Wide angle mirrors.

[Corky]

Anyone have experience using round, stick on wide angle mirrors,driver and or passenger side mirrors? I have seen them on other cars and I noticed some put them on the lower right side of the mirror and some put them on the lower left side. I am thinking of buying a couple and I wonder where the best location on the side mirror to attach them and if they do really help. Any thoughts on this? Thanks in advance.

 

[DocMT]

The 4th gen 4Runner's side mirrors are HUGE. If you have them adjusted properly, you can pretty much eliminate the blind spots without the need to add any stick-on wide angle mirrors.

Those big mirrors are one thing that I love about my 4th gen. I noticed Toyota shrunk them a bit on the 5th gen.

 

[4RNNR]

I put them in the lower / outer corners on both sides

you could always just make a small loop from scotch tape and while sitting in the drivers seat- check out where you want them

 

[riceandpho]

the stick on wide view mirrors attached on the lower outer corner on the mirrors will help u with parking. now u can parallel park with ease.

 

[jwyshrek]

Best thing since sliced bread...helps with parking (parallel and backing up) and also with lane changes...shows the blind spot...

 

[034RUNNER]

The 4th gen 4Runner's side mirrors are HUGE. If you have them adjusted properly, you can pretty much eliminate the blind spots without the need to add any stick-on wide angle mirrors.

Those big mirrors are one thing that I love about my 4th gen. I noticed Toyota shrunk them a bit on the 5th gen.

I love them as well. It makes getting into a car with tiny mirrors feel so weird.

The stick on mirrors can be helpful though; don't have them on my runner but they were on the Ram. It was only on the drivers side, bottom outer corner.

 

[Uneek]

Some people say the upper outter corners, because you don't use that part of the mirror much (since it should be mostly sky).

I've never used the wide angle mirrors on my cars. With proper adjustment, you should be able eliminate blind spots.

 

[coturi]

I have them on the outside bottom corner, but like Uneek mentions, I'd rather have them in the top corner. They are great though and help quite a bit.

 

[Leoalatau]

I replace my flat driver mirror by spherical mirror from LC Prado 120.
The same size and mount. Heater also present. I think it must be the same from Lexus GX470.
Dead zone disappeared!!! :driving:

 

[dpodo]

I replace my flat driver mirror by spherical mirror from LC Prado 120.
The same size and mount. Heater also present. I think it must be the same from Lexus GX470.
Dead zone disappeared!!! :driving:

Great idea. They also sell convex side mirror replacement glass. Just google "convex side mirror glass replacement 4runner". Never tried any of these, but I think I'll look into it. Looks like it might be possible solution, too.

 

[Corky]

Thanks for all the comments. I never thought about using them for parallel parking but it makes sense. I agree that having the large side mirrors are good at eliminating blind spots but those cheap stick ons are cheap insurance to me. I have found that on my previous car,RAV4 that placing the mirror in the lower left seemed to work. Also, I am not sure why TOYO installed the wide angle interior back mirrors on each side,maybe again to help park but I have been trying to use the right one to see whats outside my back left side when driving down the road. Anyone have any luck using them to see out the back?

 

[4RNNR]

no

I haven't mastered using the inside mirrors yet

good question, though- I'd like to hear others responses on that subject

 

[eliask08]

add on mirros

I use them on the outside-lower corners. Help with parking and checking blind spots when rear windows are blocked (or when you are in motorcycle country!). I was really hoping to find a wide-angle addon that looks similar to the ones the large GM trucks have, where the use the lower 1/4 of the entire mirror, but no luck.

 

[LandRvr Convert]

I also use these spot mirrors on both outside mirrors in the lower outside corner.

I've had them on every car I've owned and while the 4th Gen mirrors are really nice and big, these mirrors really help!!

I'm so used to using these, I ALWAYS put them on the mirrors of any rental car I use which is very beneficial on a car im unfamiliar with.

