David in LA

Someone else here on Rennlist did this a few years ago and that was my initial idea - to use a Euro-spec RHD passenger mirror (ie the left side) on the driver's side of a US-spec LHD cab so that both mirrors would be convex. I was also going to do the same for a RHD car...ie use the US passenger side mirror (the right side) for the driver's side of a RHD Euro-spec car. The benefit of the Multivex mirrors over the factory convex passenger mirrors are: (i) not Porsche factory so not Porsche prices; (ii) they are aspheric which for the outer parts of the mirror is particularly beneficial for blind spots; and (iii) they are less convex toward the inner part so judging distance directly behind you is better than the factory. They also don't have "objects are closer than they appear" stenciled on.

I got mine directly from Multivex (the link I posted)

guards red

Thanks for that David, the last point you mention is the reason I didn't go for the Porsche ones either. I have to reverse my car into my garage and at present I can do it cm perfect. Not so sure with mirrors that distort the distances you have to play with. I recently had to park a Vauxhall (GM to you guys) in a tight spot and when I got out of the car I couldn't get a finger between the side of the car and a pillar it was parked next to. The thought of doing that with my 911 brings me out in a cold sweat.

Mark in Baltimore

David,

Thanks for the great write-up! The photos really help. I appreciate your time and will definitely consider these. I currently use a small, round convex mirror for the driver's side mirror and a larger convex mirror for the passenger's side. The driver's side mirror is helpful but less than ideal because it's too small. However, if I use a larger convex mirror, I lose the "flatter", non-convex view.

David in LA

If you look at the pic Paul posted of the Multivex mirror he uses on his truck, unless I am mistaken it is not the application for that car but is for a smaller mirror that he has attached on top. You could do something similar and contact the company and see if they have a smaller motorcycle mirror that you can put on either the top of bottom half of the mirror, or perhaps they can cut one for you. The real benefit of these to me is that they are aspheric...if you look at the two websites referred above, you'll see that a number of race teams supposedly use these.

brucec59

David, thanks for the pics and description! I take it you didn't get a Multivex for the driver's side. Why not?

David in LA

I did get them for the drivers side...just don't have pics yet. May try to get some tomorrow but I'm trying to finish up my V1 mount project. I'll also take some pics of my black silicone sealing I did to seal up the gap on the tops and sides.

David in LA

I just came across this link for aspheric mirrors for a Boxster with pics that compare the view with the factory mirrors. Also a fairly good summary of the pros and cons.

aspheric mirrors for Boxsters

===================

The Boxster Aspheric Mirror Page

This page describes the aspheric (wide angle) mirrors for the Porsche Boxster. They are an easy plug-in replacement (directions below) for the standard U.S. mirrors.

Why would I want them?
Because they cover a wider angle than the standard U.S. mirrors. Here are some photos showing the angles covered. (See below for details of how they were taken.)

Standard U.S. Mirrors:
The driver's side mirror covers an angle of about 18º, with a normal perspective allowing accurate judging of distance. The passenger's side mirror covers about 25º, and objects in mirror are, to coin a phrase, closer than they appear.

Aspheric Mirrors:
The mirrors are identical in coverage, but because the driver is closer to the driver's mirror, it covers an angle of about 42º while the passenger mirror covers about 38º. Distance is difficult to judge; objects seem even further away in the driver's side aspheric mirror than they do in the standard passenger side mirror.

How do they do that?
By using different degrees of convexity. 80% of the aspheric mirror is a convex wide-angle surface similar to the U.S. passenger side mirror. The outside 20% of the mirror is super wide-angle, getting progressively more convex toward the outside edge. You can see objects in this part of the mirror, but they are scrunched horizontally, so much so that at the edge of the mirror they are hard to identify. But you can see whether something is there or not.

Why would I not want them?
Because it is even harder to gauge distance in these mirrors than in the standard wide-angle U.S. passenger-side mirror. This is mostly of concern with the driver's side mirror. Some people have gotten used to them. Some people have reported near-accidents with them.

How can I get them?
The Porsche part numbers are 996 731 035 02 for the driver's mirror, and 996 731 036 02 for the passenger side mirror. As far as I know they are not sold in the U.S. They can be ordered from Chris Kramer in Germany.

How can I find out more about them?
Don't ask me - everything I know is on this page. You can email Chris, or post your questions on Porsche Pete's Boxster Board.

How do these mirrors install?
Here's the step by step demonstration given at BoxsterFest II by Randy Russell. Randy organizes the 'Fests, and also has placed some pool orders for items from Chris Kramer in order to share the shipping charges from Germany. Randy insisted that we find a better looking pair of hands than his, so Boxsterwaiter Leslie Wallace volunteered.

