Asymetrically correct? Mirror question

[Veylan]

Are the side mirrors supposed to be turned in at different angles? The driver's side mirror snaps to rest position so that the side facing me is smooth across the hinge joint. The passenger's side mirror snaps to the rest position in such a way that is about 10 degrees further in, and of course isn't smooth at all across the hinge joint along it's side closest to me.

This would explain why I can't seem to get my mirrors to the exact position for propper driving. Both seem to be set to come to rest at an angle that would leave me having to adjust the mirrors to the absolute maximum angle away from the car just to get *near* proper driving position.

Has anyone else noticed this about their cars? If so, have you been able to correct it? Is there a way to adjust where the mirrors come to rest? Basic assembly diagram of that area of the car would be perfectly fine by me... I could figure it out from there I'm sure.

Please, any help would be greatly appreciated as this is REALLY annoying.

Thanks
Thomas

PS: "Proper Driving Position," according to my father who was a race instructor in the BMW CCA for a year or two, is having them adjusted so that the image in the main rear view transitions from behind to one of the side mirrors with no break in the image so that there's a much smaller blind spot on the sides of the car.

 

[LazerBlueP5]

Yep! I was going to post the same question. Thought my passenger mirror was out of line. On closer inspection I noticed my Mom's 02 P5 is the same exact way. After seeing that I breethed a sigh of relief. Apparently thats the way it's supposed to be.

 

[Veylan]

Thanks for the fast response. Just curious if anyone else has noticed this too? Granted, now there are 3 of us but still.. it'd be nice to know how on earth to get the chair and mirrors adjusted to exactly where they should be as a 6-foot tall gent like myself without nailing my knees on the underside of the dash hehe.

This is a problem for me in every car I've ever been in except a comaro, firebird, vette or Miata so far. I can get to where I can reach 5th gear easily, but then my legs are all bent up and nearly hitting the dash and steering wheel. At that same range I can reach the wheel very easily... but again... the legs are in the way haha.

Anyways, input appreciated!

Thanks,
Thomas

 

[Sir Nuke]

YEP YEP YEP....its just how they are.....this came up a month or so ago and I had to go and look at both of the P-5's...and sure enough...that is how they are....and I looked at the cars in the lot at the dealer the next time I was there getting oil filters....they are ALL that way....its NORMAL....and by design.

 

[Veylan]

Well, alright then. Not just a fluke run of 3 random cars then eh? hehe. Thanks for the input.

Thomas

 

[LazerBlueP5]

Now the next obvious question....WHY? lol
Wonder why they are designed like that, making the passanger side look like it's outta whack?!

 

[Jim Frye]

Now the next obvious question....WHY? lol

Because the driver doesn't sit in the middle of the car and the mirror doesn't have enough travel to angle in so you could see out of it properly if the housings were equal. Compare fit to cars with fixed housings (like on my "97 Civic or "92 Saturn) and you can see that the mirrors in those are mounted at a more extreme angle to begin with. Jim

 

[LazerBlueP5]

But why not make the stem (the part that attaches the mirror to car) a smooth line, and not shifted like it is tilted off it's normal snapped in position.

 

[Jim Frye]

I don't know...

But why not make the stem (the part that attaches the mirror to car) a smooth line, and not shifted like it is tilted off it's normal snapped in position.

But since neither of us had a hand in the design, we may never know. And if we had been involved, it may have been different. I'll bet right hand drive versions have the same "problem" with the left side mirror, though. Jim

 

[Rotus]

Hey,

I'm glad to see this come up. I noticed mine was like that too.

I bet it's something to do with cost of designing and molding two different brackets. I'm sure that whoever ok'ed that was thinking that no one would ever notice...

How anal retentive are we as a group?

 

[YellowMP5]

another fine example of people looking for problems where there isn't any

 

[LazerBlueP5]

Well I, for one, vouche for being incredibly anal retentive when it comes to the car. Heck sometimes I turn the radio down and purposely listen for sqeaks and rattles over bumps. How messed up is that! lol

 

[pr5zoom]

Added Curved Mirror

I added a curved mirror. I looked at several at the dealer, all the 2002 and 2003 are the same. I can't get the mirrors adjusted were I wanted, the additional mirror helps.

Best of luck

mickey

 

[YellowMP5]

Well I, for one, vouche for being incredibly anal retentive when it comes to the car. Heck sometimes I turn the radio down and purposely listen for sqeaks and rattles over bumps. How messed up is that! lol

 

[YellowMP5]

Well I, for one, vouche for being incredibly anal retentive when it comes to the car. Heck sometimes I turn the radio down and purposely listen for sqeaks and rattles over bumps. How messed up is that! lol

Thats not messed up. I am the same way. I do the same thing constantly and find a lot of rattles on the right side of the car. Yes i do find them annoying and will let the dealership know. But re the mirrors. If you tried turning it and it doesn't go anymore than obviously thats the way it is and the fact that the passengers side doesn't line up exactly has been a well known fact and there is no reason to go crazy about it. All people have to do is check on another protege and see the same thing. Did you guys know that mazda used different types of "oh s***" handles (for the passengers above the side windows) inside the car in many proteges? Here is another one for you guys, did you know that 2002 p5 left rear fender/quarter doesn't line up with the bumper?
And here is one more: Oh my god, did you guys know the roofrack whistles at highway speeds? Did anybody else have that on their car? Is my car a lemon know? Can I take it back? Can I get a rolls royce as a rental vehicle because my protege does not brake in 25 feet?
Just enjoy the car people.
You'd be surprised but I have seen that on this and other boards.

 

[WaatDaHell]

Now what problem are we speaking of? That's a problem? Oh...okay...

 

[Rotus]

I for one am not complaining about the minutia of the car. Hell my other car is a Lotus. Anything that you could think of not lining up, rattling, squeaking, etc. That car has. I'm just pointing out that we, as a group, are 'Car Guys' and that we notice things that other more pedestrian people might not notice. I enjoy the car every day. I have almost 60k on it. Hell, I paid sticker for the thing in June of 2001. I NEVER pay sticker, that's how much I wanted this car.

 

[YellowMP5]

I I'm just pointing out that we, as a group, are 'Car Guys' and that we notice things that other more pedestrian people might not notice.

you said it. whats true is true!