MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: Petrus on June 18, 2019, 20:02

Title: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 18, 2019, 20:02
I am a bit claustrophibic and also @nal ocd about a clear view windscreen.
So I swapped the sun visors for club plugs. Lóve it!

The mirror glued to the windscreen bugs me no end. Being 8 foot (why is that not feet?) 2, it sits in my view; or at least I perceive it that way.

I want to take it off.
Anyone of you fitted a dash mounted one?

Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: StuC on June 18, 2019, 20:06
Not sure you would see past the seats for a dash mounted one.
Do you NEED one? Are the door mirrors not enough?

If not, how about making an adaptor to mount off the interior lamp area?
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: paulj on June 18, 2019, 20:14
In the UK you need "An interior mirror or a device which provides a view to the rear of the vehicle" to pass the MOT test.  Not sure about Spain!

Having said that the inclusion of the words "a device" could allow a rear view camera with a screen in the double DIN slot.  Perhaps......
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: StuC on June 18, 2019, 21:24
@paulj agreed on the UK. That's why I thought I'd pose the idea.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 19, 2019, 00:17
I am unsure as there seesm to be confusion about the rules.
In the UK too btw. See below concerning older vans.

Previous to 2010 here in Spain is was not mandatory to have a passenger side side mirror.
For vehicles with ristricted view behind the cabin, p.e. vans, it was. Automtically it followed that the interior rear view mirror was superfluous.
It coúld be inferred that two side mirrors equals sufficient rear view, or in other words that the second side mirror makes the interior one optional.
To mé it follows that since my pre 2010 car has a second side mirror, the interir one could be deleted.
However... if I would want to just delete, I´d pass the MoT fírst and if they agree, would have it put in the registration docs. to avoid both problems with future inspections and with the police  on the road.
A small dash mounted mirror would be dodging this.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Snelbaard on June 19, 2019, 09:01
There's a bend I take every day on the way to work in which the interior mirror is precisely obscuring the apex. It's really quite frustrating. If anyone's done anything to change the interior mirror I'm interested to hear about it.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 19, 2019, 09:24
Quote from: Snelbaard on June 19, 2019, 09:01There's a bend I take every day on the way to work in which the interior mirror is precisely obscuring the apex. It's really quite frustrating. If anyone's done anything to change the interior mirror I'm interested to hear about it.

I have that on the mountain road from the village to Archidona and back. It is a pita because the road is narrow, the bends blind but there ís traffic!
It is a blind spot in front of me, meaning I need to move my head araound the mirror every other bend for some twenty bends either way.

It cannót be just a Dutch thing though we may be a bit taller than average.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: james_ly on June 19, 2019, 10:46
I'd be interested in a smaller mirror, as said it obscures the vision quite a bit. I assume it just pops off and an ebay one will fit.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Joesson on June 19, 2019, 11:58
I read in a newspaper on Saturday that a prototype McLaren Speedtail caught fire at a Guildford petrol station. With this report was some design detail of the car-

There are no side view mirrors. Instead, small side cameras send images to the driver's dashboard.
Features 'electrochromic' windscreen and roof, which can go dark at the touch of a button - doing away with sun visors.
Daily Mail Reporter.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: StuC on June 19, 2019, 14:45
There are lots of cars on the market with door mirror cameras now.

My understanding of the UK stuff was that it needs to be a non-electronic back-up, i.e. mirrors!
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 20, 2019, 19:29
That´s it; it is coming out.
Malaga gf is going to China for half a year or so and gave me cool present that will remind me of her; a hat only photo session in the MR.
In several of the shots the mirror really spoils the view. Every hot blooded bloke understands that you can nót have that  8)

I will let the button glued in place for the moment, untill I am clear about the periodic inspection.

The mirror is a push fit with a button on the stem sliding down (to remove) or up (to fit) between two spring legs
(there´s a photo in a How To:  http://www.mr2roc.org/Repository/misc/referencelibrary/FTOMirror/005-25.jpg )
and it weighs 300 grams. About the same promilage as the max. permitted alcohol level in blood for driving,, so nothing to sneeze at :-)

Imo it is worth the extra view and I don´t mean the above mentioned, but the róad view.
I consider the slightly less rear view less important than a blind spot at the front.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Bossworld on June 21, 2019, 06:42
I can't quite remember how but I've manipulated mine to being higher up the windscreen so it's no longer obscuring my view.

