custom-fit blindspot mirrors

[cadrifter]

Does anyone know where you can get stick-on blindspot mirrors that perfectly fit the E90? I have seen them for certain makes & models but not BMW. I don't want those generic ones, they look ugly

[mryakan]

Do know if anyone makes ones specifically for BMW. In any case, learn to look over your shoulder, it is a life saver even with those mirrors on.

[atc1949]

I recently read a newspaper article about the BMW driver training school in Toronto ( I think) and one of the comments the writer made mention of is that they teach you to turn your driver side mirror all the way out and use the combination of rearview and driver's side mirror instead of shoulder checking. I forget the stats on how far you can travel at highway speed in the time it takes you to shoulder check. What you can't see in the rearview you are able to see in the side mirror and can be accomplished with a simple eye movement.

Since then I have been trying to practice it but it does take some getting used to.

Tom

[brunp]

I recently read a newspaper article about the BMW driver training school in Toronto ( I think) and one of the comments the writer made mention of is that they teach you to turn your driver side mirror all the way out and use the combination of rearview and driver's side mirror instead of shoulder checking. I forget the stats on how far you can travel at highway speed in the time it takes you to shoulder check. What you can't see in the rearview you are able to see in the side mirror and can be accomplished with a simple eye movement.

Since then I have been trying to practice it but it does take some getting used to.

Tom

This concept was mentioned to me in my most recent enhanced driver's school. People usually adjust the mirror to see the side of the car. That is really pointless because the side of your car is not really that important and the purpose is to see what is beside you, not what is behind you. That is the purpose of rear-view mirror

So, the idea is the following:

Sit in the driver's sit as if you are actually driving the car. Lean your head to the left and then adjust your mirror to just see the side of your car. Once back in the driving position, lean your head to the right and adjust the right mirror to observe the right side of the car.

Now, go back and while driving, you will notice that what would typically be your blind-spot, is no longer your blind spot. As a car is approaching you, you will see it in the rear-view, weather the car is in the left or right lane. As the car disappears, you will see it in the mirror and will continue to see it until they are up beside you. Once you see the car in your peripheral vision, you would usually see the tail-end of the car in the mirror, unless it is a SMART car. :D

Hopefully, this makes some sense.

-

[mryakan]

I recently read a newspaper article about the BMW driver training school in Toronto ( I think) and one of the comments the writer made mention of is that they teach you to turn your driver side mirror all the way out and use the combination of rearview and driver's side mirror instead of shoulder checking. I forget the stats on how far you can travel at highway speed in the time it takes you to shoulder check. What you can't see in the rearview you are able to see in the side mirror and can be accomplished with a simple eye movement.

Since then I have been trying to practice it but it does take some getting used to.

Tom
I still believe depending on the mirrors alone is possibly dangerous. People have a habit of sneaking into your blind spot very quickly and no matter how you adjust your mirrors, you will always have some sort of blind spot. They are devising new systems for detecting cars in the blindspot, I think they may be standard on Volvos now, but for BMW, they are still exclusive to the high end models. Soon enough you will not need to do anything if you trust the technology that is.

[Jhunter]

This concept was mentioned to me in my most recent enhanced driver's school. People usually adjust the mirror to see the side of the car. That is really pointless because the side of your car is not really that important and the purpose is to see what is beside you, not what is behind you. That is the purpose of rear-view mirror

So, the idea is the following:

Sit in the driver's sit as if you are actually driving the car. Lean your head to the left and then adjust your mirror to just see the side of your car. Once back in the driving position, lean your head to the right and adjust the right mirror to observe the right side of the car.

Now, go back and while driving, you will notice that what would typically be your blind-spot, is no longer your blind spot. As a car is approaching you, you will see it in the rear-view, weather the car is in the left or right lane. As the car disappears, you will see it in the mirror and will continue to see it until they are up beside you. Once you see the car in your peripheral vision, you would usually see the tail-end of the car in the mirror, unless it is a SMART car. :D

Hopefully, this makes some sense.

-

I switched to this method about six months ago and it does work but I find I still don't trust it after so many years doing it the other way.

[brunp]

I switched to this method about six months ago and it does work but I find I still don't trust it after so many years doing it the other way.

I still do a mini-shoulder check, but don't really rotate my head as much as I did before I made this adjustment.

