Am I the only one who feels the rear view and side mirrors are too small? Does anybody have a solution to this? Its my only gripe with my MCS, and its a mini (pun intended) one at that.

Love to motor, can't wait until the breakin period is over...

 

There's those bubble mirrors truck drivers use. minicoop78 has them on his car's side view mirrors. I've only had small cars (1 small truck) all of my life, so the mirrors on the MINI are quite normal to me

 

Here's a link to a pic of it.

 

I always thought that the mirrors were too BIG...Would like to change them for something like on the F1 cars but...I like the idea of the heated mirrors for winter time so that discouraged me from changing them

 

I had a 2000 BMW M Roadster and the inside rear view mirror to me seemed real small also. It was in the shape of a small surf board. It just must be a BMW thing.

 

I too think the rear view mirror is too small. You can only see directly behind you and the 2 back pillars create a huge blind spot. I got an aftermarket wide view type mirror and it helped a lot. I could see everything behind me and I could see the blind spots. Just dont get a cheapy one, the cheap ones can give you a headache sometimes. I'll try to find a pic and post it...

 

I have no problem with the side mirrors, but after one week of driving my new Mini I am still adjusting to the reraview mirror. It is too small to see alot out the rear window- but I feel it is too big for the interior- it feels like it obscures the top part of the windshield. But like you said it is a mini of a problem, and a another week and I'm sure I'll be used to it! Happy Motoring!

 

Heres some pics of the type of Mirror I used.If you get the smallest size available of the Broadway brand mirror it should fit the MINI mirror perfectly.







If I had a digital camera Id take a pic of the one in my MINI, it fits perfectly and matches the interior well. It helps when I drive a lot too.

 

I'm fine with the rear-view mirror size. I actually never even considered their size until this thread, so apparently I have no problem with them

Those with difficulties could always bolt-on those HUGE trailer-rig mirrors!

Cheers,
Ryan

 

With an X5 and Chevy 2500HD as my other drivers, I would have thought that the mirrors on the MCS would pose a problem for being too small. On the contrary after almost 3 months of ownership they have not been a problem. Besides, there is hardly ever anyone been hide me, only soon to be passed drivers ahead of me.

 

I've played a bit with my mirrors, just because this topic has come up before and I wanted to see if I found any visability issues. Honestly though, whenever I tweak the rearview mirror to see if there's more to see out the back, there just isn't. Therefore, to me it seems just the right size. Same with the side mirrors....if anything they seem quite generous when proplerly adjusted. Perhaps with other cars we've become accustomed to seeing more out of the rearview mirror, but MINIs rear glass is quite small.

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

The rear view mirror is small. So is the rear glass. How will a larger mirror help?
All you will see is more interior.

The side mirrors are perfect IMHO.

Regards,
Red



_________________
The meek shall inherit the passenger seat.
Life is better MINImized. CWFAC 03

 

I don't have a problem with the side views, but the rear view took a little time to adjust to. You'll get comfortable with them soon enough. :smile:

 

The side mirrors are fine...its just the rear view mirror that annoyed me. I'm sure I coulda got used to it but the wide view mirror helped me a lot. More of a peace of mind kinda thing. The larger mirror did help, I could see out the 2 back side windows from my rear view mirror.

 

I find the rearview to be adequate (it sees the whole of the rear window -- what more do you need?) but the sideviews leave a blind spot unless you adjust them exactly right. I usually adjust sideviews so that I see a bit of the body on each side but when I do this on the MINI, I can't see somebody who is hanging off the rear quarter panel. Nearly changed lanes right into one like that recently. Thank Goddess for quick reaction time and quicker steering!

 

I have gotten used to the mirrors, but agree they could be larger.
The exterior ones are ok, but my suggestion to MINI for exterior ones would be to make them auto dimming as well, if you have the inner one auto dimming. I love the auto dim function, because they reduce the likelihood of getting blinded by a high-riding SUV, but now you just get blinded by the outside ones instead.

