Sorry if this has been discussed before or obvious but I thought I'd share.
Even though I just upgraded my Jeep (by trading it in) to have BSM.
I thought I'd share how I adjusted my Side Mirrors without BSM to the point I don't even care that much about getting BSM but I do care about ACC and Collision Avoidance.
Any way.
I had an old habit on most cares to adjust the side mirrors far out enough that I can just barely catch seeing the body of the car (door handles) on both sides. There is something unnerving about not seeing the body of the car for reference.
This is NOT out enough. I had several close calls and never saw cars in my blind spot. More so than any other car I've driven.
So I aimed them WAY out. I think they are about 10 degrees beyond seeing the Body of the car. I'm not sure how to describe how much but it was uncomfortably a LOT.
This felt uncomfortable at first. But after while it felt perfectly "Normal".
Even with BSM I may continue to set them this way.
I've never had a close call since (been like 8 months).
So you might consider pushing them out more than you are used to.
I found no situation where they were at a disadvantage being out so far.
Try it, if you have not already.
Share it, if you already have.
I used to set my mirrors way out as well. Unfortunately the mirrors in my 2015 WK2 won't go out that far. They stop just about when you can see the door handles without leaning. Don't know if this is because it has BSM or not but I was surprised they didn't have as much range of motion as every other car I have driven.
I used to set my mirrors way out as well. Unfortunately the mirrors in my 2015 WK2 won't go out that far. They stop just about when you can see the door handles without leaning. Don't know if this is because it has BSM or not but I was surprised they didn't have as much range of motion as every other car I have driven.
I posted about this method Post #37 Here. Mr Bill_DE decided he knew better than I regarding mirror adjustment and essentially said I was full of it and didn't know what I was talking about.
I agree with you. Mirrors properly adjusted as you describe will eliminate the blind spot. Tough to get used to for a few miles, but after that, I'll never adjust my mirrors any other way, no matter what bill_de says.
EDIT: It was actually post #32 where I initially posted. And in fairness, Bill_DE wasn't the only one that disagreed with me.
Agreed. For a starting point on a new setting, I've found that leaning your head against the driver's window and adjusting the driver's mirror, then putting your head in the center of the vehicle over the console and adjusting the passenger mirror gets you pretty close to where you need to be. Only minor adjustments are required after that. I first started using this method on my brand new 1974 Toyota Celica GT and have done it ever since.
Works well when renting cars also. Started adjusting my mirrors like this about two years ago. Took several weeks to get used to it, but would not go back to old method now.
I would consider something like a Multivex mirror, if they still made them and if it wouldn't block the BSM indicator, eliminate the electrochromatic dimming, and render the mirror heater ineffectual.
So, instead I just crank the mirrors out like I have been doing on every vehicle I have driven for the past decade.
I use that method of adjusting my rear view mirror to eliminate blind spots too. Have you noticed all the cars you're stopped behind in traffic and you can clearly see the driver in front of you in their rear view mirror? How dangerous are they on the road when the only thing they can see behind them is what's directly behind their bumper??
I remember my first HPDE (High Performance Driving Education) course I attended a few years ago. During the early morning tutorial, the instructor asked how many of us could see our bodywork in our side mirrors. Most participants raised their hands. The instructor then asked us, "What would you prefer seeing, a car behind you or your car door getting impacted?"
Every HPDE driver/instructor will adjust your mirrors so they go just beyond the sheet metal of the car (think 1 cm beyond the handles). With those settings, your rear view mirror will complement your side view mirrors and eliminate nearly all blind angles.
Of course it goes without saying that you must first look into those mirrors prior to making any lane changes.
I remember my first HPDE (High Performance Driving Education) course I attended a few years ago. During the early morning tutorial, the instructor asked how many of us could see our bodywork in our side mirrors. Most participants raised their hands. The instructor then asked us, "What would you prefer seeing, a car behind you or your car door getting impacted?"
Every HPDE driver/instructor will adjust your mirrors so they go just beyond the sheet metal of the car (think 1 cm beyond the handles). With those settings, your rear view mirror will complement your side view mirrors and eliminate nearly all blind angles.
Of course it goes without saying that you must first look into those mirrors prior to making any lane changes.
I have always attached a 2 inch convex mirror, they do not interfer with the BSM indicater, the electrochromatic dimming, or the mirror heating in any way, and greatly add an additional wide angle view to the rear, side, and ground no matter how one prefers to have their mirrors set
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