As above its only just clipped in and fairly easy to remove to look at.

I think from memory you have a ball at the bottom which allows it to be moved around, but there's also a stalk, likely to have become very stiff over the years, that you can manipulate to have the mirror sit higher
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: StuC on June 21, 2019, 08:52
I think you can rotate it through 180 degrees and it sits higher, but you lose some of the functionality.

it is a halfway house though.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 21, 2019, 09:22
Quote from: StuC on June 21, 2019, 08:52I think you can rotate it through 180 degrees and it sits higher, but you lose some of the functionality.

it is a halfway house though.

Ah halfway compromise is often the sensible choice and yours is a valid good solution. It wíll raise the blind spot and can solve it depending on how tall you sit and yes it lowers the sky in the rear view but still...

Weather forecast 38 degrees for next week. That is hére; in the valley. Exceptional. In Júne. It means over 40 degrees in the shade. That is August temp!!

For the moment though 8,5 degrees this morning at surrise and 30 mid day. Will be taking Belle out for a spin and enjoy the unimpaired view. Almost decadent pleasure; top down under the sun with the airco blowing.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: StuC on June 21, 2019, 10:02
Let's see how long it takes you to get used to it upside down!

I think the 'night mode' dipping makes things worse if I recall.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 21, 2019, 10:38
Quote from: StuC on June 21, 2019, 10:02Let's see how long it takes you to get used to it upside down!

:-)

It already takes some getting used to not glancing automatically up.
Can do with not automatically straing the neck to look around it though.

I like it a lót how much idea of unrestricted view it gives. With the top up also extra ´space´ like with removing the sun visors.

Can not say I notice the 300 grams ::-)

QuoteI think the 'night mode' dipping makes things worse if I recall.

It darkens the view and means you need an odd angle to the mirror.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: shnazzle on June 21, 2019, 10:40
I think everyone is missing the important thing here... 

You're 8ft2in?????
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 21, 2019, 10:55
Quote from: shnazzle on June 21, 2019, 10:40I think everyone is missing the important thing here...

You're 8ft2in?????

I did mention the crux;

It cannót be just a Dutch thing though we may be a bit taller than average.

and 6 2.

Taller = more blind spot issue.
Smaller = less issue.

Additionally not sitting waááááy back: Wrist on top of steering wheel with shoulder to back rest.
If I sit two clicks further back the issue lessens but without pas a like a bit of leverage.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Nvy on June 21, 2019, 11:09
Quote from: Petrus on June 21, 2019, 10:55
Quote from: shnazzle on June 21, 2019, 10:40I think everyone is missing the important thing here...

You're 8ft2in?????

I did mention the crux;

It cannót be just a Dutch thing though we may be a bit taller than average.

and yes, 8 2.

Taller = more blind spot issue.
Smaller = less issue.

Additionally not sitting waááááy back: Wrist on top of steering wheel with shoulder to back rest.
If I sit two clicks further back the issue lessens but without pas a like a bit of leverage.

Either Google is getting it wrong or you are one of the tallest persons in the world. Anyways at 1.85 metres I know why you would want to remove the mirror. Now you got me thinking too.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 21, 2019, 11:14
Quote from: Nvy on June 21, 2019, 11:09Either Google is getting it wrong or you are one of the tallest persons in the world. Anyways at 1.85 metres I know why you would want to remove the mirror. Now you got me thinking too.

I stand corrected. Typo; 6 2; 185 cms. Silly measurements in feet, thumbs and stónes even...
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Bossworld on June 21, 2019, 11:18
Quote from: StuC on June 21, 2019, 08:52I think you can rotate it through 180 degrees and it sits higher, but you lose some of the functionality.

it is a halfway house though.

I tried some of those routines and I seem to recall ending up with the mirror pointing at an impossible angle.  In the end, if I remember correctly I just pushed the stalk up as high as possible in-situ, then titled the mirror back down to compensate.  Made a big difference.
Title: Re: Interior rear view mirror.
Post by: Petrus on June 21, 2019, 11:48
Quote from: Bossworld on June 21, 2019, 11:18In the end, if I remember correctly I just pushed the stalk up as high as possible in-situ, then titled the mirror back down to compensate.  Made a big difference.

Also moves it into the cab and I háte that. It is a matter of picking your irk or chuck it.