[v.Rossi]

I don't think so, maybe some, but not the majority for sure.

I'm one of those stingy, picky people that needs everything perfect when it comes to driving. So something as important as mirror HAS to be adjusted correctly.

Anyways, as I was heading home I was adjusting my mirror, and I was never content with the angle, so I googled if there was a correct angle.

http://www.linquist.net/motorsports/tech/mirrors/

Some questions to ask yourself:

Do you see 1/3 of your car through your side mirrors? If so, why do you need to see your car through the side view mirror? Sure, you have a nice expensive car, but if it's adjusted so that you have blind spots and you switch lanes and SCRAPE. Anyways, that's just worse cast scenario, but it can happen at anytime. Why do you need to see the car behind you through the side view, what the rear view for then?

Hopefully this isn't a repost, nonetheless it is a good read.

STILL SHOULDER CHECK PLEASE!

[SumAznGuy]

The problem with this is that people will assume they see everything with their mirrors and do not shoulder check.
Also, with the mirrors pointed out so much, they cannot see the curb to parallel park.

Personally though, I have my mirrors adjusted very similarly to what he said because there is just that much less of blind spots, but I still shoulder check.

[ilvtofu]

oh ic, i'm used to having my side mirrors pointed somewhat at the body of my car, But what he says really makes sense to me, less shoulder checking necessary :)

[!LittleDragon]

I adjust mine so I can't see my own car. No blind spots that way... which is good because I have these massive C pillars that makes shoulder checking pointless.

[q0192837465]

I have to see part of my car in the side mirror. Not 1/3 but at least 1/5 if not 1/4. The reason, for me at least, is so that you have a reference point on where everything is. You know exactly where ur car is, so everything else in the mirror is in reference to the location of the car. If you can't see ur car, u dunno as well where everything actually is.

If you dun like to shoulder check, get some split mirror. Even if another car is right beside me, I can still see it in the mirror

[!LittleDragon]

I have to see part of my car in the side mirror. Not 1/3 but at least 1/5 if not 1/4. The reason, for me at least, is so that you have a reference point on where everything is. You know exactly where ur car is, so everything else in the mirror is in reference to the location of the car. If you can't see ur car, u dunno as well where everything actually is.

If you dun like to shoulder check, get some split mirror. Even if another car is right beside me, I can still see it in the mirror

If you adjust it so you can't see your car when rotating your head, you can still see your car if you need to by moving your head left/right a few inches. I don't see my car in my mirrors at all but when I parallel park, I move my head so that I can see it

[Noir]

I have to see part of my car in the side mirror. Not 1/3 but at least 1/5 if not 1/4. The reason, for me at least, is so that you have a reference point on where everything is. You know exactly where ur car is, so everything else in the mirror is in reference to the location of the car. If you can't see ur car, u dunno as well where everything actually is.

Exactly. +1. The author of that site sounds pretentious.

[eurochevy]

my sister likes to see her car in her side view mirrors so she always gets mad at me when she gets back in her own car cause i adjust her mirrors...like first said wth's the point of seeing 1/3 of your own car

[you]

mine points directly to my blang blang rims

[Rich Sandor]

http://members.shaw.ca/rsandor/my9685.jpg

[wouwou]

http://members.shaw.ca/rsandor/my9685.jpg

what mine looks like as well

can see the very edge of my car, and the horizon in the middle of the mirrors

[roastpuff]

what mine looks like as well

can see the very edge of my car, and the horizon in the middle of the mirrors

x3.

Except on passenger side it's pointed more down so I can see the curb.

[impactX]

I do what Rich Sandor has posted... basically means that if the whole car (not just partial) appears in my mirror, I have enough room to shoulder check -> change lane in heartbeat.

[drunkrussian]

damn awesome...i accidentally fucked mine up and kept adjusting today without satisfaction. It's like u read my mind!

I'mma try this later, but i don't really get what he means by put your head to your window (when you first start doing this). Does this mean sit in your seat and press your head to the glass as left u can? Anyone?

