Do you get blinded by cars behind you at night? I try avoiding to drive once the sun sets. For some reason, the light just shines and shines in my eye. I have to readjust my side mirrors and I don't get to use them at all.

 

Go to the auto parts store and buy some window tint. It's easy to apply to a small flat piece of glass like a mirror. That'll kinda mimic the self dimming exterior mirrors like the BMW's have. My Impala SS has the world's most glaringly bright digital speedometer...it worked well for that problem!

Rawhyde

 

Are you seeing cars directly behind you in your SIDEviews? Then you are already not using them at all. They should be adjusted to see what's beSIDE you, not what's behind you. That's what the REAR view mirror is for. Properly adjusted sideviews will nearly eliminate blind spots.

 

Jinsun, do you have tinted windows? Did you have them in another vehicle previously?

I ask because I get along fine in my Protege5, but when I'm driving my wife's Mustang, the glare from headlights in the mirrors drives me nuts. It took me awhile, but I finally worked out that the difference is that my windows are tinted while hers are not.

Try Rawhyde's suggestion, it should help.

 

Absolutely Right !!! I began adjusting my mirrors this way a year or two ago and - while it took a little while to get used to - I believe that this is the safest and best way to configure your side mirrors. It not only eliminates blind spots but also largely prevents you getting blinded by the side mirrors.

Here are detailed instructions of what to do -

http://www.cartalk.com/content/featu...ors/index.html

Even with my 2006 Cabrio (with the top up), I am very comfortable with the rear visibility in almost any driving situation - when I first got my car, I set the mirrors initially in the "normal" fashion and almost got hit a couple of times from blind spots. With this method, you have NO blind spots....

Try it out - you will either love it or hate it but if you can live with it, the results may be worth it to you. It really requires you to re-orient your way of thinking about mirrors and rear visibility.

Hope this helps -

Bill

 

Good posts Squirlz & Bill. I'm going to try that new mirror position today. I'm always listening to the Tappet Brothers - they just crack me up. With the Cabrio when the top is up (sometimes it needs to be up) visability is limited anyway and if this helps with the blindspots then hurray.

 

Hahaha, I'm not seeing cars directly behind me. I think I would know how to adjust my side mirrors. I just get blinded by their lights, esp from truck or suvs. And it's not just me. Whenever my bf drives, he complains how bright other lights are. I just figured it was because the mini is so compact. My previous car was an accord and I had no problems.

 

Well my previous car was tinted. But when I drive my bf's G35 I don't have that problem. I plan on getting tints soon so we'll see if that eliminates the problem. Thanks.

 

Oh and what's Rawhyde's suggestion?

 

Well, you COULD adjust your sideview mirrors to reflect the headlights back into the faces of the Sickeningly Uncool Vehicles!

 

Maybe the G35 had auto-dimming mirrors. Tinting your windows will solve the problem.

 

Sorry then

Many people, dare say even MOST people, don't know how to use them correctly.

 

I certainly never did know how to adjust the mirrors until I went to that cartalk site a couple years ago.

If you can see the side of your car in the mirrors, then they are not adjusted correctly.

 

I installed a set of these Multivex Mirrors on my MCS a few weeks ago. They were a little tough to get used to at first, but the coverage they provide is quite good.

 

Gotta thank you guys.... have had my mirrors set incorrectly for 30 years now. Switched a month ago after reading this thread and... well, let's just say, I'm not going back

 

Tried this, it still didn't cut it so I added a blind spot mirror (99 cent stick on) to each of the side mirrors and I use an inverted baby miror just to the right of my rear veiw to fill the remainder of the gap on the right and offer a quick check of the realestate parallel to my right. I can wear a helment and never need to turn my head, needless to say I'm also far more confident in daily driving situations and don't like driving cars laking such 180 degree visibility.

And to stay on topic the sides are aimed so that by the time light hits the side mirror it doesn't reflect the beam into my eyes, and the 180 mirrors make the lights so small I have no glare issues and can tell exactly where other cars (and motorcycles) are.

 

What a simple and neat idea. Thanks for the tip. First thing tomorrow, I'm heading to the nearest OReillys!!

 

Uummm...sickeningly uncool vehicles...SUV...I LIKE IT!! It suits the drivers of most anyways. No matter HOW I turn my mirrors, the taller vehicles always manage to blast me with bright shiny lights!!