Dash or slider mount rear-view mirror

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2004
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Greg

Dash or slider mount rear-view mirror

Post by Greg » Mon Nov 15, 2004 9:59 pm

hi, all

So here's the thing. I have a style bar that is obstructing the view in my
interior rear-view mirror - just happened to be that way when I purchased
the car, not through particular choice. Anyway ...

I've been looking at various solutions, which based on a trawl through the
miata.net forums & some other internet stuff seem to boil down to

1) Put (ugly) spacers in between the header panel & the mirror & lower it
that way - which would cause it to obstruct quite a bit of the forward view,
2) Find a suitable mirror & mount directly to the dash (although no-one
seems to have done that successfully - or no-one's been game to drill holes
in the dash to screw the thing down properly)
3) Mount a mirror low down on the windscreen using the self-adhesive pad
system (done by at least one forum correspondent & reportedly works OK - no
pictures though)
4) Install a chrome slider bar & height-adjustable mirror like (I think)
early MGBs. KGWorks of Japan make one to suit, but at quite a price &
always out of stock apparently.

Any other ideas out there ? Anyone actually tried any of these solutions ?
What about the legality - does modifying the original mirror cause potential
problems at WOF time ?

Regards,
Greg
1990 V Special

Geoff

Dash or slider mount rear-view mirror

Post by Geoff » Mon Nov 15, 2004 10:53 pm

Hi Greg
Have a look at this link to the UK owners club forum, it may help
http://www.mx5ocforum.co.uk/viewtopic.p ... 0&postorde
r=asc&highlight=interior+mirror

SLYDIT
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Dash or slider mount rear-view mirror

Post by SLYDIT » Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:03 pm

If you look at the very top center of the dash board ,
right in where the windscreen is,you'll see a square
plastic trim cover, It covers the mounting bolt for
the dash, that would be a perfect point to bolt a
mirror base to without drilling holes in the dash,
Although im not sure if it would be high enough to see
out the back or not.
RED '90 TURBO.
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002

zorruno
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Dash or slider mount rear-view mirror

Post by zorruno » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:15 am

on 15/11/2004 9:59 p.m. Greg wrote:
hi, all

So here's the thing. I have a style bar that is obstructing the view in my
interior rear-view mirror - just happened to be that way when I purchased
the car, not through particular choice. Anyway ...
you forgot 5) remove the style bar ;)
3) Mount a mirror low down on the windscreen using the self-adhesive pad
system (done by at least one forum correspondent & reportedly works OK - no
pictures though)
I'd get a mirror from a wrecked mitsubishi or some other car that has a
glass mounted unit as standard. There are aftermarket products
available too. You can buy metal to glass adhesive, or a special mirror
mounting adhesive kit (possibly from repco or supercheap?) that will
mount it rock solidly... you'll need a huge force to remove it.

Note that 1996 NA models had a glass mounted mirror as standard. You
could even try and find one of these, but I guess you'd pay a premium.
4) Install a chrome slider bar & height-adjustable mirror like (I think)
early MGBs. KGWorks of Japan make one to suit, but at quite a price &
always out of stock apparently.
expensive also... but very retro cool :)
Any other ideas out there ? Anyone actually tried any of these solutions ?
I've remounted a mirror on a mitsi galant using one of those adhesives.
It was simple and held permanently.
What about the legality - does modifying the original mirror cause potential
problems at WOF time ?
I doubt it. A mirror that works correctly should be all that's
required. Just don't bolt it through your firewall ;)

Note also that when you'd done the above, you could convert the location
that the mirror was mounted to into a decent interior light. The 96s
have this.

Actually I'm pretty sure Gary Morrison in wellington used a Suzuki
Vitara interior light unit or something similar, and mounted the mirror
to that. It bought the mirror quite low down though. Gary?

cheers
zorruno
(z)

Simon Lord
See my 5 and raise you.
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Posts: 98
Joined: Fri Sep 22, 2006 1:09 pm
Location: Albany

Dash or slider mount rear-view mirror

Post by Simon Lord » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:35 am

Just to comment - my 97NA has the screen mounted mirror but I think it's in
exactly the same location as the screwed-on type so it won't solve your
problem, Greg. Reading the comments on the UK site, I don't think anything
(other than removing the style bars) will.

Re zorrunos suggestion "you could convert the location that the mirror was
mounted to into a decent interior light. The 96s have this." That's a great
idea but if mine is anything to go by don't use the standard fitting - the
interior light is not strong enough to read a map by.

Simon
97 SR Ltd
97 SR Ltd (sparkle green)
Email: simon@franchise.co.nz

EricW
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Posts: 95
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 7:07 pm
Location: Whangaparaoa

Dash or slider mount rear-view mirror

Post by EricW » Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:12 am

Just a comment on the idea of sticking the mirror to the windscreen. I
believe that if you do this, the mirror has to be a "breakaway" type, in
other words, if you hit it hard with your head during an impact it must
break off, (the mirror, not the head).

(Thinking about that, I wonder how they test it. I have just had this mental
picture of the factory tester, coming home at night and saying "not tonight
dear, I've got a headache")

Regards

Eric

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