Pictures of the new/slimer/less windnoise side mirror
01-28-2010, 11:10 PM
#51
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
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'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Mirror size
I don't doubt your measurements of the actual mirror dimensions. What you seem to be unable to acknowledge is that 1/4 inch of mirror can actally increase one's field of vision. The increased size helps reduce the blind spot directly behind each side of the vehicle...think of a motorcycle rider, close up in the left or right track. You can see his head over the vehicles tumblehome without having to set your side mirrors too high.
Yes, and my perception is I can see more area in what once was my blind spot. If you need a reference, simple ray divergence mathmatics shows that a 1/4" addition to the mirror will grow exponentially and end up with several square meters of visual coverage by the time you clear a couple meters past the rear of the vehicle...even more so with the convex properties of passenger side mirrors.
Yes, and my perception is I can see more area in what once was my blind spot. If you need a reference, simple ray divergence mathmatics shows that a 1/4" addition to the mirror will grow exponentially and end up with several square meters of visual coverage by the time you clear a couple meters past the rear of the vehicle...even more so with the convex properties of passenger side mirrors.
Today I taped my spare new style left side mirror (convex, now replaced with a flat glass) against the mirror of my old right side mirror to measure the true difference. The photo below shows that the new glass is a bare 1/4 inch lower at the center top tapering down to a match at the ends. The photo shows that at the upper inner corner, they are the same height which counters your statement about seeing over the tumblehome. The mirror width is the same which means that the left/right view is the same. Since the bottom edge is in the same spot as before, what's up at the top is blue sky. Perhaps you need to tilt your mirrors up a bit?
After using these for quite a long time now, I have concluded that the very slightly reduced vertical dimension is of no consequence. I drive the car nearly every day in fast heavy freeway traffic and have no problems with seeing who's alongside. And just yesterday I read an article that says Seattle now has the worst traffic in the US. I believe it.
BTW, I removed the convex left glass because although I could see vehicles off my left rear quarter, they were closer than they looked which forced me to to turn my head to locate them which is a dangerous maneuver. The convex (Euro) right side mirror with the slightly angled end remains and I like it.
01-29-2010, 09:01 AM
#52
MBWorld Fanatic!
After some consideration, I am going to correct my previous statement about the comparative sizes of the mirror glasses themselves.
Today I taped my spare new style left side mirror (convex, now replaced with a flat glass) against the mirror of my old right side mirror to measure the true difference. The photo below shows that the new glass is a bare 1/4 inch lower at the center top tapering down to a match at the ends. The photo shows that at the upper inner corner, they are the same height which counters your statement about seeing over the tumblehome. The mirror width is the same which means that the left/right view is the same. Since the bottom edge is in the same spot as before, what's up at the top is blue sky. Perhaps you need to tilt your mirrors up a bit?
After using these for quite a long time now, I have concluded that the very slightly reduced vertical dimension is of no consequence. I drive the car nearly every day in fast heavy freeway traffic and have no problems with seeing who's alongside. And just yesterday I read an article that says Seattle now has the worst traffic in the US. I believe it.
BTW, I removed the convex left glass because although I could see vehicles off my left rear quarter, they were closer than they looked which forced me to to turn my head to locate them which is a dangerous maneuver. The convex (Euro) right side mirror with the slightly angled end remains and I like it.
Today I taped my spare new style left side mirror (convex, now replaced with a flat glass) against the mirror of my old right side mirror to measure the true difference. The photo below shows that the new glass is a bare 1/4 inch lower at the center top tapering down to a match at the ends. The photo shows that at the upper inner corner, they are the same height which counters your statement about seeing over the tumblehome. The mirror width is the same which means that the left/right view is the same. Since the bottom edge is in the same spot as before, what's up at the top is blue sky. Perhaps you need to tilt your mirrors up a bit?
After using these for quite a long time now, I have concluded that the very slightly reduced vertical dimension is of no consequence. I drive the car nearly every day in fast heavy freeway traffic and have no problems with seeing who's alongside. And just yesterday I read an article that says Seattle now has the worst traffic in the US. I believe it.
BTW, I removed the convex left glass because although I could see vehicles off my left rear quarter, they were closer than they looked which forced me to to turn my head to locate them which is a dangerous maneuver. The convex (Euro) right side mirror with the slightly angled end remains and I like it.
As I said when I put forth my example, I did not have mirrors side by side to compare and was actually using your description to simply describe how additional vertical glass improves rear visibility.
Anyhow, I am glad we both have mirrors we like as I am sure Atlanta has got to give Seattle a run for it's money when it comes to having to avoid crazy, distracted and aggresive drivers.
02-03-2010, 10:48 PM
#53
MBWorld Fanatic!
Just picked my car up and I took a look at both cars side by side. RLE has a point that the mirrors are pretty close in size. What seems to make the big difference is that the old style is mounted higher and further outboard. I guess as with trailer towing mirrors...mounting a bit higher and wider seems to give a bit better view...for me anyhow.
