Blind Spot

[bosstones]

Finally off a heavy round of work travel and have tested a few X1s recently. More so than before, I notice that when doing a left shoulder check, the C and D pillar combination kind of are seen as one (i.e. the tiny window between them is not visible). It didn't bother me during test drives but I seemed to pick up on it more while I was poking around in the model that was in the showroom. I usually have my side mirrors going mostly straight back so I should see anyone on my 5 or 7 that way plus should checks for the rest.

Anyone else notice this in theirs? Just a curiosity. Getting real close to ordering one. Currently in a #'s war between dealerships.

[1fastscooter]

I have always installed a stick on mirror with a wedge angle to it. there are many sizes, to suit you. Mine tend to be 1/2" tall by 1.5" in the lower right corner.
since they don't have the option for an aspheric half mirror this is an inexpensive fix. I do the same for my motorcycles as well and works fine.

[bluejay_el]

This side mirror adjustment has helped me eliminate blind spot issues. In fact, this is actually what they taught us at the BMW Performance Center.
If you want to see the side of your car (5 or 7), you can always lean to the left towards your window or lean to the right towards the center of the cabin while looking through your side mirrors

[cwickberg]

Originally Posted by bluejay_el

This side mirror adjustment has helped me eliminate blind spot issues. In fact, this is actually what they taught us at the BMW Performance Center.
If you want to see the side of your car (5 or 7), you can always lean to the left towards your window or lean to the right towards the center of the cabin while looking through your side mirrors

Yep, Go google a few you tube videos as well, it will show you how to adjust your mirrors so you will have no blind spots...At first, it will take a little getting used to, as when you see vehicles driving up to you on the side, they look like they are driving towards you (because the way the mirror is angled) but you will likely see a much better view of the road to help create the proper situational awareness for better driving skills

[abwmma]

Let me try my best to explain how I did mine. I learned it at the BMW Club meeting.
Get in your driver seat with the normal driving position. Driver side window closed.
For the driver’s side mirror: Lean your head until it touched the driver’s side window. Adjust the driver’s side mirror towards left until the outside of your car no longer shows.
For the passenger’s side mirror: Lean your body so that your head is in the middle of your car ( or center of the rear view mirror). Adjust the passenger’s side mirror towards right until the outside of your car no longer shows.
I owned a E36///M3 (comes with a very small mirrors). It works for me. But for X1, I experinced it is a little too much. I used the B pillars instead of the body of the car.

[bluejay_el]

Originally Posted by abwmma

Let me try my best to explain how I did mine. I learned it at the BMW Club meeting.
Get in your driver seat with the normal driving position. Driver side window closed.
For the driver’s side mirror: Lean your head until it touched the driver’s side window. Adjust the driver’s side mirror towards left until the outside of your car no longer shows.
For the passenger’s side mirror: Lean your body so that your head is in the middle of your car ( or center of the rear view mirror). Adjust the passenger’s side mirror towards right until the outside of your car no longer shows.
I owned a E36///M3 (comes with a very small mirrors). It works for me.

Well said (although, after leaning, i would adjust mine until I only see the door handles on both sides....just to give me a POV on whats happening at 5 and 7 o clock)

[eric9610]

i have 0 blind spots in my X1, actually it is one of the best cars i have owned in terms of visibility.

[ScottMZ3]

Originally Posted by eric9610

i have 0 blind spots in my X1, actually it is one of the best cars i have owned in terms of visibility.

I have to agree. From the first drive of the X1 I found the visibility to be one of the best I have had in any car. With the higher seating position, low belt line, visible hood, good size mirrors, and large windows it seems darn near perfect. But like others have said, the side mirrors need to be adjusted properly to eliminate blind spots...this is true in ALL cars.

[ScottMZ3]

Originally Posted by Kant

Hmm, I don't know about that. The X1 have the tiniest mirrors I've ever seen on any vehicle. First thing I said at the dealership was, "why are these mirrors so small?" Same thing my then girlfriend said as well. That being said, they definitely could be worse.

