Convex side mirror FAQ

["Walter" <Whalt@xxxx>]

This is a compilation of frequently asked questions I have been answering
about the side mirrors.

Q: Is the curvature excessive enough that I wouldn't be able to accurately
judge distances?
A: No, but the USDOT thinks otherwise. That is why they require all auto
manufactures to permanently include the warning, OBJECTS IN MIRROR ARE
CLOSER THAN THEY APPEAR. The new DeLorean convex mirrors have the same
curvature as what has been used on passenger side mirrors on cars the world
over for many years. I'm pretty sure that by '85 that all new cars in the
U.S. were required to have convex mirrors on the passenger side. So if
there were an '85 model made of the DMC-12, it probably would have had
mirrors like what I am making.

Q: How well is the visibility improved?
A: Without adjusting the mirror, I can see some of the sky and some of the
ground behind and next to the car. It makes parallel parking and backing
into spaces much easier. But this isn't anything different than any newer
car with the same kind of mirror. It just makes sense.

Q: What is it like having a convex mirror on the drivers side?
A: It is a bit different than what I'm used to. It is nice, but not as big
as an improvement as having one on the passenger side. I don't have any
problems with depth perception. Now that I've tried it for a while, I would
want one on any car that I had to drive regularly. Most cars in Europe have
convex mirrors on both sides of the car, but the drivers side is often cut
into quarters or thirds where it is divided into some flat and some convex.
Some newer cars in Europe have all convex mirror on both sides of the car,
so that is what I have done with my DeLorean. Even U.S. made cars exported
to Europe have convex drivers side mirrors and even some with convex rear
view mirrors! So far everyone in Europe who I have dealt with expects
convex mirrors for both sides of the car.

Q: How do they look on the car?
A: I shape these mirrors to be same shape as the original flat glass. So
when
they are installed in the mirror housing, they look very factory. One nice
thing I noticed right away is the better color rendition from the convex.
This will take some explaining. The OEM flat mirrors are made with the
reflective surface on the back. This has some disadvantages. The adhesive
on the back eventually disturbs the reflective surface and makes stains in
the reflection. The glass has iron dissolved into it which makes it
stronger, but this comes at the expense of making the glass look green. The
reflection you see comes from light that has passed through the glass twice.
You get a green filter effect along with refraction & distortion. But with
the new convex mirror, the reflective part is on the exposed surface of the
glass. When compared to the OEM mirror, this convex glass has a gray/brown
look which much more resembles the gray/brown tint to the rest of the
DeLorean windows. I am suspicious that one of the reasons that windshields
break so easily on DeLoreans is because they appear to have a very low iron
content (no green hue).

Q: Where do I get these mirrors?
A: Be the high bidder on eBay! Otherwise, wait until I make more. My life
is a mess. I am between building a house, running a business, and taking
care of the family. It will probably be early next year before I make any
more mirrors.

Walt Tampa, FL