10 Reasons to Ditch the Stick-on Fish-eye Convex Blind Spot Mirror - Team-BHP

mithun · 16th October 2007, 12:25

You've probably seen them around: Those fish-eye mirrors that drivers glue onto their side mirrors in hopes of solving their blind spot problem.

LaneFX® Auto Safety Series: 10 Reasons to Ditch the Stick-on Fish-eye Convex Blind Spot Mirrors

1self · 16th October 2007, 12:41

Hey Mithun!

Good info on the site! Was thinking of going for one of these...having second thoughts now!

bblost · 16th October 2007, 12:43

I use them and find it very very usefull.

very very handy when parking close to a curb.

Sometimes if the mirror position changes, the fish eye allows me to continue driving till I find a safe spot to pull over and adjust the mirrors.

only problem with this was when I fixed it on my Wagon R.
ended up with a crack on my driver SVM.
so if someone is installing it, be carefull and dont press hard.

also most points are repeats and/or just dont apply to India

1. They distort your rear view
--Yes, but you get used to it

2. Only their outer edge is beneficial
-- NO

3. They take up valuable mirror real-estate
--Nonsense

4. They look cheap and unattractive
--is this even a point

5. They do not absorb glare and reflected light
--They do

6. They're confusing to use
--NO they are not.

7. They do not comply with government safety regulations
--Nonsense

8. They're difficult to remove
--so dont remove them

9. Leasing companies may charge you to remove them at lease end
--Nonsense

10. Chemical required to remove them can be harmful to your vehicle's paint / clearcoat finish
--Dont remove

finneyp · 16th October 2007, 12:52

That was a good eye-opener! Thanks!

Even I was planning to get one of those, but dropped the idea now!

WhiteKnight · 16th October 2007, 13:51

I am using one on my L-RWM, just to keep an eye on bikers. They are pretty useful.

One point, though- you can't switch between fish-eye mirror and the regular one so easily, as the focal length for the eye is vastly different. I use the fish one for all my left side coverage, and look at the left RWM only to get an ide how close I am to the vehicle in left late.

Agree with @bblost- Points 6 to 10 are utter nonsense. The 10 commandments looks like preaching than logically laid out view.

aZa · 16th October 2007, 18:33

Been using it for a while now, very usefull!

Kaizer Sozay · 16th October 2007, 23:50

got to try it

mithun · 17th October 2007, 10:59

bblost : What is the cost of Fish-eye mirror that you've fixed on your Wagon R ?

bblost · 17th October 2007, 11:07

free.
my sister in law in the US was kind enough to get them for me.

gotzuk · 17th October 2007, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by mithun

bblost : What is the cost of Fish-eye mirror that you've fixed on your Wagon R ?

they are available in delhi for 180 rupees a pair...
so should be about the same in your part of the country...

rkbharat · 17th October 2007, 11:41

Without a doubt they are very very useful, I am using them from day one. I am surprised that site mentioned in the initial post does not have any technical reasons for not using them except the aesthetic reasons.

There is always a proper way of using the blindspot mirrors. This is how I use them:

For Right:
1, First Look at side mirror.
2. If nothing is visible in side mirror then look at the blind spot mirror,
3. If something is visible, its on blind spot, and if nothing is visible, its clear to turn

also its important to set the spot mirror right, the one I have can me rotated to set at the right visibility.

pjbiju · 17th October 2007, 12:15

Even I have got these mirrors (the ones that can be rotated after fixing) - but I am yet to use them. Will update this, after I have installed them on my car.

gotzuk · 17th October 2007, 12:19

[quote=pjbiju;597709]Even I have got these mirrors (the ones that can be rotated after fixing) quote]

can you please post a pic of these mirrors...
cheers

condor · 17th October 2007, 12:33

The points on that web page are a load of B.S. Have used them long enough, and find them very useful. Here's something to use them in a better way :

There are two types - fixed, and rotate-able. I have used a mix & match of these - one side had a fixed mirror, and the other side a rotate-able. The position also is towards the same edge (IIRC, towards bottom left corners when used in the LHD environment in the US). I know this gives a possible 4 options, but would appreciate some one trying this out. But have found this mix-&-match to work absolutely fine.

johy · 17th October 2007, 12:35

I must disagree sir. Ever since I fixed the slightly large stick-on convex mirrors (MGA) in my Wagon R, I have regained my eyesight!

16th October 2007, 12:25	#1 (permalink)
mithun Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin/B'lore(Land of Speed-breakers) Posts: 1,564 View My Garage	10 Reasons to Ditch the Stick-on Fish-eye Convex Blind Spot Mirror You've probably seen them around: Those fish-eye mirrors that drivers glue onto their side mirrors in hopes of solving their blind spot problem. LaneFX® Auto Safety Series: 10 Reasons to Ditch the Stick-on Fish-eye Convex Blind Spot Mirrors __________________ Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams dry, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

16th October 2007, 12:41	#2 (permalink)
1self BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 272 View My Garage	Hey Mithun! Good info on the site! Was thinking of going for one of these...having second thoughts now! __________________ I'm not into exotica & badges, just horsepower & handling.