[!SG]

ditto, though i understand what the OP says, i adjust my mirrors this way as well. why? because i use that tad little bit of the car as a frame of reference to where the other cars behind me are. how far away will the car be if u have no frame of reference for it?

also, as for parking and stuff, that is what those dinky little angled mirrors are for. for me, i mounted them in the upper outer corner of the mirror. i dont need to see the sun in the background, and last time i checked, gravity keeps the cars on the road thus having as much visibility of the road, and the cars on them is best.

http://members.shaw.ca/rsandor/my9685.jpg

[dark_reverie]

for me, on my driver side, I have it adjusted properly. but on the left side, I have it pointing to the curb. I do this because I'm using a extra wide rear viewmirror and I can see the entire right side of my car, up to the beginning of the passenger side door. I shoulder check, anyways. Before I got the rear view mirror, I had it adjusted properly.

[JSALES]

that's why it's always good to shoulder check

[asian_XL]

http://xs941.xs.to/xs941/09282/img_3121560.jpg

[124Y]

x3.

Except on passenger side it's pointed more down so I can see the curb.

That's exactly how mine is set up~! :thumbsup:

[orange7]

http://members.shaw.ca/rsandor/my9685.jpg

very similar to how my mirrors are adjusted. I have a 4 doors sedan, and I can just barely see the rear door handles.

[woob]

I have it so I cant see my car using peripheral vision, but when I turn my head a couple inches to check mirrors, I see about as much as the pic Rich Sandor posted. That's just how my dad taught me when I first got my L. And it makes sense the whole whytf do you need to see 1/3 of your car.

meh

[Rich Sandor]

Of course, I doubt this thread is going to change the way people aim their mirrors - lol - everyone thinks they are the bomb and that they are the #1 driver in the world.

I don't like to have to move my head in order to see how close I'm cutting the wall to my fender, which I why I aim the mirrors so I can always see if the edge of a wall is going to touch my fenders - and as posted above, seeing the car in my sideviews gives me reference to how far or close something is.

Plus those 944/968 fenders are just plain sexy.

[!SG]

haha, so you guys got me all freak interested in how i set my mirrors.

i notice i have my mirrors set comprimising both what rich sandors posted, and what the OP says.

if i sit still, and only turn my head left and right to see what i see in the side mirrors, i see no part of my own car in the side mirrors. however, due to my nature, which i think a lot of ppl do, when they check to see who or what is in their side mirror, they tend to lean over, and when i do this, i see just that tad bit of my own car.

so while driving normally, to just make sure no one is in the other lane, i turn my head to make sure its clean, however, when im getting ready to turn, or change lanes, i of course shoulder check (make it a habit ppl!), but also lean over a bit to see, when doing so, i see that tad bit of my own car, for that frame of reference. =)

[!Yaminashi]

less shoulder checking necessary :)

Shoulder checking should always be necessary, and its a good habit
I mean seriously, how hard is it to turn your head for half a second?

[shenmecar]

i make it so that i see just a little bit of my car. That way when i parallel/ backwards stall parking, i can see the curb or the lines better with respect to my car.

[!SG]

i have a cheap trick for when im parrellel parking.

if you have a relatively modern car, and well, if its a lux car, then its usually a feature, but seat memory. My seat memory for my car also adjusts the steering column and the side mirror location.

also some modern cars, i know the +04 TL's had it, automatically lower the side mirrors view when you pop it into reverse.

[!LittleDragon]

Shoulder checking should always be necessary, and its a good habit
I mean seriously, how hard is it to turn your head for half a second?

2 seater with big B and C pillars coupled with a small quarter window.... I shoulder check and can't see squat, I rely on my mirrors.

[skyxx]

My side mirror's the best cause you can see 8 different angles. :)
CUSTOM!!!

http://i26.tinypic.com/28wndx5.jpg

[wouwou]

^LOL

[Dragon-88]

i have a cheap trick for when im parrellel parking.

if you have a relatively modern car, and well, if its a lux car, then its usually a feature, but seat memory. My seat memory for my car also adjusts the steering column and the side mirror location.

also some modern cars, i know the +04 TL's had it, automatically lower the side mirrors view when you pop it into reverse.


I know for sure the 03 tl-s has it... My bro has one and though its a nice feature, I find it dumb, cause if you were to park in a dark spot, You dont see anything because the mirror in tilted down..... Then again if you need the mirror tilt to park then you shouldnt be driving at all.. let alone auto parallel parking...