The interior mirror is ok, and as some have pointed out, the view would not be any wider with a wider mirror, because of the rear pillars. However, a wider wirror would allow you to move around in your seat a bit more and still see ok. I find that unless I am optimally positioned, the mirror is cutting my view to less than the rear window in width and height. I would also imagine that the closer you sit to the wheel, the less likely the mirror would seem to small. If you sit way back, like I do with my monkey arms

 

>>I find the rearview to be adequate (it sees the whole of the rear window -- what more do you need?) but the sideviews leave a blind spot unless you adjust them exactly right. I usually adjust sideviews so that I see a bit of the body on each side but when I do this on the MINI, I can't see somebody who is hanging off the rear quarter panel. Nearly changed lanes right into one like that recently. Thank Goddess for quick reaction time and quicker steering!
________________
Yes, there appears to be a blind spot, but adjusting it creates other cut-off spots. Overall, I find all three mirrors a tad too small, but I adjust by using ALL three mirrors when driving to assess cars in adjacent lanes.

Incidentally, the sun visor is too small also. A simple solution to that would be to design them with retractable extensions.

 

>>The interior mirror is ok, and as some have pointed out, the view would not be any wider with a wider mirror, because of the rear pillars

The wide view mirror I got made the view wider. I could see in the lane behind me and the 2 lanes beside me without looking in my side mirrors. I still do look in my side mirrors and do the over the shoulder thing when I change lanes, The wide mirror just helps me a lot. But there is still a spot that is blocked becuase of the pillars...no way of really helping that.

 

>>The rear view mirror is small. So is the rear glass. How will a larger mirror help?
>>All you will see is more interior.
>>
>>The side mirrors are perfect IMHO.
>

I agree Red. The mirrors really don't need to be any larger. I adjusted mine as soon as I got the car, and haven't had any problems since. Here's a link to the best way to adjust your mirrors to negate ANY blind spots (from Tom & Ray): Tom & Ray's mirror adjustment guide It seems counter-intuitive, but it works!

 

I forgot I even had a rear view mirror......

I'm always passing everyone!

I never gave the mirrors a second thought about being to small.
I do have to have my drivers side replaced though, the glass vibrates really bad.
It is like I have a pair of 12" subs pounding.

 

Yea, just like that. I was having the same problem as the rest of you (an amazingly large vehicle fits in that blind spot too). So I played with the outside mirror adjustment. I have both the passenger and driver side adjusted to the point of just NOT being able to see the a$$ end of the car, and it works like a champ! I check my mirrors and see everything behind me.

As far as the inside mirror goes, I like it. If I had to complain, it would be that it quite a stretch for me to reach to flip the dimmer switch. Otherwise it's the perfect size.

 

>>Am I the only one who feels the rear view and side mirrors are too small? Does anybody have a solution to this? Its my only gripe with my MCS, and its a mini (pun intended) one at that.

If it's your only gripe you must be driving at night or live where the sun doesn't shine, because the sun visors are worthless when flipped to the side windows.

 

>>I agree Red. The mirrors really don't need to be any larger. I adjusted mine as soon as I got the car, and haven't had any problems since. Here's a link to the best way to adjust your mirrors to negate ANY blind spots (from Tom & Ray): Tom & Ray's mirror adjustment guide It seems counter-intuitive, but it works!


Thanks SCoop! The problem I have with the Mini is the blind spot. I'll try it out.

 

>>
>>>>I agree Red. The mirrors really don't need to be any larger. I adjusted mine as soon as I got the car, and haven't had any problems since. Here's a link to the best way to adjust your mirrors to negate ANY blind spots (from Tom & Ray): Tom & Ray's mirror adjustment guide It seems counter-intuitive, but it works!
>>
>>
>>Thanks SCoop! The problem I have with the Mini is the blind spot. I'll try it out.


No Prob, Jennybeth!

 

My eyes are too big....