Stick-on Blind Spot Mirrors

marpel · June 23, 2023

MrLeadFoot,

Prior to affixing the BSMs I was concerned about them blocking the main mirrors, especially where the seller recommended they be placed. And so I payed particular attention to that aspect when I drove the truck after installation. However, I found no issue with blockage as the BSMs were in the lower outside corner and on the main mirror, that portion would only show a location that is farthest from the truck and that is handled by the BSMs anyway.

I should add, as I have mentioned before, the passenger side main mirror (flat glass) was literally useless for blind spot viewing, even when I turned that mirror completely outward (and then the area close to the side of the truck was invisible), it still was incredibly inadequate, to the point of being dangerous, so loss of that bottom corner was inconsequential.

I will admit that BSM took a couple days of getting used to, but I now have confidence that I can see any vehicle anywhere on that side. YMMV, however, as I don't want to give you the impression that they work for everyone, but I will say without reservation that they are certainly at least as good (better in my opinion) as the BSMs from the local auto supply store.

MrLeadFoot · June 23, 2023

I looked at some at a local auto parts store the other day, and I was shocked to see how terrible they were! I don't know if they're all like that, but the ones I saw reminded me of that foil they put on chewing gum wrappers, but all smoothed out. No way do I want the ones I saw!

When you refer to the flat glass on your passenger side mirror, are you saying yours is not that wide-angle glass like mine is? I thought they were all wide-angle on the passenger side, regardless of trim level. At least, I think mine are wide-angle. I'll double-check that in the morning.

4banger · June 23, 2023

3" napa, on everything for 30 years, always keep spare sets for the next ride. For the astute students here see if you can zoom in on the first picture, just a cute little message for y'all. Keep in mind the images are 'medium' sized so not full pixels, do all I can as an old guy with these forums.

Edited June 23, 2023 by 4banger
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marpel · June 23, 2023

MrLeadFoot,

As mentioned before, I ordered the regular mirrors rather than the trailer mirrors. I was assured by the GM site as well as the dealer sales person that the regular mirrors had a convex mirror on the passenger side (and flat glass on the driver's side) when I placed the order, with replacement mirrors.

After many months, the truck arrived and I discovered the passenger side mirror was flat glass. When I questioned this, both the sales guy and the manager basically said "Oh, well, GM has the right to change out parts as they see fit." And I was given the choice to accept or refuse.

This was one of three screw-ups (long story) I had to accept as I needed the truck and could not wait the the many months for a new order to be delivered.

MrLeadFoot · June 23, 2023

Sorry about that. I remember you said that before, but it slipped my mind. That said, I don't recall seeing ANY vehicle in over 10 years that has a "flat" passenger mirror, especially in a vehicle as expensive as these trucks. While my own story is bad enough (but that's a whole other thread), now that I've heard yours, I can see that GM is more screwed up than I thought.

4banger · June 24, 2023

and getting a ride from my kid in his older ford ranger with same mirrors of course, as if my family will run without the 3" Napa badboys, anyhow, was from a little video clip I took showing him his little Michelin whitewalls...his mom took one drive in his new truck and said where did you get those convex, her new ford 150 eco-boost money pit is about to get a $6 dollar upgrade lol...she loved them

3", napa, you're welcome

you boys better start paying better attention I tell ya

they do the 'mirrors appear closer than they appear' on passenger side, I've never seen a factory passenger side convex...and sadly, as I explained earlier, the factory convex actually has a blind spot that can hide a car or motorbike, get rid of it for flat, do the 3" Napa convex on both sides for $3 each side and that's it, thread closed, you're facking welcome, take your energy to the next thing on your list

Edited June 24, 2023 by 4banger

Grumpy Bear · June 24, 2023

9 hours ago, 4banger said:

do the 3" Napa convex on both sides for $3 each side

Mine are not that large, only 2", but same shape. Love them. Nothing is hidden down either side if well placed.

MrLeadFoot · June 24, 2023

Those Napa mirrors seem night and day better than the crap I saw the other day at the local Autozone.

@Grumpy Bear, do you happen to have any pics of your 2" model installed?

@4banger, why did you choose the round ones over rectangle or square?