Interesting. Both my wife and I thought they were rather large! They are bigger than the ones that were on my '00 740iL, '99 M-Coupe, '00 323Ci, '02 325i, '06 Nissan Z, '07 Nissan Sentra, and my wife's current '13 Hyundai Elantra. We actually fold them in every time we park the car so they don't get bumped.

[eric9610]

Originally Posted by ScottMZ3

Interesting. Both my wife and I thought they were rather large! They are bigger than the ones that were on my '00 740iL, '99 M-Coupe, '00 323Ci, '02 325i, '06 Nissan Z, '07 Nissan Sentra, and my wife's current '13 Hyundai Elantra. We actually fold them in every time we park the car so they don't get bumped.

I have to agree, the mirrors a very large compared to other BMW s I have owned in the past. I also always fold them in since they stick out so far!

[0w40X1]

I discovered my M Sport seats have a height adjustment which I use all the way up.

That gets my head up where I can see better, still have room to wear helmet, and I'm a 6' guy.

I noticed I was missing cars on the left so I used the mirrors adjusted out method while moving my head forward to make sure.

No problem now.

[HBWT]

Originally Posted by ScottMZ3

Interesting. Both my wife and I thought they were rather large!

Wow...after owning an Audi Q5, the X1 mirrors seem tiny.

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by bluejay_el

This side mirror adjustment has helped me eliminate blind spot issues. In fact, this is actually what they taught us at the BMW Performance Center.
If you want to see the side of your car (5 or 7), you can always lean to the left towards your window or lean to the right towards the center of the cabin while looking through your side mirrors

Yip. That's what I do in my cars. Rear visibility was much better than I expected. I just noticed that for a shoulder check the C and D pillars teamed up to block viewpoint from that angle. Good to know the non-traditional mirror adjustment most of us use works.

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

[Eric5273]

Regarding that suggested mirror adjustment, how does it affect the sight lines of the passenger side mirror turning down so that you can see the curb while parallel parking? I didn't order my car with the parking censors or the rear backup camera, so I rely on the passenger side mirror when parking.

[EpistemicConfusion]

Originally Posted by Eric5273

Regarding that suggested mirror adjustment, how does it affect the sight lines of the passenger side mirror turning down so that you can see the curb while parallel parking? I didn't order my car with the parking censors or the rear backup camera, so I rely on the passenger side mirror when parking.

When in reverse the passenger side mirror tilts down and you can see the curb even with the mirrors adjusted as recommended above. Also - if you want to see a touch more of the curb you just lean your head over to the right and then its just like you never moved the mirrors.

The auto adjusting mirror has to be engaged - which I think you do by leaving the mirror adjustment selector on the driverside mirror side.

[Teutonic]

After so many years of driving, here it comes a guy telling us how to adjust de mirrors. In Europe they didnt teach us to do the shoulder check (that is actually dangerous in that traffic) nor to adjust the mirrors leaning this and leaning that. They teach you how to adjust the steering wheel, the seat and get the proper position, based on that you will adjust the mirrors so you can drive confortably and safe not by leaning here and there.
The mirrors are adjusted so I can see a litle bit of my car and I never got a problem. Also the mirror is set to tilt and keep the same angle when you put it in reverse, especialy parallel parking so you dont scratch the wheels when you maneuvre the car close to the sidewalk. You will also see the car behind you and wher you are at. With the above suggested setting you will screw the wheels for sure because you will see nothing.

I learned in my driving school that it is very important to check your mirrors very often (several times a minute) so you know what is happening, who is coming, where is everyone. Setting the mirrors too outside and relying on that is stupid. It is also dangerous if the guy behind you decides to change suddenly the lane and so do you. There is an explanation in seeing a litle bit of your car, so you can see the car behind you, its lights and what is going on on your lane, or the inside mirror does not always see everything ( and when you change your lane you check the outside mirror anyway).

Ps
There are some litle mirrors that you can stick to your actual mirrors. They work well for blind spots; if is something in there you dont move, it is ok you can go. Simple. I dont know why BMW stopped producing those two angle mirrors in their cars...

