Hello,

New C5 Vert owner here. What is best to enhance the side view mirror? Is the traditional "fish eye" the way to go? Any help appreciated.

Thanks
Andy

 

I stuck a fish eye on mine. Not the best looking but works. It will help a lot with the blind spot!

 

How about you just look when you change lanes?

 

Crunch,

I look but there is a blind spot just over my left sholder.

 

I have no blind spots in my mirror adjustments for my Z06. When sitting in the neutral position adjust the driver's side mirror so that your view is down the centre to left hand side of the left lane while you are in the centre to right side of the right hand lane. You should not be able to see any of the sides of the vette in the mirror when adjusted properly. Simply by moving your head over towards the glass will enable a look down the side of the car.

Do the same for the passenger side, when backing up adjust mirrors in tight and down. When done, use the memory to reset the mirrors to the driving position.

When properly adjusted you will be able to view a car overtaking in the mirror until it just breaks into your peripheral vision without turning your head. However to be safe I always rotate to be sure.

By the way this set up is of necessity as I have limited neck mobility.

Give it a try it works

 

leave the top down! I noticed that when I first got my convertible too, you can park a 747 in the blind spots. You'll get better at it, but my first statement still works best.
Bruce

 

This is my first C5, wish I had done it sooner... I will try JRH009's mirror adjusting 101 class and see if that gives me a good view.

Thanks again
Andy

 

Excellent description on how to properly adjust those outside mirrors. Most people mistakenly believe they need to see their own door panal to be safe, quite the opposite as you so elequently stated.
I do have one question, it's about those overtaking your car... THAT should never, ever, happen while driving a Corvette....

zo6vettepilot

 

Im with you brother

 

I have a fisheye also, it works great.

 

I have no blind spots either in my Vert and I have a slightly different way of adjusting the mirrors, probably giving similar results.

While siting in the normal driving position adjust your rearview mirror so you can just barely see the Emblem on the trunk and insure that it is centered (from right to left) in the mirror. Adjust the mirror up for normal driving.

The drivers side mirror should be adjusted such that when a car is overtaking you in the left lane, it should start to become visible in the outside mirror when about 1/2 of it is still visible in the rear view mirror. When the outside mirror is adjusted properly, the car overtaking you can be seen out the drivers window and still 1/2 of it is in the outside mirror. Looking in the mirrors should be accomplished by just moving your eyes not your head, just to insure proper alignment.

Do the same for the passenger mirror.

So if you want to get one lane over to the left and the mirrors are clear and a quick glance out the drivers window shows it's clear, you are guaranteed there is no car to the left of you.

 

-----------
edit: you could eliminate the need for review mirrors by being the fastest car on the road, that way you don't have to worry about what's behind you.

 

I have flatten out my mirrows on all my cars and trucks to where you can't see any of your own car in them but rather the lanes next to you!~ It works!

 

If your mirrors are adjusted correctly the blind spot is not a worry. If you can see the rearend of your car in the mirror then you have to angle them out further.

 

BINGO we have a winner!!!!!!

 

I just returned from a 2100 mile road trip in a Vert. I tried and tried to get rid of the blind spot on the drivers side, and NEVER did. I damn near wore out my mirror motors.

I am gonna try one of those fish eyes. I assume you can get them at an auto parts store.

 

The fisheye is the way to go. You can virtually eliminate the blind spots without them, but the view with them leaves no doubt as to what is on either side very quickly. They enhance your confidence if you have to react quickly to anything that may pop up in front of you where you have to change lanes. Anything that improves safety on the road gets my vote.

 

The "fish eye" is ugly and not needed. As stated by a few others, adjust your rear view mirrors properly and you won't have any blind spots. Here's a couple of links to help you with proper adjustment:
http://www.smartmotorist.com/mir/mir.htm
http://www.motorists.com/right/adjust_mirrors.html

 

Before I make a maneuver I look over my left shoulder and make sure no one is in my blind spot. Saved me a few times.

 

My C4 coupe had really good lateral and rear visibility. The fat pillar and higher rear deck on the C5, by comparison, especially on the driver's side, is not nearly as good. The fisheye, a whopping $1.80 mod, might just save a bad move. Sure like mine.

Jim

PS. Got bigger fisheyes on my motor home and they do the same -- eliminate blind spots.