Interior rear view mirror - like looking thro' a letterbox

[stonyb1]

have a new Fab iii - but using the interior rear view mirror is like peering through a letterbox - has anyone here found an alternative to the OEM one which is a constant irritant as far as I am concerned.

[pfaff]

It covers perfectly the rear window so what more would you like to see?

[pauldazzle]

Agreed.

No different to any other VAG car (12) I've owned .

[stonyb1]

Can only speak as I find - very shallow mirror and it's like have to look into a letterbox aperture if you have the drivers seat as far back as poss.

[vc-10]

While I don't have it as far back as it can possibly go, I'm 6'2 so it's fairly far back. It's fine. I can see the whole back window through it. I'm pretty certain it's the exact same part as on my first car, a 2002 Polo!

 

However I did test drive a Polo which had the auto-dimming mirror, which I think is the same part as fitted to Fabias. That was definitely smaller than the standard manually dipping one, and was a bit letterbox-y. 

[stonyb1]

vc-10;  mine is auto dimming - will have to go to dealers and see if there is more than one design of mirror used.

[vc-10]

You might be able to fit the larger mirror as found in the Octavia (and others since around 2004 with the introduction of the Golf 5) but I'm not sure about the connectors or anything like that.

 

This is what it looks like (I think this picture is of a Golf, but it should all be the same)

 

[stonyb1]

vc-10: - thanks for the heads  (eyes ?) up with that suggestion.  I will follow it up.

[mepaulrye]

I have the auto dimming one. I needed to get used to it, as it is more narrow than on my previous Opel Meriva. I wouldn't mind a bit bigger one, but I can live with this.

[stonyb1]

mepaulrye; - glad I'm not the only one....if I find a good, practical alternative I'll let you know - although I expect it may prove a fruitless task as the fitting of any alternative will almost certainly be incompatible. 

[alltorque]

If you're prepared to forego the auto-dimming feature you could just pop into Halfords etc and buy a clip-on wide-angle mirror of the sort that parents use to keep an eye on the sprogs in the back seat. Would be a cheap fix...apart from the auto-dimming.

[FabRio]

Might be worth considering the RAC03 rear view mirror dashcam. Its bigger and fits easily over existing mirror and gives you a dashcam and safety camera warnings for life.

[stonyb1]

FabRio: - thanks for the idea - have been toying with the idea of a dashcam anyway - will have a look in Halfords - but it is the mirror that is priority

[Ootohere]

Interesting.  Is the Speed Camera Warning part illegal in France?

[stonyb1]

Update - eventually got a clip on mirror - gets rid of the 'letterbox' feeling of the OEM as far as I am concerned -

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/sourcingmap-250mm-Wide-Anti-Glare-Mirror/dp/B00976DO3S/ref=pd_sbs_263_5?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=Y7KR589N26MAS8SD0K8J

[stonyb1]

Just an update - after a month of use am very pleased with the new mirror - resolved my probem - absolutely no regrets.