 

[TechWrench]

Thanks for all the comments. I never thought about using them for parallel parking but it makes sense. I agree that having the large side mirrors are good at eliminating blind spots but those cheap stick ons are cheap insurance to me. I have found that on my previous car,RAV4 that placing the mirror in the lower left seemed to work. Also, I am not sure why TOYO installed the wide angle interior back mirrors on each side,maybe again to help park but I have been trying to use the right one to see whats outside my back left side when driving down the road. Anyone have any luck using them to see out the back?

The small inside rear post mirrors (if you have them) were designed to allow the driver to see movement to either side of the vehicle while backing out of a parking space. Especially when you are next to another SUV or a van. They don't allow for much detail, so I have not found them useful for parallel parking or seeing my hitch while backing up to a trailer.

As for the side mirror issue, Uneek is right on. If you adjust your side mirrors properly, I find I don't have any need for the small convex spot mirrors. There is a site that explains the method to adjust the mirrors to eliminate blind spots.

Car Talk | How to Avoid the Blind Spot

I found it, as they point out, different from what I was taught (old school), but once I got used to it, I can't see any reason to go back to the old method.

 

[eliask08]

The small inside rear post mirrors (if you have them) were designed to all the driver to see movement to either side of the vehicle while backing out of a parking space. Especially when you are next to another SUV or a van. They don't allow for much detail, so I have not found them useful for parallel parking or seeing my hitch while backing up to a trailer.

As for the side mirror issue, Uneek is right on. If you adjust your side mirrors properly, I find I don't have any need for the small convex spot mirrors. There is a site that explains the method to adjust the mirrors to eliminate blind spots.

Car Talk | How to Avoid the Blind Spot

I found it, as they point out, different from what I was taught (old school), but once I got used to it, I can't see any reason to go back to the old method.

Very interesting method. I will definitely give this a shot. Thanks TechWrench

 

[1clean4runner]

EDIT: Didn't read the Car Talk post before I replied... But BMW agrees.

I use the small convex mirrors in the top outside corners of the side mirrors. Yes, I have the actual mirrors placed correctly to avoid blind spots, but having these little convex mirrors is the most useful thing I've done to a car. I find myself only using the convex mirrors when changing lanes now.

The problem with most people is that they have to turn their head around when they change lanes. This is the obviously the worst thing you can when you are driving a car. Most people have their side mirrors so that when seated at the wheel, they can see the side of their car in the mirror. This is WRONG.

For the driver-side mirror, lean all the way to the driver-side window, and adjust the mirror so you can see just a small portion of the side of the car.

For the passenger-side mirror, lean on your right arm slightly over the center console, and adjust so you can just see just a small portion of that side of the car.

Now that you did that, you don't have to turn head to check your blind spots.

Anyways, I like the convex mirrors because they provide me with added assurance that nobody is in my way.

These tips provided by BMW Performance Driving School in Greenville, SC.

 

[Uneek]

The link TechWrench and method 1clean4runner mentioned is exactly how I've adjusted my mirrors. It takes getting used to and once you do, you'll wonder why you've been driving around with the old (and wrong) way of setting mirrors for so long.

For vehicles with smaller mirrors, it does making parallel parking more difficult. (Maybe on a first date, she might think you're already making moves. But with the giant mirrors the 4Runner has, you can accomplish proper setup and still parallel park with ease. :bluejump:

 

[Corky]

Just returned from a 3 K road trip to N.Y. and back home to FL. and found that if I am being passed on the left and the passing vehicle goes into my blind spot I can still see them by looking into the small inside rear post mirror. I will try adjusting outside mirror so that there is no blind spot.

 

[ALLEGRO]

On several of my vehicles I have had the round spots. I have had them in just about every corner, and have them now on the top, inside of the mirror. Seems to be a good spot for me, but I have my mirrors adjusted correctly anyway so they are not that important other than parking or towing.