Well and good. That's not the "proper" technique in the sense of the technique that, well, is accepted as general use. That's all I meant and in fact it was someone else who just dropped the word "proper" implying that it was this other way of doing it, the one that isn't in any driver's manuals anywhere, that is in fact proper.

And because 99% of drivers drive a certain way, with mirrors set a certain way, advice like "don't look over your shoulders" is very dangerous. It's fine to say: "here's an alternative". However that's not where this conversation began.

 

Exactly. A move to the side is a move relative to all traffic. I.e. your movement to the side is as much "forward" as the way your car is pointed. It's at least as important to see what's there as it is to see what's in front of you. Actually looking over your shoulder gives you the best picture you can get and lets you see things like someone pulling out of a driveway or in from another lane that you could otherwise easily miss.

 

MINI's Euro spec OEM mirrors are wider angle and give better blindspot coverage than the USA version (but not tinted). They are available for both 1st gen and R56.
http://motoringfile.com/2006/11/10/e...rror-retrofit/
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...=51&fg=10&hl=1

Or you can get a Multivex mirror: http://multivexmirror.com/
Their shopping doesn't list R56 yet but they may already it available, or they will make one if you send them a template.

 

Thank you so much for the linkage! Does RealOEM usually not list pricing?

I had been looking around for these for the past year and a half, apparrently in all the wrong places...
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=49390

 

I agree with the newer version of how to adjust mirrors. The older version is just duplicating what you already see out the rear view. There should be minimal overlap between the rear view and the side views. If adjusted properly you only have a blind spot directly out the side window and this does not require turning your head very far at all to see. It takes time to get used to this set up but it works very well, even on my 15 passenger dodge van I only need to glance out my side window.

 

Another advantage that I have noticed with the newer version of the mirror adjustment is less chance of glare in the side view mirrors. It may also jsut be the way I sit in my seat, but it actually seems to keep the glare from the following cars pointed lightly away from your normal sight-line.

 

I'd like to think he was talking about the rear headrests in response to an earlier post mentioning they drive with the rear seats folded down for better visability. I took my rear headrests off the back seats in my PT Cruiser to gain more visability. It helped alot in that car. I haven't felt I needed to do it in the MINI. If he was talking about the drivers seat, yes, you are absolutely right and he should put it back on! Also, the headrests need to be on the seats when driving with passengers in them.

 

Yeah, I was only talking about the rear headrests being "in the way". I would NEVER think of removing those in front, and agree that rear passengers need them. I got some good info from this thread. I "reset" my side mirrors and while it does take some getting used to, they really DO minimize the need to turn one's head nearly as much as when the mirrors are set the traditional way. I still think the view backing up is not very open compared to cars I've been used to.
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MCS, LiB/B, 6 spd, Premium, Brushed Alloy, Pacific Blue, tinted sunroof.