1. Using the electric mirror control, tilt the mirror as far down and toward the vehicle as it will go.
2. Work a finger or two behind the upper outside corner of the mirror and start to pry it out. As you can see from the next two pictures below, there's a large mounting ring in the center, so try to work your fingers behind the mirror and closer to the ring as you pull out. It takes a fair amount of force but the mirror is sturdier than it looks.
3. As you work your fingers behind the mirror and continue to apply force, the mirror will suddenly snap out with a terrifying pop. Catch it and calm yourself. The mirror is still attached by two brown wires for the heating element. If you're nervous about polarity, now's the time to make note of which wire goes where - though they're not color coded and with a heating element it shouldn't matter. Grasp one connector - not the wire - and wiggle it back and forth until the connector comes loose. Then remove the other one. Be sure to wiggle in the direction of the prong attached to the mirror - don't bend the prong. These connectors can be pretty tight so this may take some time and tugging.
4. Here's a better look at the back of the mirror. Note the big mounting ring in the center, the lugs for the heater at the lower right, and the locator finger directly above the lugs.
5. Plug the brown wires onto the heater lugs on the mirror.
6. Look at the photo above, and note the bronze-colored locator strips just above the brown wires. Guide the locator finger on the back of the mirror between the locator strips. Then press the mirror into place, pushing on the face of the mirror in the middle, where the mounting ring is. Push until you hear the mirror snap into place. Press firmly to make sure it is seated. Hey, isn't that Randy's hand in the photo?


So how did you take those neat pictures of the mirrors?
I'm glad you asked. A set of targets (left) were printed on different colored sheets of paper, to allow them to be distinguished even in the squeezed portions of the aspheric mirrors. A base for the mirrors was constructed out of common household objects (right). A Meguiar's Unigrit Sanding Block (hidden under the towel) was the perfect size for propping up the narrow side of the mirror to get it more or less level.

The camera was placed to give a lens to mirror distance about equal to that measured in the Boxster: 24" for the driver's side mirrors and 44" for the passenger side. Because the wall was flat, the distance to the angle marker targets varied from 8 to 10 feet, which is why the targets are different distances apart.

The aspheric mirror does not focus uniformly across its width. The eye copes pretty well with this; on the car you pretty much have to look for the effect to see it. But it sure shows up when taking photos! The effect was minimized in the above photos by using a tiny aperture setting on the camera.

Father of 3

Where did you get the Broadview mirror and did it just clip on or stick on to the stock rearview mirror?

David in LA

I bot it in Hong Kong but if you google there are a few "ricer" online shops that sell it. It attaches over the stock mirror...you can see two tabs at the top in my pic above...those are spring loaded clips...attaches fairly securely. I considered the I/O Port Racing 17" mirror, but while it's great for a race car it's too big for a street car and I think interferes with the visors...the Broadview does not get in the way of the visors. IIRC there are two sizes - 270mm and 300mm - and both convex and flat mirror versions. Mine is the convex 300mm one.

note: edited to correct for sizes

Raptor

David: Is this the same mirror you have. Note, the second link has multiple sizes and types.

http://www.optionstage.com/rear-mirror-bw-707.html

http://www.optionstage.com/rear-view-mirror.html

David in LA

Yes it is. Also I erred above...mine is the 300mm one (about 12") and not 330mm - so a little bit wider than the stock mirror and adjusted correctly the visors still clear the mirror. Mine is with a black frame, convex and the only modification I did was to carefully remove the "Broadway" lettering on the upper left...fairly subtle but still distracting to me. Also note that these mirrors also don't have the rear glare function that the factory has (ie where there is a subtle ghost image so that you just tilt the mirror at night to reduce glare), so if you use that function often you may be disappointed with these.

All the taxi drivers here in Hong Kong use these, as well as the majority of regular cars. If you've ever driven in HK then you know these are pretty useful and for HK$120 (about US$15) it's an inexpensive mod.

PS - Father of 3: the first link above has a diagram that shows how these are affixed to the stock mirror.

David in LA

Mark - I thought I would just wrap up this thread by posting pics of the mirrors and how much of the black silicone shows. Note that these are on a RHD car.









To be frank, I think if you are really concerned with how much of the silicone shows and having the mirrors protruding, you could probably affix the rear brackets from the factory mirrors onto the back of the Multivexes and have a cleaner look.

TheOtherEric

My wife has these on her Elise, and they're really useful there. I won't bother on my 993 because IMHO the stock are fine. I find the view a bit annoying; because your left and right eyes see very different images due to the curvature, I find it a bit visually confusing.

If you use them, don't rely on the foam tape; one of hers came loose after a while. Use some silicone either under or around to affice the mirror.

David in LA

Yes, a definite must for any Lotus, especially the Exige S since the intercooler makes the inside rearview mirror useless. The mirrors were helpful to me because of the GT3 seats and the kind of traffic I usually find myself in...it does take a bit getting used to though, especially when using them to reverse.

On the use of silicone, it's recommended that you use it on top and also in spots underneath...you need to leave openings for water to exit.