[EpistemicConfusion]

Originally Posted by Tracus

After so many years of driving, here it comes a guy telling us how to adjust de mirrors. In Europe they didnt teach us to do the shoulder check (that is actually dangerous in that traffic) nor to adjust the mirrors leaning this and leaning that. They teach you how to adjust the steering wheel, the seat and get the proper position, based on that you will adjust the mirrors so you can drive confortably and safe not by leaning here and there.
The mirrors are adjusted so I can see a litle bit of my car and I never got a problem. Also the mirror is set to tilt and keep the same angle when you put it in reverse, especialy parallel parking so you dont scratch the wheels when you maneuvre the car close to the sidewalk. You will also see the car behind you and wher you are at. With the above suggested setting you will screw the wheels for sure because you will see nothing.

I learned in my driving school that it is very important to check your mirrors very often (several times a minute) so you know what is happening, who is coming, where is everyone. Setting the mirrors too outside and relying on that is stupid. It is also dangerous if the guy behind you decides to change suddenly the lane and so do you. There is an explanation in seeing a litle bit of your car, so you can see the car behind you, its lights and what is going on on your lane, or the inside mirror does not always see everything ( and when you change your lane you check the outside mirror anyway).

Ps
There are some litle mirrors that you can stick to your actual mirrors. They work well for blind spots; if is something in there you dont move, it is ok you can go. Simple. I dont know why BMW stopped producing those two angle mirrors in their cars...

Just because you were never taught the correct way of doing something does not mean there isn't a correct way. I'm sure your method is highly effective for you because you are experienced with it. However, new drivers or drivers who are having problems may want to consider this newer method - because it has been proven to be efficacious and is an easy way to eliminate blindspots.

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by EpistemicConfusion

Just because you were never taught the correct way of doing something does not mean there isn't a correct way. I'm sure your method is highly effective for you because you are experienced with it. However, new drivers or drivers who are having problems may want to consider this newer method - because it has been proven to be efficacious and is an easy way to eliminate blindspots.

I learn my driving with a racing pilot and I did some racing myself in the past and the rules are different. Also, north american traffic is a litle different due to the larger streets and motorists.
If everybody thinks that the mirrors should be adjusted only the way you guys are suggesting why the manufacturers are adding a blind spot mirror attached to the old one? We don't need to see our car or our lane right?

Look at some cars, and some BMWs ( i guess only the cost stop them to make them dual and use that antiblind glass) they have dual mirrors. Ford came with another integrated mirror in the main mirror as well.

Why not just adjust them like the new "specialists" are saying? Because it is not safe, and because the seeing is different form car to car and because there are not only cars on the road.

[bluejay_el]

This is totally not worth arguing ... but I will join the argument

1. Please dont make the assumption that the mirror setup came from the specialist, whoever you are referring to (you trying to imply something with double quotes). Just an FYI, the mirror setup I was referring to came from one of the head instructor of BMW Performance Driving School, who had 30 years of road racing experience


2. Please dont reason out that the blind spot monitoring system (or whatever latest side-mirror innovation) are being offered by car companies just to cater the needs of people who use the "conventional mirror setup". It's just for ADDED convenience and safety...regardless of how you want to use your mirrors. period. Just like back up cameras, self parking cars, or front an bumper sensors


3. bosstones created the thread because of his issue with the blind spot on an X1 (which apparently doesnt come with a blind spot monitoring system). From what I see, people are posting here to solve the blind spot issue. Your posts doesnt seem to contribute anything to solve this

4. If you are an advocate of the conventional side mirror adjustment, feel free to start your own thread (or bump an existing one)

[Eric5273]

This really is a dumb thing to argue about. Everyone has their own preference. Do whatever works best for you. Obviously the mirrors cannot see everything. So no matter how you position them, there will be a blind spot somewhere. Either it will be right next to your car (if you position the mirrors outward), or further away from the car (if you position the mirrors inward). Do whichever you prefer.

