Multivex Mirror review

[chotto]

Who sells the Multivex mirrors?

[ekological]

Hmmm...this topic begs the following question to be asked:

Do you have your mirrors adjusted correctly in the first place? If you are able to see the side of your car in side mirror, then they are most likely adjusted incorrectly...and I would say an overwhelming majority of the drivers I see on the road have them set this way. If I'm directly behind someone and I can see their ugly mug in the side mirror, I know that person is an idiot. Only on rare occassions when I'm next to someone and am in their "blind spot" do I see their face squarely centered in the side mirror. That, folks, is the correct way to adjust the mirrors. For sport cars with small mirrors, you usually have to point the mirrors way out more than a "normal" person would think. Driving around like this is something to get used to but I find that I can't drive the "conventional" way anymore...

Here are a few good techniques:
- Sit in the driver seat and lean all the way to the left so that your head is about to touch the window. Adjust driver mirror so that with your head in that position, you can just start to see the side of the car. Likewise for the passenger side mirror, move so that your head is in the middle of the car. Adjust so that you barely start seeing the side of the car. This is just a starting point...minor tweaks will be necessary for your use.
- Park in a parking lot where it's two rows of cars and that you pull into one and drive through so that you're about to pull out of the spot in front of you. Adjust the driver mirror so that the end of the line in the spot next and behind you (mark A) is in the lower left corner. The same for the passenger mirror. The following crude ascii art is an example (the html screws it up..just click quote to see my original intent):

| | fr | |
| | | |
| | bk | |
----------------
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
a b

- The third method is just to go driving on the highway. Pace yourself in front of and next to someone who would be in your "blind spot". Position yourself such that if you had to do an emergency lane change, you could do so and not have his front clip your rear...he'd be pissed, but there would be no contact. Now...adjust the mirror so that the car in your blind spot is centered in the side mirror. Now as you're driving, if you see a car centered, you know that if you had to make an emergency change, you can do so. If the car appears further back, then you have plenty of room. If you don't see the front of the car in the mirror...it's not safe to change. As the car moves closer alongside you, it'll disappear from the side mirror, at which point you'll just see the car out the window.

This trick works perfectly for the E36M3 and I do admit that I would like a slightly wider mirror in the Elise (the limited view from the in car center mounted rearview mirrorr because of the head rests), but I don't find it at all too scary to drive the Elise. Yes, the driver side could definitely be wider and I might just do the RHD passenger mirror upgrade route.

And besides, if you're driving faster than everyone else out there, who needs to see what's behind them anyway?

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by ekological

Hmmm...this topic begs the following question to be asked:

Do you have your mirrors adjusted correctly in the first place? ...

I agree, however with the Elise the range of adjustment is too limited. I can't push either mirror out far enough.

I generally adjust my mirrors so that as passing cars in the adjacent lanes disappear from the rear view mirror, they appear in the side mirrors. As the disappear from the side view mirrors they appear in my peripheral vision.

-Shawn

[ekological]

Originally Posted by Keeper

I agree, however with the Elise the range of adjustment is too limited. I can't push either mirror out far enough.

I generally adjust my mirrors so that as passing cars in the adjacent lanes disappear from the rear view mirror, they appear in the side mirrors. As the disappear from the side view mirrors they appear in my peripheral vision.

-Shawn

Yep...that's the way I have it set in my M3. I guess driver measurements will affect the degree to which you can correctly adjust the mirrors. I'm 5'7" so I guess I'm right in the middle... I never thought I'd ever say that it paid to be 5'7" HAHAHAHA!

[knucklehead]

OK, I understand the purpose of moving the mirror so as not to show any of the car. But, I always feel more comfortable with a reference point. If I move them to where you suggest. And some idiot bumps my mirror walking between my car and the one parked next to me. I wouldn't know and couldn't that throw everything off enough to make my judgment for an emergency lane change critically wrong? With a touch of the car in the reflection I know my mirrors are always consistent.

This is just me, but I actually tried to adjust my mirrors last week so that there wasn't a part of the car in the reflection and it freaked me out. I guess that's why I got these mirrors, so I have the best of both worlds.

[cranium]

I would just like to add I finished my install and I absolutely love the mirrors. I can see everything in the road without a problem. i installed them by removing the tape that came with it and using only silicone to seal and mount it. It came out nice and smooth. I filled the whole gap and made it smooth with the housing (black silicone).

[Lotus Fury]

Originally Posted by chotto

Who sells the Multivex mirrors?

www.multivexmirror.com or google Multivex Mirror for another vendor.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by ekological

Yep...that's the way I have it set in my M3. I guess driver measurements will affect the degree to which you can correctly adjust the mirrors. I'm 5'7" so I guess I'm right in the middle... I never thought I'd ever say that it paid to be 5'7" HAHAHAHA!

