What is this?! Side mirrors

[andrewwynn]

Note the no nonsense phone case to help the guy keep his phone straight.


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[andrewwynn]

It amazes me that people would tape on a hand mirror when you can buy cut-to-size stick on mirror for $10.


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[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

The larger section of the aspherical mirror glass is convexed (similar to what you're used to when looking through the passenger side mirror in the US). The smaller section on the other side of the dotted line is the bent "aspherical" portion of the mirror glass which extends the viewing angle even further.

You can get an idea of the extended degree of visibility (45°) of the wide angle/aspherical mirrors vs the (17°) visibility of a plain glass mirror:

If you set your mirrors properly you don't need wide angle mirrors.

[kevinkay]

I bought the Aspherical wide angle mirror in 2010, they are still in great condition. Love the added vision, BUT....I still have trouble judging distance (when pulling on to the highway) - I still need to turn my head.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

If you set your mirrors properly you don't need wide angle mirrors.

If you set aspherical mirrors properly, you can see three lanes to each side! Even the 17 vs 45 degree pics above show proper adjustment- with the edge of the car just outside of the reflection. That's nearly 2.5x the reflected area of a standard mirror. If the idea of a mirror is to reflect as much area as it can providing the most information ab what's back/over there, it's impossible not to benefit from the wider angle glass.

I agree with others here that they are one of the best things I have done to my X5. I wasn't adventurous enough after 7 years in my 3.0 (sworn no mods on purchase), but I still enjoy in my E39 after 14 years and only 5 or so in the 4.8. The more the mirror reflects, the more you see.

[upallnight]

Originally Posted by andrewwynn

It amazes me that people would tape on a hand mirror when you can buy cut-to-size stick on mirror for $10.


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Anyone can throw money to fix a car, but what if you out in the backroad and you need to MacGuyvr something.

I would have super glues an OLD smartphone to it and set it to back facing camera. Now that's a MacGuyver fix.

[Fifty150hs]

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

If you set aspherical mirrors properly, you can see three lanes to each side! Even the 17 vs 45 degree pics above show proper adjustment- with the edge of the car just outside of the reflection. That's nearly 2.5x the reflected area of a standard mirror. If the idea of a mirror is to reflect as much area as it can providing the most information ab what's back/over there, it's impossible not to benefit from the wider angle glass.

I agree with others here that they are one of the best things I have done to my X5. I wasn't adventurous enough after 7 years in my 3.0 (sworn no mods on purchase), but I still enjoy in my E39 after 14 years and only 5 or so in the 4.8. The more the mirror reflects, the more you see.

The way I was taught to set side mirrors was to lean over next to the window and adjust mirror until you just see the edge of the door handles. You don't need to know what your door handles are doing do you? You can then see three lanes between the side view and rear view mirrors. In fact when vehicle is coming up in the lane next to you, you can see them in the rear view and just as they are about to disappear from the rear view they will appear in your side view. But, to each their own.

[PropellerHead]

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

The way I was taught to set side mirrors was to lean over next to the window and adjust mirror until you just see the edge of the door handles.

Except for leaning around to be sure you've done it correctly, that's exactly what I said.

Originally Posted by PropellerHead

Even the 17 vs 45 degree pics above show proper adjustment- with the edge of the car just outside of the reflection.

Check the picture below. It shows the handles as *outside* of the mirror view, just where they should be. There is no reason to see your own car in the mirror. The adage: If you know where your ass is, you know where your car is. The more of your car you see, the less of the other cars you will see.

But it's no secret, really. If you attend a performance driving school like Skip Barber, a BMWCCA HPDE (pg 20) or take delivery from BMW at Spartanburg, you will also be taught not to have any part of your car reflected in the side view mirrors. After being taught 32 years ago, I thought the proper adjustment would be so well known that it would be correct in the CA DMV drivers test. On page 7, they *still* want the car in the reflection.

Unless you're unsure how to do it, (and who isn't?) there is no need to lean. Link: AAA Senior drivers are advised to lean as they are getting used to 'unlearning' the way they were taught. I was also taught by drivers ed to see part of my car in the mirror. But I'd already been to a number of driving schools by age 16 so I never had to 'unlearn' it. You can tell the folks who were taught this by the way they leannn forward/left or rt when they want to use the mirrors.

Instead, look as if you are sitting straight up in a driving position and glancing down at the side mirrors. This was my experience in 1986 at Skip Barber (they used 535i's at the time) and a few times at Spartanburg. It offers the widest view possible no matter the type of mirrors.

But indeed. For anyone that doesn't agree with us, BMWCCA, countless YT videos, and pretty much anyone with a brain and two eyes (except CA DMV)... to each their own.

We disagree though on this:

Originally Posted by Fifty150hs

If you set your mirrors properly you don't need wide angle mirrors.

Mirror adjustments aside, there is no discussion about whether a 45 degree angle of view from aspheric mirrors is more complete than one of 17 degrees.

[bcredliner]

With stock mirror I used the lean to adjust method. Since you can't see the side of the vehicle without leaning I was never sure the mirror was still in adjustment. I don't have to adjust the wide angle mirror to the point I can't see the side of the X so I have more confidence the mirror has not moved so it could be missing anything. On Dallas area freeways you have to trust your mirrors.

[rwilson]

Originally Posted by Ricky Bobby

Just wanted to update this thread as I got delamination on my drivers side mirror this winter so approx 5 year lifespan - Needing to order a new set -

Since you are a repeat customer can I ask for the purchasing info. Can I assume the mirrors are the same on my 2006?

thanks, Rich