[tofu1413]

http://members.shaw.ca/rsandor/my9685.jpg

urgk. reminds me of my 944's poor field of vision... T_T side mirrors being almost useless, and thick pillars. rear third quarter was the worst.

that glass hatch kinda helped somewhat though..

[Rich Sandor]

urgk. reminds me of my 944's poor field of vision... T_T side mirrors being almost useless, and thick pillars. rear third quarter was the worst.

that glass hatch kinda helped somewhat though..

Actually your 944 would've had the early flat glass mirrors (which suck)

Both my cars have the upgraded convex 968 mirrors which are MUCH better.

[tofu1413]

never sat in a 968... so i never knew LOL.


car was low too with that glass hatch... all that glare from behind...especially being followed by HID and xenon equipped cars... it just blinds me

[shenmecar]

i have a cheap trick for when im parrellel parking.

if you have a relatively modern car, and well, if its a lux car, then its usually a feature, but seat memory. My seat memory for my car also adjusts the steering column and the side mirror location.

also some modern cars, i know the +04 TL's had it, automatically lower the side mirrors view when you pop it into reverse.

My dad's 08 MDX has that feature. It is sorta frustrating when you back into a dark spot. Perfect for parallel/backing into stall parking though!

[tofu1413]

99 e-class has it... xD

[Black SC2]

If you're doing it right, all your obstacles will be in front of you.... ;)

I have mine set out more like in the article. If you get it all just right, there are no blind spots. When you set it up, if you have someone walk along from right to left behind your car, they will only be visible in one mirror at a time as they move. If they are duplicated, you've got it wrong. If done properly, you won't even have a space for a bicycle to hide in. This allows you to focus more on what ahead of you, and shoulder check less. It does mean you have to turn your head when revers and parallel parking, but who cares? You should be looking in whatever direction your car is moving anyways.

[slammer111]

You do need to see the EDGE of your car, so you have a reference point.

Left side I have it adjusted so the horizon is level. Right side I have it so the horizon about 80% up the mirror. High enough to see traffic behind me, low enough so I can see my wheels so I don't curb when parking.

B-pillar in your way? I have the same problem too. Lean forward every time you shoulder check. Works like a charm.

One thing I've never understood is why they simply don't make OEM anti-blind spot mrrors. They're like regular mirrors, but with a thin vertical line etched about about 3/4 out, past which the mirror goes convex. Not sure about domestics or Jap brands, but BMW and MB make them for the European markets. No idea why they don't make 'em available here. It'd cut down their production costs too so now there's only 1 version of the mirror.

[Black SC2]

You do need to see the EDGE of your car, so you have a reference point.

Once you drive for a few minutes with your mirrors adjusted wide, you know where everything is in relation to your car. My guidelines are if there's a car in my right hand mirror, he's too close to pull in front of, as in when passing etc. If he's in my rear view mirror, I'm far enough ahead to pull in front of him. Same on the left side. On either side, if I'm being passed, as the car passes me, and disappears from my mirror, the front of his car will appear in my peripheral vision.

[Supafly]

I have my mirrors adjusted so i can see the rear quarter panel of the car...it forces me to do a shoulder check; I don't mind it so much because i don't have B-pillars. :D

[!LittleDragon]

Once you drive for a few minutes with your mirrors adjusted wide, you know where everything is in relation to your car. My guidelines are if there's a car in my right hand mirror, he's too close to pull in front of, as in when passing etc. If he's in my rear view mirror, I'm far enough ahead to pull in front of him. Same on the left side. On either side, if I'm being passed, as the car passes me, and disappears from my mirror, the front of his car will appear in my peripheral vision.

That's the exact same thing I do.

[sonick]

Once you drive for a few minutes with your mirrors adjusted wide, you know where everything is in relation to your car. My guidelines are if there's a car in my right hand mirror, he's too close to pull in front of, as in when passing etc. If he's in my rear view mirror, I'm far enough ahead to pull in front of him. Same on the left side. On either side, if I'm being passed, as the car passes me, and disappears from my mirror, the front of his car will appear in my peripheral vision.

+1. You shouldn't be able to see any part of your car in the side mirrors.