Higher rear view mirror
Discussion
Searched for info. on rear view mirrors, and cannot find solution. With the hood down, the mirror only seems to show that the roof hasn't blown off, and b@gger all else. Is there a mirror that will clip/clamp to top edge of windscreen? As a lot of my motoring will be in France, I would like to be able to see what's behind a bit more clearly. Any advice appreciated - or do I have to make my own?
Don't want to teach you to suck eggs but....if you don't undo the interior velcro flaps before lowering the roof then it doesn't go down as far as it should. Result....a mirror full of rear header bar! I'm a short-ass (5'10") and have a good view of the approaching free-range pork
even with the roof down.
Kevin
even with the roof down. Kevin
Chims do vary a bit and some headers fold down further than others. Mine is one of the latter and I have tried everything to get it down but it just binds up. It would help if I were just a short-arse 5ft 10, but I'm a lanky 5ft 8 in high heels.
Halfrads used to do a "panoramic" mirror that clipped over the original which maybe could be modified. Have a look and see what they have.
Halfrads used to do a "panoramic" mirror that clipped over the original which maybe could be modified. Have a look and see what they have.
shnozz said:
...So all in all, a completely pointless post
Dont worry mate, we are used to it now.
Need to get you back for the caravan joke!
Mine goes down far enough for me to see tops of windscreens on the cars behind so the interior light is just visible in the bottom of the mirror.
Also depends on the weather, the hotter it is the lower the hood drops, if it's anything below about +5C then generally I can't see anything at around 0C I get a mirror full of hood.
Anyway what's the point in mirrors - I know where I've just been and don't want to see it again, and if you are looking for cars approaching to over take you ain't driving it right
V8 Archie said:
Erm... this talk about height has nothing to do with the problem. The only heights that play a part are the height of the mirror from the ground and the height of the header bar from the ground. You should have your mirror adjusted appropriately, that's why they're adjustable
IMHO you are in error, parallex type...........
Everything to do with height of the focal point in respect of the mirror and object....;-p
The other thing would be to raise the front suspension and lower the rear (oh er!!!)
k4trv said:I need a diagram to explainin any further detail why I see it my way, but I don't see what the height of the focal point of the mirror has to do with the price of fish. If you mean the height of the spot on which the driver is focussing, that is entirely dependent where he/she is looking and nothing to do with the driver's height.
IMHO you are in error, parallex type...........
Everything to do with height of the focal point in respect of the mirror and object....;-p
I remember thinking this when I got my Chimaera almost 3 years ago, it is something you get used to using the wing mirrors more. The funniest comment at the time was doing the 'up-periscope' routine, raising your whole body about 6 inches to see over the hood each time you wanted to reverse, very amusing for onlookers as this little head suddenly pops up 
Chris
Chris
V8 Archie said:
IMHO you are in error, parallex type...........
Everything to do with height of the focal point in respect of the mirror and object....;-p
I need a diagram to explainin any further detail why I see it my way, but I don't see what the height of the focal point of the mirror has to do with the price of fish. If you mean the height of the spot on which the driver is focussing, that is entirely dependent where he/she is looking and nothing to do with the driver's height.
Can't do drawing on this, but if the height of the mirror is fixed (don't care if it swivels - it's height doesn't change), the rear hood is fixed in height. Then "dependant" upon the height of the "eyes" looking into the mirror, will determine the "field-of-view rearwards" and in that I mean mirror full of hood adjust mirror & all you'll see is sky (short a%se)!!
Or, top of hood, adjust mirror and you'll see what's on the road behind you (tall set of eyes/long body/neck !!).
QED
The driver's height has one effect only ... the nearer they are to the mirror, the wider is the field of view they will see in the mirror. This might allow them to make better use of a partially restricted rearwards view.
Nonetheless, the height of the mirror and the height of the head bar will deterine the lowest viable light path that can come from the car behind onto the mirror's surface, and thus determines how much of the car behind the driver can see. The mirror can be set at whatever angle you like to get that beam of light into the driver's eye so the driver's height doesn't matter.
None of which helps solve the problem much.
Nonetheless, the height of the mirror and the height of the head bar will deterine the lowest viable light path that can come from the car behind onto the mirror's surface, and thus determines how much of the car behind the driver can see. The mirror can be set at whatever angle you like to get that beam of light into the driver's eye so the driver's height doesn't matter.
None of which helps solve the problem much.
k4trv said:But, if we assume (for th sake of argument) that light striking the mirror is coming from the area that you would like to see, it is a simple matter to adjust the mirror so that that light is reflected to an appropriate location (i.e. the driver's eyes). This is completely independant of the height of the driver's eyes and merely relies on light from the appropriate are being able to reach the mirror. The only thing that stops that from happening is the header bar if it doesn't fold down far enough.
...QED
To my mind, the logical extension would be that if you were tall enough you could see the leading edge of your boot (or even the exhausts) in your rear view mirror even thought there is no straight line path between the two.
V8 Archie said:
But, if we assume (for th sake of argument) that light striking the mirror is coming from the area that you would like to see, it is a simple matter to adjust the mirror so that that light is reflected to an appropriate location (i.e. the driver's eyes). This is completely independant of the height of the driver's eyes and merely relies on light from the appropriate are being able to reach the mirror. The only thing that stops that from happening is the header bar if it doesn't fold down far enough.
To my mind, the logical extension would be that if you were tall enough you could see the leading edge of your boot (or even the exhausts) in your rear view mirror even thought there is no straight line path between the two.
The size of the actual glass of the rear view mirror and where the object appears in it will be different for people of differing heights sat in the car (that's why it adjustable). Also, the glass is convex and not flat (I believe)therefore, adding to the field-of-view. True, it's not a lot of difference, but enough (when measuring the distance the eyes are from the glass to the header and the differing angles/heights) to increase the lower field-of-vision rearwards for taller people (despite the header remaining the same height).
That's my explaination.
Big Al. said:
Also, the glass is convex and not flat (I believe)
Err. No sorry Interior mirror prisms are normally flat! Oh
One of our sister companies makes them.
I am not aware of any standard interior mirrors made in convex glass for the CAR automotive industry.
Oh well, it was a good Blag, sorry explaination..........while it lasted ... cheers Big Al !!
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