Adjust Your Mirrors for Safer Driving - United Bimmer Community

**gldfshkpr** · 02-18-2008, 06:15 PM

Ran across this article and love the technique. Check it out.

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

witeshark · 02-18-2008, 06:28 PM

Yeah! My instructor had me doing this from the start. It works great when you're used to it!

**xsperf** · 02-18-2008, 10:49 PM

that is just adjusting your mirrors for the blind spots, i have mine adjusted the other way, and i always look over my shoulder when switching lanes, mainly because i use my mirrors for parking every day(i always back into my spot @ work) , and no, they are not pointed down(that is just down-right retarded)

**celsdogg** · 02-18-2008, 11:36 PM

i have my mirrors adjusted like this too; there is no reason to have your own car showing in your side mirrors. you are in your car and should know where you are.

i think having your mirrors positioned like this allows better situational awareness, and situational awareness saves lives. and allow you to have more fun!

**gldfshkpr** · 02-18-2008, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by witeshark

Yeah! My instructor had me doing this from the start. It works great when you're used to it!

Shark

I am sold on this. With certain cars I am okay with the blind spots. With my Bimmer, blind spots were the only issue for me. Now I am more comfortable changing lanes on the freeway. It's like a whole new driving experience. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better in my BMW.

**gldfshkpr** · 02-18-2008, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by celsdogg

i have my mirrors adjusted like this too; there is no reason to have your own car showing in your side mirrors. you are in your car and should know where you are.

i think having your mirrors positioned like this allows better situational awareness, and situational awareness saves lives. and allow you to have more fun!

It is definitely a different perspective. I will teach my kids to use mirrors like this. I can't believe I drove for so many years the other way. Awareness is key.

witeshark · 02-18-2008, 11:54 PM

It is, and I always look over my shoulder too, together with the mirrors it's all good.

craig · 02-19-2008, 01:35 AM

hmm. turns out i have been using my mirrons all wrong.

but, i live in a small town where there is no road with two lanes each way, so theres never anyone beside me. i think ill keep it the other way untill i move to a bigger town where it might actualy come in handy. besides, my bug dosnt have a passenger side mirror

**denyo77** · 02-19-2008, 07:16 AM

an e30 literally HAS no blind spot lol

**gldfshkpr** · 02-19-2008, 01:03 PM

Another article... http://www.hanselman.com/blog/HowToA...3Monitors.aspx

**celsdogg** · 02-19-2008, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denyo77

an e30 literally HAS no blind spot lol

heck yes it doesnt!

i can see all the way around my e30, and can even tell exactly where the hood and tail end!

**theSMELSINATOR** · 02-20-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by denyo77

an e30 literally HAS no blind spot lol

+1, and the old 2002s and such have even less than an E30! they're like sitting in an aquarium!

**MTurboPower3** · 02-20-2008, 04:41 PM

WOw isn't obvious you have to set your mirrors why is coming up now?

**theSMELSINATOR** · 02-20-2008, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTurboPower3

WOw isn't obvious you have to set your mirrors why is coming up now?

if i understand your question...

it's coming up because most people angle their side mirrors so that they can see the side of their car and presumably what's beside them. the problem is that this really just shows them the side of their car and what's behind them, which they can already see in their rear view mirror. that site shows people how to adjust their mirrors so that it actually shows people what's in their blind spot. looks like a pretty good technique to me.

**3050rpm** · 02-21-2008, 06:37 AM

What I can't understand is why many manufacturers, including BMW, have skimped on the size of the outside rearview mirrors, or have made them in such odd, even ridiculous shapes, that relying on them is pointless. Prior to getting my E36, I drove an E21, which had a wonderful "greenhouse" for visibility, and mirrors so amply sized I used to joke (among a select audience) that I'd like to take them off the car sometimes and put them on the bedroom ceiling. The point is they gave a wonderful angle of view, and I didn't have to turn my head while making lane changes, the information I needed to know to make the maneuver could be gleaned from a look at the mirrors.

Not so with the E36, it was one of the first things I noticed about the car, BMW skimped on the size of the outside rearviews, and I now make it practice to turn my head to check around me before making even routine lane changes, and I certainly try to avoid situations which might require a sudden lane change, when a check of the mirrors may not be enought and there isn't the time to turn the heard. I've noticed it's particularly dicey when entering highways off an entrance ramp, a quite sizable blind spot exists, and extra care needs to be observed to get on the highway safely.

This is one area where I think regulations are required, assuring drivers ample rearward vision, rather than allowing diminutive mirrors, and stupidly shaped ones as well, such as ovals and trapezoids which cut out significant portions of the useful field of view. How and why manufacturers were allowed to get away with this I can't figure, it really is a safety issue.