[Teutonic]

Originally Posted by bluejay_el

This is totally not worth arguing ... but I will join the argument

1. Please dont make the assumption that the mirror setup came from the specialist, whoever you are referring to (you trying to imply something with double quotes). Just an FYI, the mirror setup I was referring to came from one of the head instructor of BMW Performance Driving School, who had 30 years of road racing experience


2. Please dont reason out that the blind spot monitoring system (or whatever latest side-mirror innovation) are being offered by car companies just to cater the needs of people who use the "conventional mirror setup". It's just for ADDED convenience and safety...regardless of how you want to use your mirrors. period. Just like back up cameras, self parking cars, or front an bumper sensors


3. bosstones created the thread because of his issue with the blind spot on an X1 (which apparently doesnt come with a blind spot monitoring system). From what I see, people are posting here to solve the blind spot issue. Your posts doesnt seem to contribute anything to solve this

4. If you are an advocate of the conventional side mirror adjustment, feel free to start your own thread (or bump an existing one)

Bluejay-el,

Dont be a hypocrit. While you are pointing that I deviated this thread, you still continue with your arguments.

1. Like hou dont care about my driving instructor who also has over 40 years in driving and was a very good one (few first places in racing in Europe) , in the same way I dont care for yours. It doesnt matter from who is coming though, your instructor is wrong and is more focused on North American driving where:
-Roads are boring straight without curves and so on,
-vehicles are huge, mainly trucks, not like in Europe where Corsa, smart, Punto, Polo, C2, etc. are very popular and everywhere
-roads are large and very few have only one lane
-not the same amount of byciclist and motocycles that share the road with you.

2. Your explanation with "added safety" is (pardon my french) BS, because when you adjust that Ford or BMW mirror (who also has a second mirror incorporated) in conformity with your instructor guidance, that specific mirror will look after the birds somewhere. Do some thinking before posting and use some common technical sense before you are arguing. We didnt talk about blind spot sensors system, ok? Anyway, if your setting is so good why people need it? Probably nobody will pay for this system if that "wide" setting is enough and so good. (Did you know that the system sensors are actually designed to complete the traditional mirror setting?)

3. See my first paragraph about your hypocritic message. Anyway, are not you the one who suggested the "wide" setting on the mirrors in this thread? How we should call your post then?

4. I had a case where the guy killed a cyclist and the reason was that he didnt see the guy. You know why? Because he adjusted the mirrors like your setting.
Go in Europe, France, Italy, etc. and set your mirrors like that. When you drive in those wonderfule curved and narrow streets and your mirrors are set to check the leafes, come back and tell us how many people you hit with your car.

Bootom line, this is not a thread jacking. I consider that is a good add to the subject. Every discussion is constructive. There is no need to open a new thread, I don't wan't to prove my point just for the sake of it, I just to bring to your attention that your setting is actually wrong and it might be ok only on a straight in line higway with large lane. That's all.

Yesterday, I was mentioning that the vehicles are different and that the cars are not the only ones on the road. With your setting, motorcycles and bycicles can not be seen. Also, I was reading few years ago an article about how your setting is also making the eyes tired too soon because it rquires a different focus, when the traditional setting is actually help the vision by "flowing" from your car further.

Anyway, I found an article that might work for others that are interested. There are actually few points that are still missing from the article, like the case where both cars decided to get out from that lane in the same time, but for now it will do.
From my point of view drive how you want, I dont care, it is your car, your life.

Have fun and be safe!

http://www.driveandstayalive.com/art...he-mirrors.htm

To the Thread starter: I keep my mirrors on traditional setting and I bought some small suplimentar blind spot mirrors that I attached to the original ones. I didnt do it for the X1 though, but do it if you need it; in my opinion this your best setting.

[1fastscooter]

Originally Posted by Tracus

To the Thread starter: I keep my mirrors on traditional setting and I bought some small suplimentar blind spot mirrors that I attached to the original ones. I didnt do it for the X1 though, but do it if you need it; in my opinion this your best setting.

So thats 2 posts for add on mirror bits..... Best part of the last post!