands together)...

 

Originally Posted by Crashton
You could remove the stock one & put a Wink Mirror up near the headliner.

http://www.pegasusautoracing.com/gro...pID=MIRRORWINK

Anyone have any experience with this product? This looks like a great solution...


For the forum Vets... Sorry that I haven't figured out how to place other people's posts as quotes...

Back to mirrors, though. I installed a 5-panel Wink mirror in my '03 MCS the day it arrived. I think this mirror is awesome, and it is tucked up against the headliner. I've used this same mirror in every car that I've owned since 1979 (except for a couple cars where it would not fit).

I was able to attach it to the sun visor mounts, thus requiring no irreversible interior mods. Sun visors still work fine!

 

I forgot to mention that the Wink mounting hardware will need some extensions if you wish to tuck the mirror up against the headliner, yet out of the way of the visors. You don't have to be a machine-shop pro to do this kind of simple Home Depot mods.

 

I'm just struggling to imagine what that must look like, mounted to the same fittings as the sun visors, but I just can't manage it. And there's no pics of the mounts they use on the linked site- any chahce you can shoot a picture of it for us, particularly the brackets and what the interior looks like with it installed? thw few sites I'm seeing with pics show a roof-bolted set of flat brackets that scare me.

Also, I assume you have a hard top, right? I wonder if it would be in danger of interfering with the convertable top if it were mounted up so high? Does it swing or rock a bit on the mounts so that it could be swung down for roof opening/closing? I assume that if you've used these for so man years that they hold up well (although they look inexpensive to replace).

I really do have to admit that mounting it in such a way that I can remove it afterwards if I ever want to or (gasp!) sell the car to someone that wants the stock mirror back IS very appealing.

 

I am leasing my MINI, so yes, I needed to mount it in a reversible manner. I don't know if it would work in a convertible... I haven't looked inside one, but I think the convertible's top latches might conflict? I'll try to get a few photos posted tomorrow. I'm still new at this, so be patient. The Wink mounts (at least on my old one) are nothing more than metal "popsicle sticks" with cut-out grooves running longitudenally, which allows for easy positioning. There's a "popsicle stick" attached to each side of the mirror. They attach to a small L-shaped mounting bracket that can be slipped between the OEM visor attachment bolts, much like adding a washer. A picture is worth a thousand words? Well, maybe a couple hundred. Hope the description makes some sense.

 

Yeah it sort of does... I saw the mounts on one someone mounted on a truck, and he literally drilled them into the head liner. No way, no how.

As I am leasing as well, I need to reverse it too afterwards most likely. The convertable latches are on the extreme outside edges, so I'm not sure of they's interfere or not. Oh, and you say that with the 5-panel Wink light, it spans the distance between the visor bolts that perfectly? When you lower the visors, do they go in FRONT of the Wink light?

I'm sure I'll smack my forehead when I see how simple it really is- I might just be too tired to focus properly (it's going on 1:00AM where I am- hehe.

 

Do you havew a picture? maybe a write up?

Edit: I should learn to read to the end of the thread before responding.

I like the idea of taking it out too, for track days and stuff

 

Hey Imago & S Curve,

I've been attempting to send photos, but have discovered that the process on this site is not as intuitive as I had thought. There should be two attached to this post and a third one parked over on the forum's Test attachments thread. I can't figure out how to get it to post along with these two and I really need to get back to work...

Here are a few photos that should answer your questions. And yes, the visors do block the outer mirrors when the visors are down. Not a problem for me, though, because I always wear sunglasses and never use visors! The mirror, even w/the mounting bracket extensions, is still secure and does not vibrate. The mirror's 36" width is slightly less than the visor mounting positions, so the mirror brackets need a minor bend to accomodate.

I am not a machinist... obviously ! Those of you with workbenches and metalworking capabilities could fabricate a clean, good-looking mount in no time. Myself? I settled for the quick HomeDepot scavenger hunt-method.

 

How far down does it hang?

 

The mirror is 2.5" tall and is pressed up against the headliner. In other words, it "hangs" at 2.5".

About the only drawback that I find with this mirror is that while stopped at certain traffic lights (high-hanging overhead traffic signals ), I have to lean forward to see the signal. Kinda like those guys who drive around in chop-topped '32 Ford hot rods. I also sit in a reclined position... more so than the "average" driver. For me, the reclined position is more comfortable but also compensates for the mirror.

 

In some states you have to have all Mirrors. I know in VA you have to have 2 functioning mirrors. So if you don't want the rear-view mirror you can have the 2 side mirrors and pass inspection. But thats in VA not sure bout anywhere else.

 

Thanks VERY much for the excellent photos... I'll take a look at my cabrio and see if it will fit. It actually looks better than I was imagining, and does seem higher than the stock mirror. I also heard some other people mention the issue with traffic lights, and I know that hot rodders sometimes affix a small mirrorred attachment to the dashboard or base of the windscreen that serves to look "up" at the traffic lights...