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MG MGA - Wing mirrors

Any recommendations for the location of the mirrors? I have a hole in the drivers side fender, but it is close and requires a sideways look. Is it preferable to mount them forward?
And do we need both sides for Ontario anyone?
Art Pearse

Art
Mine are located on the front of the fenders, and they are so far away, they are useless....
I ended up buying a pair of clamp-on type hot rod mirrors, and mounted them in the upper corners of the windscreen...(I couldn't mount them outboard, because they would interfere with the side curtains and wind wings)....
If I didn't have the wind wings, they would clamp outboard on the windscreen, and would work, as long as I never used the side screens.
I think the ideal place for mirrors is on the door, but then I would have to start filling holes and adding more holes.
Edward
Edward Wesson 52TD

Art

I have always bolted my mirrors to the windscreen frame as I do not want to drill the wings (fenders); see here: http://www.mgaroadster.co.uk/Mirrors.htm

I love the driver mirror in that position and it is similarly placed on modern cars. The one disadvantage with my system is that the passenger mirror is absolutely useless for the driver. The mirror face would need to be angled some 60 degrees (I am guessing at the exact angle) for it to be of any use - I have tried it and it does not work. My passenger mirror is therefore for balancing the airflow and visual effect! It is free for the passenger to play with for their own benefit.

In answer to your question, if you are fitting 2 mirrors then the exact position will probably be governed by the passenger mirror rather than the driver mirror. The further forward you place the passenger mirror the less angle you need on it, but the less field of view also. Somewhere there is a compromise, probably best found by someone holding a mirror in various positions while you asses from the driving seat.

I tend to use my dashboard mirror most of the time.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Steve --- cannot understand your remarks about the passenger side wing mirror. Absolutely no problem for me to see through it and it is indispensible for parking and pulling back in after overtaking. Fitted both myself using brackets supplied by James at Bob Wests.
D.C. Grahame

Steve -- Presumably the problem is with your super special screen rather than for us with the standard screen and pillars ?
David
D C Grahame

I use wing mirrors on both sides. Can't imagine doing without them. Essentials for trips with luggage and very useful in local drives. See my placement here:

www.mga-mk2.com/CapeBreton.html

- Ken
KR Doris

David

Basically yes. There is a greater rake on the sports screen so the passenger mirror is at a very fine angle. Also my (Moss) bullet mirrors are only adjustable as a whole so the conical shape would be at an absurd angle. Even then, the mirrors are flat rather than convex so the resultant field of view is appalling.

Steve

Steve Gyles

I seem to remember reading that the dealer would mount wing mirrors on the centerline of the front wheel.

G Goeppner

Art asked "Any recommendations for the location of the mirrors?" that is when the fighting began.......

Some hate them, I love them. This is one of those things that you'll have to decide for yourself. Mine were placed similar to the Mille Miglia cars, about 2/3 rearward in the front wheel opening.(slightly rear of the wheel center). Further forward, the passenger side got hidden by the rear view mirror, must be due to my short torso and the amount of seat padding (the car's, not mine). Further rearward and the wipers did not clear the windscreen to view them in inclimate weather. If you decide to use them, make sure they are convex mirrors.
Chuck Schaefer

Having not fitted outside mirrors for years some wet drives with the hood up in the last couple of years convinced me I needed them for safe driving as the internal rear view one was useless in these conditions.

I really hate wing mounted mirrors as I feel they spoil the line, others may disagree. Anyhow, on the advice of a 3 A owner, I fitted convex ones from Moss on the front of the tops of both doors. This arrangement works perfectly for me. No vibration as I am told you get if they are windscreen frame mounted, And still near enough for small mirrors to be useful.

Paul
Paul Dean

I presently only have a mirror on the driver door of my MGA. I did add a mirror to the passenger door of my TR6, and found as Steve mentioned that there wasn't enough adjustability in the bullet mirror. I stuck on a convex mirror that is nearly the diameter of the bullet mirror. Less than completely elegant, but it works.

Ken
k v morton

I have mine placed on the wings between the windscreen sideposts and the end of the wings.Very useful, you can adjust them while driving and they are not in the way when working on the engine.With a bit of tape and a spanner you get the nut in place without losing it. I saw it last year in Beaulieu on another MGA and I love this set up.

Herman
H. Jorens

Don't drill your wings!

http://mgaguru.com/mgtech/accessories/at103c.htm
p parmenter


P.Paramenter
Where did you get that mirror?...

Herman
There is a photo on the cover of the new VB catalogue that shows the mirrors in your suggested location....
I think that's a great idea....
I would move my wing mirrors there if I knew how to fix the holes without a complete paint job.
Edward
Edward Wesson 52TD

There are many types of mirrors. Some work well on the wings and some don't. The smaller the mirror, the closer it needs to be to work properly. Also, the modern "curved arm" Lucas mirror repros are not the same quality (and often not as large) as the originals. They have more distortion and seem to be about 1/2" smaller than they should be.

I have fender/wing mirrors on a couple of my cars and love them, but use different types on some of the other cars. I mount my wing mirrors directly above the front hubs. Visibility is very good for me.
Steve Simmons

I have them mounted on the door at about the Level of the Grab handle Base . This means ou have a wider view, and that moving our head gives you the option of a much wider area of coverage. The are also both adjustable from the drivers seat even when driving.

Take a look at modern cars and all mirrors are installed in that position for good ergonomic reasons. Over the wheel hubs may work for certain types of mirror, but they are a real PITA if doing anything on the engine

dominic clancy

As this thread has come live again I thought I would look for a photo of a new car with wing mirrors. I have only found one and that is from a Sports Cars Illustrated (January 1957) roadtest. The 1500 roaster is Californian registered HAZ 891. The wing mirrors are round (not aero)and are mounted on storks above the centre line of the front wheels. Incidentally the same arrangement as I had on my Morris Minor in the 1960s.

Paul
Paul Dean

I just bought two wing mirrors from NOS Locators. Intend to mount them over F wheels. Convex glass

Art Pearse

I have mounted a drive-side mirror close enough to be able to adjust it from the drivers seat. Big advantage!
Barry.
Barry Gannon

My wing mirror location in this image. Notice they are over the centerline of the wheel...Can't see a thing!
They won't stay in adjustment, and it is a huge pain to adjust them.
Edward

Edward Wesson 52TD

This thread was discussed between 20/08/2013 and 28/08/2013

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