Author Topic: Dash mount rearview? (Read 11963 times)

ophidia31 · « **on:** June 21, 2011, 09:40:20 PM »

Has anyone switched from a window mount to a dash mount rear view mirror? I have mine adjusted as high as it can go on the window and it still gets in the way of my vision when Im trying to look right. I can care less about onstar and map lights.

Going to buy a cheap small mirror and a universal suction cup dash mount and mock something up on the upper dash area to see if it helps any.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #1 on:** June 22, 2011, 09:41:31 AM »

I bought a small normal mirror from Autozone and mounted it upside down on the stock location and that helped. But after putting in my lower seats I don't need it anymore so I went back to stock.

Biggest problem was losing my interior lights, which really sucks.

spicy3480 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 22, 2011, 10:40:06 AM »

My rear view mirror constantly tilts downward after driving a bit and I have to constantly move it back. Is there a way to tighten it?

Dr. Gronk · « **Reply #3 on:** June 22, 2011, 01:48:49 PM »

Quote from: spicy3480 on June 22, 2011, 10:40:06 AM

My rear view mirror constantly tilts downward after driving a bit and I have to constantly move it back. Is there a way to tighten it?

Hmm... mine seems excessively shaky I wonder if there's a way to firm that up as well

ihawk95 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2011, 02:05:13 PM »

I'm starting to notice the same thing. Mine gets shakey and I've had to tilt it back up as of late.

Of course if I get my bad tire replaced, the problem will probably go away with the tire!

Brazen17 · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2011, 03:12:56 PM »

I've considered mounting one to the windshield frame. The piece of plastic just below the hook point for the top but I don't think it will hold very well. It would be nice to get the mirror higher up. Then again it might not be very useful mounted higher when the top is up. Luckily my top is down 95% of the time.

ophidia31 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2011, 03:15:33 PM »

No idea on the tightening of the mirror, just wondering about moving it or a smaller replacement like kenny mentioned. The more Im pushing this car to learn the limits (unlike my regal gs that was a wet noodle in comparison and easy to find them), the more I need to see the road directly where that mirror is blocking. I'm 6'2 and already have the seat down all the way.

Critterman · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2011, 03:47:55 PM »

Quote from: spicy3480 on June 22, 2011, 10:40:06 AM

My rear view mirror constantly tilts downward after driving a bit and I have to constantly move it back. Is there a way to tighten it?

yes

JimVonBaden · « **Reply #8 on:** June 22, 2011, 04:34:12 PM »

Quote from: Critterman on June 22, 2011, 03:47:55 PM

yes

Nice!

On most mirrors the ball joint has a tension screw or set screw.

Jim

Carbon Sky · « **Reply #9 on:** June 22, 2011, 06:14:18 PM »

Quote from: ophidia31 on June 21, 2011, 09:40:20 PM

Has anyone switched from a window mount to a dash mount rear view mirror? I have mine adjusted as high as it can go on the window and it still gets in the way of my vision when Im trying to look right. I can care less about onstar and map lights.

Going to buy a cheap small mirror and a universal suction cup dash mount and mock something up on the upper dash area to see if it helps any.

I know people that replace their rear view mirror with a smaller one, perhaps even slightly convex to make up for the smaller size. Makes a big difference in how much forward view it blocks. In fact, I think on the big forums, there's a Lotus with an aftermarket mini rear view mirror.

Only crappy part is, you'll lose your interior/courtesy lights if you replace your current one . . . unless you go with an aftermarket with lights, which would defeat the purpose right? If you're more adventurous, you could always go with the mini one, and then wire up 2 LEDs, and tap into the existing wiring. If so, search around, there are a few how-tos on installing aftermarket rear view mirrors with lights and extra functions for the wiring information you'll need to frankenstein such a mirror together.

Brazen17 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 22, 2011, 06:37:48 PM »

I would not mind losing the lights at all. I have never used them...

scotthofferphotography · « **Reply #11 on:** June 22, 2011, 08:44:46 PM »

I installed lights in my plastic for map lights. Also have a smartmirror from Escort radar products. Look that up. If you wanna know more just ask. My lights are wired to the doors, with a three way switch I can turn them on, turn them off, or leave them to work as auto doming lights.

ophidia31 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 22, 2011, 11:39:45 PM »

Quote from: Carbon Sky on June 22, 2011, 06:14:18 PM

I know people that replace their rear view mirror with a smaller one, perhaps even slightly convex to make up for the smaller size. Makes a big difference in how much forward view it blocks. In fact, I think on the big forums, there's a Lotus with an aftermarket mini rear view mirror.