4banger · June 24, 2023

2 hours ago, MrLeadFoot said:

Those Napa mirrors seem night and day better than the crap I saw the other day at the local Autozone.

@Grumpy Bear, do you happen to have any pics of your 2" model installed?

@4banger, why did you choose the round ones over rectangle or square?

Round is the proper shape to expand 360, it’s how they work, likely least distortions and missed area shown. Drive service rigs since high school and you learn to rely on convex more than anything else. 3” is smallest I’ll go on passenger vehicle. I don’t even need the other mirrors. They are nice for looking further back and watching traffic move up on you from a distance but could live with just those convex.

Even if I had a small car with small mirrors the 3” convex would still be going on then even if it covered up half the mirror. They are that important imo.

for me 2” is a compromise and everything just a bit too small, 3” is natural and can also fit most passenger car and half ton mirrors, if I had big tow mirrors I’d even look for larger

4banger · June 24, 2023

I really wish the 3" convex were made standard safety feature, like back up cameras. Every week I get caught off by some dipstick that trusts their stupid factory mirrors and won't shoulder check only to find my grill in their review and then act all 'where did you come from?' and when I go by them eventually or get a chance to ring a circle around my convex mirror with my finger followed by a thumbs up and warm smile I will and hope they half a clue what I'm referencing.

They are more important than the mirrors that come on the vehicles.

And more thought on 'why round?' well by nature they are part of a sphere and circular anyway, so are our eyeballs, maybe it's just easier and cheaper to make them circular? Maybe there's more to it than that? All the busses, semi-trucks etc. typically just large circular convex.

one last note for those who are trusting the little yellow light on their mirror to do the job of a $3 convex mirror that is 100% bombproof simple and reliable....hope your radar doesn't malfunction and hope the light doesn't have an issue...I'm sure Murphy gets to meet a number of these failures and bumper car episodes every year, on vehicles I've had with the yellow light....I put my 3" convex over top of it lol

Edited June 24, 2023 by 4banger

MrLeadFoot · June 24, 2023

53 minutes ago, 4banger said:

...one last note for those who are trusting the little yellow light on their mirror to do the job of a $3 convex mirror that is 100% bombproof simple and reliable....hope your radar doesn't malfunction and hope the light doesn't have an issue...I'm sure Murphy gets to meet a number of these failures and bumper car episodes every year, on vehicles I've had with the yellow light....I put my 3" convex over top of it lol

I've been trying to figure out where to mount a stick-on without compromising what little real estate I have in my non-tow mirrors (in fact, I wish tow mirrors were standard, because those larger mirrors with the wide angle mirror on the bottom work great). I don't want to cover my yellow light, so I initially thought a stick-on would have to eat up the entire bottom outside corner, which I also don't want because I'd lose that part of the natural view. Obviously, I don't want to put one on an inside corner of the mirror, but your mention of covering up the indicator now has me thinking I don't necessarily need to cover a corner; and maybe I can place one right below the yellow light and still have some visibility of the bottom outside of the normal mirror. Now that I know 3" is the size to go with, I'll go measure and see it that position might work, if I decide to go with a Napa BSM. Thanks for the insight.

Grumpy Bear · June 25, 2023

On 6/24/2023 at 9:02 AM, MrLeadFoot said:

Those Napa mirrors seem night and day better than the crap I saw the other day at the local Autozone.

@Grumpy Bear, do you happen to have any pics of your 2" model installed?

@4banger, why did you choose the round ones over rectangle or square?

Pardon the time it took to fill you request.

MrLeadFoot · June 26, 2023

Thanks for that. Interesting placement, too.

4banger · June 26, 2023

Convex or yellow light. Pick your horse and roll with it. No point trying to use both. The convex is the only way to fly, dead reliable and more versatile, best to commit and then get used to it, you’ll never go without once you do. Yellow lights in mirror will never matter again and actually just become a distraction, best cover them up.

MrLeadFoot · June 27, 2023

I like the yellow lights, they let me know someone is next to me, even if I'm not changing lanes. As I mentioned in the OP, I am not looking for these convex mirrors to assist with lane changes. I want to be able to glance at them and see my rear tires at any moment. That said, it's hard to tell in your pics, but can you see your rear tires at all times in your convex mirrors, where you have them placed in the upper, outer corners?