16th October 2007, 12:43	#3 (permalink)
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,841 View My Garage	I use them and find it very very usefull. very very handy when parking close to a curb. Sometimes if the mirror position changes, the fish eye allows me to continue driving till I find a safe spot to pull over and adjust the mirrors. only problem with this was when I fixed it on my Wagon R. ended up with a crack on my driver SVM. so if someone is installing it, be carefull and dont press hard. also most points are repeats and/or just dont apply to India 1. They distort your rear view --Yes, but you get used to it 2. Only their outer edge is beneficial -- NO 3. They take up valuable mirror real-estate --Nonsense 4. They look cheap and unattractive --is this even a point 5. They do not absorb glare and reflected light --They do 6. They're confusing to use --NO they are not. 7. They do not comply with government safety regulations --Nonsense 8. They're difficult to remove --so dont remove them 9. Leasing companies may charge you to remove them at lease end --Nonsense 10. Chemical required to remove them can be harmful to your vehicle's paint / clearcoat finish --Dont remove __________________ Ever catch yourself listening to a nice song on the radio and dedicating it to your car. Last edited by bblost : 16th October 2007 at 12:47. Reason: added some more

16th October 2007, 12:52	#4 (permalink)
finneyp Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 2,203 View My Garage	That was a good eye-opener! Thanks! Even I was planning to get one of those, but dropped the idea now! __________________ Drive Safe, your loved ones need you! My passion is not driving Cars, but driving a FIAT! Finney, Palio 1.2 NV - 2004

16th October 2007, 13:51	#5 (permalink)
WhiteKnight BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 618 View My Garage	I am using one on my L-RWM, just to keep an eye on bikers. They are pretty useful. One point, though- you can't switch between fish-eye mirror and the regular one so easily, as the focal length for the eye is vastly different. I use the fish one for all my left side coverage, and look at the left RWM only to get an ide how close I am to the vehicle in left late. Agree with @bblost- Points 6 to 10 are utter nonsense. The 10 commandments looks like preaching than logically laid out view. __________________ "When the going gets TOUGH.....Great ones PARTY"

16th October 2007, 18:33	#6 (permalink)
aZa Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Noida / Delhi Posts: 1,469 View My Garage	Been using it for a while now, very usefull! __________________ -[ " Objects in the mirror are loosing. " - Getz CRDi ]-

16th October 2007, 23:50	#7 (permalink)
Kaizer Sozay BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Melbourne Posts: 342 View My Garage	got to try it __________________ "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist ."

17th October 2007, 10:59	#8 (permalink)
mithun Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Cochin/B'lore(Land of Speed-breakers) Posts: 1,564 View My Garage	bblost : What is the cost of Fish-eye mirror that you've fixed on your Wagon R ? __________________ Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams dry, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.

17th October 2007, 11:07	#9 (permalink)
bblost Team-BHP Support Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 1,841 View My Garage	free. my sister in law in the US was kind enough to get them for me. __________________ Ever catch yourself listening to a nice song on the radio and dedicating it to your car.

17th October 2007, 11:41	#11 (permalink)
rkbharat Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Gurgaon/New Delhi Posts: 1,034 View My Garage	Without a doubt they are very very useful, I am using them from day one. I am surprised that site mentioned in the initial post does not have any technical reasons for not using them except the aesthetic reasons. There is always a proper way of using the blindspot mirrors. This is how I use them: For Right: 1, First Look at side mirror. 2. If nothing is visible in side mirror then look at the blind spot mirror, 3. If something is visible, its on blind spot, and if nothing is visible, its clear to turn also its important to set the spot mirror right, the one I have can me rotated to set at the right visibility. __________________ Cheers. Rajiv SX4-ZXi, May 2008, 21000KM, FE City 12, 20% AC Maruti 800, 1999, 9600 KM Indica V2, Sold, 97234KM 18Km/L.

17th October 2007, 12:15	#12 (permalink)
pjbiju BHPian Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Karamattom, Aluva, Kotagiri, Yercaud, Hospet, Indore, Nashik, Pune (now) Posts: 338	Even I have got these mirrors (the ones that can be rotated after fixing) - but I am yet to use them. Will update this, after I have installed them on my car.

17th October 2007, 12:19	#13 (permalink)
gotzuk BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi/Shimla Posts: 287 View My Garage	[quote=pjbiju;597709]Even I have got these mirrors (the ones that can be rotated after fixing) quote] can you please post a pic of these mirrors... cheers __________________ Vegetarians are people who eat living things that can't run away.. In Somnis Veritas

17th October 2007, 12:33	#14 (permalink)
condor Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: BLR : the Speed Breaker City Posts: 2,982 View My Garage	The points on that web page are a load of B.S. Have used them long enough, and find them very useful. Here's something to use them in a better way : There are two types - fixed, and rotate-able. I have used a mix & match of these - one side had a fixed mirror, and the other side a rotate-able. The position also is towards the same edge (IIRC, towards bottom left corners when used in the LHD environment in the US). I know this gives a possible 4 options, but would appreciate some one trying this out. But have found this mix-&-match to work absolutely fine. __________________ Life is Analog. Digital is an approximation.

17th October 2007, 12:35	#15 (permalink)
johy BHPian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Siliguri Posts: 431 View My Garage	I must disagree sir. Ever since I fixed the slightly large stick-on convex mirrors (MGA) in my Wagon R, I have regained my eyesight!

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