Paul

[mhunter29928]

I switched to this method about six months ago and it does work but I find I still don't trust it after so many years doing it the other way.
Seriously Bro?!? After all these years you just figured out how you should adjust your mirrors? What else don't you know? Maybe I can help... hehehe.
Anyway, it amazes me how many of my customers cars have the mirrors looking at the door. "Hey, are my door handles still there? Yep. Oh Gawd, I almost ran someone off the road!"
I always adjust their mirrors to where they "should be" whether they like it or not. Maybe they will get the hint.

[Kernel Kurtz]

Having at one time driven trucks for a living, you get used to not having a rear view mirror at all and depend heavily on properly adjusted side mirrors. They do provide all the rearward visibility you need when you are moving forward. If you need a guide, park another car in your blind spot on each side and adjust your mirrors so you can see it well.

That said, the e90 does not have good rearward visibility while backing up (still better than a big truck, though). It's inherent in the design with a high trunk deck for better aerodynamics and cargo space. I never carry 5 passengers so I have removed the center back headrest to give a little better view when backing up.

I also note the 09s have bigger side mirrors than the 07s such as mine. I expect they did this to provide better general visibility but I don't like them nearly as much aesthetically.

[mryakan]

Seriously Bro?!? After all these years you just figured out how you should adjust your mirrors? What else don't you know? Maybe I can help... hehehe.
Anyway, it amazes me how many of my customers cars have the mirrors looking at the door. "Hey, are my door handles still there? Yep. Oh Gawd, I almost ran someone off the road!"
I always adjust their mirrors to where they "should be" whether they like it or not. Maybe they will get the hint.
I hate when a tech plays around with my settings whichever they may be, don't people complain when you do that?
Anyway, if you adjust the mirrors way out so that no part of your car is visible in the mirror, then you lose your point of reference and it can be very misleading since you cannot judge quickly where the other car is when doing lane changes or quick in/out maneuvers.

[mhunter29928]

I hate when a tech plays around with my settings whichever they may be, don't people complain when you do that?
Anyway, if you adjust the mirrors way out so that no part of your car is visible in the mirror, then you lose your point of reference and it can be very misleading since you cannot judge quickly where the other car is when doing lane changes or quick in/out maneuvers.
They might complain but I wouldn't know. I don't talk to customers much, that's the advisers job. If I performed a repair that requires a test drive, then I will always adjust the seat/mirrors so I can operate the vehicle safely. If a customer were to complain to me about it I would refer them to the owners manual page explaining the memory function of their seat/mirrors. If they still complained, I would tell them to go across the street to Home Depot, buy a load of lumber, build a bridge and get over it.:stickoutt
Anyway, I posted here because I stumbled upon my brothers' user ID while doing an obscure search. I don't usually visit the model specific forums.
20 day thread about mirror position? *YAWN* I'm Audi.

[mryakan]

They might complain but I wouldn't know. I don't talk to customers much, that's the advisers job. If I performed a repair that requires a test drive, then I will always adjust the seat/mirrors so I can operate the vehicle safely. If a customer were to complain to me about it I would refer them to the owners manual page explaining the memory function of their seat/mirrors. If they still complained, I would tell them to go across the street to Home Depot, buy a load of lumber, build a bridge and get over it.:stickoutt
Anyway, I posted here because I stumbled upon my brothers' user ID while doing an obscure search. I don't usually visit the model specific forums.
20 day thread about mirror position? *YAWN* I'm Audi.
No wonder they don't let you talk to customers ;). My car doesn't come with electric seats or memory, so it does bother me, although typically I do not complain about it since I can usually fix it in a few seconds. Still annoying though especially when the put the seat so far forward I can't even squeeze in :mad.
Thanks for contributing though.

[Jhunter]

Seriously Bro?!? After all these years you just figured out how you should adjust your mirrors? What else don't you know? Maybe I can help... hehehe.
Anyway, it amazes me how many of my customers cars have the mirrors looking at the door. "Hey, are my door handles still there? Yep. Oh Gawd, I almost ran someone off the road!"
I always adjust their mirrors to where they "should be" whether they like it or not. Maybe they will get the hint.

Listen Bro, more than one way to skin a cat. My mirrors are not pointed at the door handles. They are positioned so you see just a small portion of the rear fenders for reference. This does create more of a blind spot but is a benefit for backing up. Besides, its been awhile since I ran someone off the road. I lost interest in this thread so I did not see your response.