R56 Huge rear view mirror blocking front view
#1
Huge rear view mirror blocking front view
I like to have the seat jacked up high enough to see out over the bonnet...but then I sometimes feel like I'm ducking under the rear view mirror to see out the front window. Anybody feel this way? And I'm only 5'8" tall...
The mirror seems rather large...maybe to keep the speedo company?
John
The mirror seems rather large...maybe to keep the speedo company?
John
#2
The mirror is too large because people complained that it was too small on earlier models (02-03) when it was, in fact, just the right size to capture the entire rear window. Now there's a huge mirror that lets you see both of the rear pillars, too.
It's less of an issue on the R50/53 because the bonnet is much lower. I'm 5'9" and have my seat cranked all the way down. The mirror is still way too annoyingly large, though.
It's less of an issue on the R50/53 because the bonnet is much lower. I'm 5'9" and have my seat cranked all the way down. The mirror is still way too annoyingly large, though.
Last edited by chrisneal; 06-04-2007 at 10:18 PM.
#3
I have the same problem.
I'm starting to consider seeing if a retrofit is possible.
I don't understand this. I'm not cranking my seat up to see over the hood. I'm positioning my legs how they are the most comfortable with relation to the pedals. I can barly see any of the hood and what little is visible is not obstructing a vital portion of the roadway. The mirror is.
I'm starting to consider seeing if a retrofit is possible.
I don't understand this. I'm not cranking my seat up to see over the hood. I'm positioning my legs how they are the most comfortable with relation to the pedals. I can barly see any of the hood and what little is visible is not obstructing a vital portion of the roadway. The mirror is.
Last edited by msh441; 06-05-2007 at 04:45 AM.
#4
#7
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#8
I'm 5'8" and I slide the seat most of the way back.
I don't have a perception of a blind spot. It may be that I would have a problem if my previous car's rear view mirror had taken up a smaller portion of my field of view. The MINI's front windshield and rear view mirror are much farther from my head than I'm used to, so the mirror seems pretty small to me.
My old car was a Chevy Prizm. Don't laugh, I'm not proud of it.
I don't have a perception of a blind spot. It may be that I would have a problem if my previous car's rear view mirror had taken up a smaller portion of my field of view. The MINI's front windshield and rear view mirror are much farther from my head than I'm used to, so the mirror seems pretty small to me.
My old car was a Chevy Prizm. Don't laugh, I'm not proud of it.
#9
#10
I nearly wrecked the other day at an intersection when that huge mirror on my 2006 totally obstructed my view of a car approaching from the right. Mirror size on my previous 2003 model was perfect, but the new one obscures a large portion of the windshield no matter how I orient the driver's seat. I've never had to deal with a blind spot in front of a car before!
That said, the 2006 is better in most every other way. I like the new interior lighting, and the LSD takes the car's performance to an entirely new level.
That said, the 2006 is better in most every other way. I like the new interior lighting, and the LSD takes the car's performance to an entirely new level.
#11
I'm 6' and sit very upright and I find the mirror is right in my line of sight. I can see under it, but its a lower angle than I'm used to. Same deal for me in the R50/53s I've test driven or had on loan - all 06.
But I don't think there is any way around it. If the mirror is close to you as in a car with a raked windshield you can get a wider view from a smaller mirror. The Mini's mirror is far away because of the upright windshield and so I think it needs to be larger to provide the same field of view.
But I don't think there is any way around it. If the mirror is close to you as in a car with a raked windshield you can get a wider view from a smaller mirror. The Mini's mirror is far away because of the upright windshield and so I think it needs to be larger to provide the same field of view.
#12
#16
I'm 6'1" and have the problem. A lot of it might have to do with how one drives. I'm on a lot of back roads . . . it is turns to the right where there is a real problem. . . . can't see the pavement without changing body position, having the seat all the way down, bending my spine and leaning to the left.
#19
I'm 6'00"
It must be how I position the seat: I like to first set the distance from the pedals (in a position where my left foot rests on the dead pedal and my right comfortably on the gas with just enough bend in my knee to allow me to fully depress the clutch with my leg extended). I then set the seat hight (to support that slight bend in my legs just above/behind my knees - I'm two cranks off the lowest setting!). Then the angle of the seat back (I like it relativly upright, so that my weight is not fully against the seat back, nor on my bum). Lastly I set the reach and angle of the stearing wheel (so that I don't have to reach too far up or forwards, allowing me to keep my arms relaxed and in the best position to control the wheel).
Once I'm comfortable... there's Mr. Mirror, right between two O-Clock and two-thirty in the front window.
I could allways just rip the thing off... "And now my friend, the first-ah rule of Italian driving. [Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car] What's-ah behind me is not important."
It must be how I position the seat: I like to first set the distance from the pedals (in a position where my left foot rests on the dead pedal and my right comfortably on the gas with just enough bend in my knee to allow me to fully depress the clutch with my leg extended). I then set the seat hight (to support that slight bend in my legs just above/behind my knees - I'm two cranks off the lowest setting!). Then the angle of the seat back (I like it relativly upright, so that my weight is not fully against the seat back, nor on my bum). Lastly I set the reach and angle of the stearing wheel (so that I don't have to reach too far up or forwards, allowing me to keep my arms relaxed and in the best position to control the wheel).
Once I'm comfortable... there's Mr. Mirror, right between two O-Clock and two-thirty in the front window.
I could allways just rip the thing off... "And now my friend, the first-ah rule of Italian driving. [Franco rips off his rear-view mirror and throws it out of the car] What's-ah behind me is not important."
Last edited by msh441; 06-08-2007 at 02:17 AM.
#21
I don't have any issues with the mirror.
For me, I think the difference is the height of the windshield is much shorter than the Civic I came from. As a result, the mirror may take up a larger portion of the Mini windshield than it did on the Civic. Still, that doesn't cause a problem.
It's having to strain my neck to see the traffic light when I'm first in line at a stop that I grumble about.
For me, I think the difference is the height of the windshield is much shorter than the Civic I came from. As a result, the mirror may take up a larger portion of the Mini windshield than it did on the Civic. Still, that doesn't cause a problem.
It's having to strain my neck to see the traffic light when I'm first in line at a stop that I grumble about.
#22
#23
I’ve scared myself a couple of times by having the curving road disappear behind the huge inside rear view mirror. Sometimes I feel like a boxer with my head bobbing and weaving just to get an unobstructed view of the road or traffic. I’m convinced this is a dangerous condition. Will someone explain how to remove this mirror from a 2007 R56 Cooper? Has anyone been able to replace this mirror with something smaller? If so, what did you use and did it improve the view of traffic?
If you have any experience with a failed attempt to correct this problem I’d like to know about that too so I don’t duplicate your wasted effort. I really need to do something about this.
Thanks
If you have any experience with a failed attempt to correct this problem I’d like to know about that too so I don’t duplicate your wasted effort. I really need to do something about this.
Thanks
#25