User error. I was cleaning the car today, and frustrated with the range of adjustment on the mirror, I grabbed it by the nexk and it moved much further out. Now no more major blind spots with the stock mirrors.

When I first tried to adjust them the casing flexed away from the hinge. I was afraid I was going to break it. Both mirrors do this. Is this normal? It's like it's spring loaded.

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by knucklehead

OK, I understand the purpose of moving the mirror so as not to show any of the car. But, I always feel more comfortable with a reference point. If I move them to where you suggest. And some idiot bumps my mirror walking between my car and the one parked next to me. I wouldn't know and couldn't that throw everything off enough to make my judgment for an emergency lane change critically wrong? With a touch of the car in the reflection I know my mirrors are always consistent.

This is just me, but I actually tried to adjust my mirrors last week so that there wasn't a part of the car in the reflection and it freaked me out. I guess that's why I got these mirrors, so I have the best of both worlds.

I check the adjustment by some other reference. e.g., rolling my head to one side I can see the rear fender well with the seat all the way back.
But, you're right. Multivex mirrors are ideal. I just can't justify paying to glue a mirror on my mirror when I can see well enough with the stock ones.

-Shawn

[Raindem]

Originally Posted by Keeper

User error. I was cleaning the car today, and frustrated with the range of adjustment on the mirror, I grabbed it by the nexk and it moved much further out. Now no more major blind spots with the stock mirrors.

When I first tried to adjust them the casing flexed away from the hinge. I was afraid I was going to break it. Both mirrors do this. Is this normal? It's like it's spring loaded.

Yeah mine does this too. It's weird. If you try to adjust out the pass mirror while sitting in the car it's hard to tell if you're actually moving the mirror or just flexing the spring.

[ChrisH]

The springyness of the outside mirror mount is a feature. It is so that if people bump your mirror in the parking lot, it won't change the adjustment unless they bump it hard and far.

I have to admit that I wouldn't mind an interior manual adjustment handle for the passenger side mirror, even if it adds a few ounces to the weight of the car. It is a real pain to get adjusted.

[elise seeker]

I'd buy one in an instant if it would replace the glass. whether it works or not, still looks like a cheesy stickon...

[cranium]

Originally Posted by elise seeker

I'd buy one in an instant if it would replace the glass. whether it works or not, still looks like a cheesy stickon...

I'll have to take pictures of mine, you can barely tell it is not stock...

[Keeper]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

The springyness of the outside mirror mount is a feature. It is so that if people bump your mirror in the parking lot, it won't change the adjustment unless they bump it hard and far.

I have to admit that I wouldn't mind an interior manual adjustment handle for the passenger side mirror, even if it adds a few ounces to the weight of the car. It is a real pain to get adjusted.

I figured that was the case, but I expected the spring to activate only when the mirror had reached the end of it's travel. It made adjusting it a little weird. Now that I know how far it goes it shouldn't be a problem.

[Dro]

I installed mine yesterday and drove the car about 200 miles today to/from an autocross event. I really love these mirrors. The hardest thing is getting used to actually trusting them and not turning my head around, but I've found that a head turn really isn't necessary anymore. And despite that fact that they are not a "perfect" fit, to me they look just fine. As was said before, the increased visibility outweighs any minor fitment issues.

[ChrisH]

I just ordered some form the web site (the Lotus Elise now appears on the list of vehicles). I have no idea what the lead time will be. I am going to play with trying to make the edge look better on the installation.

[Keith]

Hey thanks Mike! (for the link to this thread)

[fastliz]

Originally Posted by ekological

Hmmm...this topic begs the following question to be asked:

Do you have your mirrors adjusted correctly in the first place? If you are able to see the side of your car in side mirror, then they are most likely adjusted incorrectly...and I would say an overwhelming majority of the drivers I see on the road have them set this way. If I'm directly behind someone and I can see their ugly mug in the side mirror, I know that person is an idiot.

It's a valid question, and I agree that the VAST majority of people do not have their side mirrors set properly. I am among the rare ones that DOES know how to set them properly. Nevertheless, in the Elise, I find the Multivex mirrors to improve the view substantially.

Mike

[adamant]

Is it possible to dismantle the OEM mirrors and replace the glass instead of sticking it on the outside? I would dearly love to have these mirrors but I just couldn't live with the glass just slapped on the outside.

[chotto]

I just received my Multivex for driver's and passenger's side. What a difference. And I did have my adjusted properly. There is no way to completely eliminate the blind spot without these (trust me, I became obsessed with trying because I thought I was just waiting for an accident). I recommend them to everybody. And don't worry about them sticky out too far. I was worried about this from all the talk. I can barely notice it. This condition is way over blown.