Q1 & Q2...if you're asking me, the answer is yes & yes. :D Since I had aspherical wide angle mirrors on my e38 & e39...even the convex passenger side mirror on the e53 made me feel uneasy when changing lanes. When I got the aspherical wide angle mirrors for the e53...that all went away.

But I do warn that if you have the auto dimming (EC) side view mirrors...they are more expensive to replace if you want to keep the heating & auto dimming features. But if you only have the heated side mirrors...then the wide angle heated mirrors are way less expensive than the heated & auto dimming wide angle mirrors.

Not sure if you can tell the difference in the pics below...but 1st pic is the original convex passenger side mirror...and the 2nd pic is the aspherical wide angle passenger side mirror:

I just ordered these via Ebay, love getting theses "insider tips"
Curious why not offered in US market, doesn't fit some US standard/requirement?

Is auto dimming something controlled by the car or the glass itself?
i don't have it, and probably wouldn't spend the extra even If t were possiable.
Isn't the blue hue for anti blindness?

^^Autodimming has a sensor in the mirror glass that dims it when a certain amount of light hits it I believe (think "Transitions lenses" you wear on your face) - The blue hue is for anti-glare - If you don't have auto-dim just get the blue versions

I'm sure they are not allowed from the factory here because of a stupid DOT requirement

Ditto...the writing on the passenger mirror...warning of the "distance perception" is a one of the inherit "nanny state" warnings to reduce litigation. The phrase "objects in mirror are closer than they appear" is a safety warning that is required {1} to be engraved on passenger side mirrors of motor vehicles in the USA, Canada, and India.

1. For example, in the U.S, PART 571 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Section 571.111 S5.4.2 "Each convex mirror shall have permanently and indelibly marked at the lower edge of the mirror's reflective surface, in letters not less than 4.8 mm nor more than 6.4 mm high the words “Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear.”

The US DOT also think that us Americans can't handle a non 1:1 reflective ratio on the driver's side mirror...so again, the aspherical mirrors are kicked off the option list. :thumbsdown:

So happy I accidentally bumped into this thread! Both our x5 have the silver peeling problem. I installed some decent blind spot mirrors over the affected areas. Two birds one stone but these aspherical mirrors look way better so I just ordered four! Wondering what the vertical line is. Transition from curve to straight? Reference to judge Lane?


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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 -

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:

I changed mine just for the benefit. Went with the blue ones. Should have made the change years ago.

I'm partial to the Redneck fixes for damaged mirrors myself.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PIOZDTuf-j...27s+mirror.jpg

HAHAHA...at least the mirror pictured above is secured better than some other pics I've seen of hand mirrors tied to the side of the car. :D