Yeah, I googled "smaller rear view mirror" and a few links down was the Lotus forum with a couple options that Im looking at. None dash mounted, but just smaller and more tucked to the top of the window. As for the lights, I could care less about them. I actually took them out of my old car and just had foot well lights. Might add those into this car if Im bored enough.

Carbon Sky · « **Reply #13 on:** June 22, 2011, 11:59:29 PM »

Quote from: Brazen17 on June 22, 2011, 06:37:48 PM

I would not mind losing the lights at all. I have never used them...

I guess I use mine often enough with it being a daily driver that I definitely would not want to lose the lights.

Carbon Sky · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2011, 12:04:42 AM »

Quote from: ophidia31 on June 22, 2011, 11:39:45 PM

Yeah, I googled "smaller rear view mirror" and a few links down was the Lotus forum with a couple options that Im looking at. None dash mounted, but just smaller and more tucked to the top of the window. As for the lights, I could care less about them. I actually took them out of my old car and just had foot well lights. Might add those into this car if Im bored enough.

I kinda half way did that. I have mine setup so that when I unlock my car, only the red foot well lights, and under door floor lights come on. But I can still use the lights in the aftermarket mirror as well.

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f11/led-lighting-project-63274/

ophidia31 · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2012, 04:19:09 PM »

Finally got around to the new mirror since i was taking stuff out of the car. Not a dashmount like I originally intended, but an 8"x2" Cipa mirror that was only $12. Once adjusted, it sits up nice and tucked to the top of the window out of the way. (final adjustment not shown in picture) I barely even know its there when looking straight ahead unlike the stocker that was a black dot in my peripherals.

Was too excited to put it in so I didnt do a comparison shot, but it is noticably smaller. About 2" inches off the width and 1" off the height and .5lbs off the weight.

ChopTop · « **Reply #16 on:** February 15, 2012, 11:42:40 AM »

Seem to remember a concept pic showing mirror designed into the windshield header.

Found a pic:

Looks slick but how functional would it be with top up.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #17 on:** February 15, 2012, 02:08:13 PM »

Where would the top latch in if the mirror was there?

Sly Bob · « **Reply #18 on:** February 15, 2012, 02:18:32 PM »

Yeah like ChopTop said, looks slick but you'd never see out the back with the top up and we'd need two roof latches.

ChopTop · « **Reply #19 on:** February 15, 2012, 02:21:46 PM »

lol, good point. Since it was a concept the vert top probably wasn't even engineered yet.

Interesting thing about vert tops, if I understand the Solstice book correctly. Lutz wanted the winglets, engineers wanted a traditional slanted rear window. Lutz won, so engineers looked to birds to see how they tuck their wings up. Point being, not enough credit is given to engineers when design is chosen over engineering.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #20 on:** February 15, 2012, 02:31:47 PM »

Quote from: ChopTop on February 15, 2012, 02:21:46 PM

Point being, not enough credit is given to engineers when design is chosen over engineering.

Don't I know it? Seems like I get to experience that all the time, I get labled as negative everytime I have to remind someone that no matter how good an idea it may be the laws of physics won't let it happen.

TomatoSoup · « **Reply #21 on:** February 15, 2012, 02:36:32 PM »

Quote from: Sol Asylum on February 15, 2012, 02:31:47 PM

Don't I know it? Seems like I get to experience that all the time, I get labled as negative everytime I have to remind someone that no matter how good an idea it may be the laws of physics won't let it happen.

I'm sorry, but you're being negative.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #22 on:** February 15, 2012, 02:43:03 PM »

NO I'M NOT oh wait....

elff · « **Reply #23 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:30:36 PM »

You tall people have so many issues.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #24 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:51:47 PM »

Quote from: elff on February 15, 2012, 08:30:36 PM

You tall people have so many issues.

Not really they just seem bigger.

One of my favorite WTF were they thinking ideas at work was "lets aim a video projector at a curved mirror so that we can shrink and stretch different parts on an image that we need to project onto a spherical screen." There was no way that you could focus the entire image assuming you had any image that didn't get split into a rainbow like spectrum effect. I got paid a lot of money to prove that one was a bad idea because someone couldn't admit that it might not work. Oh and trying to build a curved mirror was pretty cool too. A coworker and I later found a high school physics web page that proved what we were trying to explain to the bosses, even then they were like are you sure?

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Author Topic: Dash mount rearview? (Read 11963 times)