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    Rearview Mirrors

    Got my European rearview mirrors installed yesterday. They make a big difference in rearward visibility. The driver side mirror is aspherical, heated, and dimming. You can see a car in it that is virtually even with your door and more than a lane away. The passenger side mirror is convex, heated, dimming and dipping. It does not have the "Objects In Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear" writing on it. Both mirrors have a raised black bead around the perimeter that eliminates the portion of the stock mirror that does not protect against night time glare.

    I became familiar with these mirrors through Atomic80 (he has them on his car) and the rental car we had for our trip in Europe, which was equipped with them. I found them to be far superior to the U.S. market mirrors.

    These mirrors are not inexpensive as the price would suggest something suitable for the Hubble Deep Space Telescope, however they could potentially save you from pulling out in front of a passing car.

    For those of you who may be interested, these mirrors can be obtained from your Porsche dealer. I got mine from Sunset Porsche in Beaverton, OR 800-346-0182 (Eric Svaren or Jeff Clark) at a price considerably lower than my local dealer.

    Part Numbers are: Convex Passenger side mirror 99773103803
    Aspherical Driver side mirror 99773103503.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    How much?

    Did you install those yourself? if not how much installation?

    Does that use the current shell? or did you get the full assembly?

    Are those part numbers for the 997TT or they also apply to the Carrera?

    TIA

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    I believe that those mirrors will work with any 997 model. Each is just for the mirror piece itself so you'd be using your existing mirror assembly. I paid quite a bit more than Larry did because I got mine from my local dealership rather than Sunset Imports. I had mine installed by my local dealership prior to taking delivery but I'm told that it's an easy install. Larry was given instructions as well but for some reason they didn't seem to work so he ended up letting the dealership do it. It didn't take them very long from what I understand.

    I agree with Larry, the safety factor of these mirrors are ten-fold over the stock mirrors because of the increased visibility AND the fact that the black trim around the edges prevents unwanted glare.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    OK?

    How much? parts & labor?

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    I think Larry paid about $300 per side. Labor costs would vary since every dealership or even Porsche shop charges differently. I think I recall paying about $100 for mine.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    These mirrors use the current shells, prices: 997-731-035-03 Aspherical driver side $353.31 list $321.31 net, 997-731-038-03 Convex passenger side $248.77 list, 223.89 net plus $10.46 shipping. $42.00 for installation by the dealer. After seeing how they did it, I could have done it myself. I was trying to pry off the old mirrors from the wrong end. If you were to use a piece of plastic (to prevent scratching the shell) like a bicycle tire iron and pry on the end of the mirror closest to the window (window rolled down) it will pop right out.

    These mirrors probably would work on other models as well. The CAUTION here is there are about 10 different mirror configurations for each side so it is important you match the mirror capabilities to your original mirrors (i.e. dimming, dipping, heated, etc.) I was going to get an aspherical mirror for the passenger side, but I've found the convex to be just fine. The wider field of view these mirrors provide is outstanding. Some might consider the aspherical to be somewhat distorted, but it definitely shows what's overtaking you. (Yeah, yeah that shouldn't happen, but stuff does happen now and again.)

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    What do you mean by aspherical? Aspherical optical surfaces are special surfaces to correct spherical aberrations. From the sound of it you are describing a wider angle view... do they go aspherical on the mirror surface to correct distortions?

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Quote:
    ADias said:
    What do you mean by aspherical? Aspherical optical surfaces are special surfaces to correct spherical aberrations. From the sound of it you are describing a wider angle view... do they go aspherical on the mirror surface to correct distortions?



    I have them as well. Driver side mirror is great. I frnkly cant tell any differnce in the passanger side and think that it was a waste to buy. If you want to do this I would order Aspherical Driver side mirror 99773103503. Then I would find the part number for the UK Driver side Aspherical mirror. That would be the setup. In fact anyone know that part number? I think I will order the UK one.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    geez, all you Seattle guys have them, must be the weather up there...

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Quote:
    WR said:
    geez, all you Seattle guys have them, must be the weather up there...



    Its true. Small town ya know. Home to Starbucks, Microsoft, Jimmi Hendrix, Nordstrom, Boeing, Amazon. Nirvana Oh ya and a half a dozon of us with Turbos we love and an Addiction for mods!

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Rich, the convex passenger side mirror is slightly more convex than the stock mirror, but more importantly it has the anti glare feature around the edge, so in my mind it was "worth it". If you were to call Jeff or Eric at Sunset Porsche, they could order the aspherical mirror for the passenger side for you. It would take about 6 weeks to get here as it has to come from Germany. I don't remember the price, but I think it was about the same as the driver side.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Hey, ADias, don't get technical on me! To look at the mirror straight on you see an almost imperceptible line running from top to bottom at about a 1/5 in from the outer edge. It is from this point outwards where it appears to "bend" forward thus giving you a wider field of view. You might liken it to one of those little round convex mirrors people stick on their mirrors, except the image is not reduced in size. The inner 4/5's of the mirror is like the regular mirror. The distortion I refered to is really only the transition area where the line is and it is easily gotten used to. Bottom line: this mirror is really trick and if it weren't for the Feds we'd probably have them as a stock item.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Just out of curiosity... why are the mirrors different than the Europeans in the first place ... Is this due to regulations and similar thing to bumperettes and orange indicators? Seems odd to remove a safety detail like this when the european mirrors are more safe!

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Quote:
    Lukas said:
    Just out of curiosity... why are the mirrors different than the Europeans in the first place ... Is this due to regulations and similar thing to bumperettes and orange indicators? Seems odd to remove a safety detail like this when the european mirrors are more safe!



    Yes. DOT bureaucracy as usual.

    OvertheHill thanks for the explanation - it sounds like a progressive variation of curvature (same as progressive spectacles). Good call.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    I would appreciate observational feedback. It seems a no brainer that the driver side aspherical mirror is an improvement for side awareness and visibility. Has any one sat in the passenger seat and compared the difference between the European passenger convex and adapting a right driver's side aspherical to the passenger side to critically see which passenger side mirror gives better visibility to the driver?

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Any photos?

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    First you'd have to get a right side aspherical mirror to do a proper comparison. Considering the cost ($300+) and the leadtime (6-8 weeks) to get one it's probably not worth the trouble. I'm certain an aspherical passenger side mirror mirror would provide an increase in the field of view over the convex mirror.

    Second you shouldn't need a wider field of view than the convex mirror provides unless you are one of those who dawdles along in the passing lane until you get within 100 yards of your exit. Then again it may help on those multi lane freeways, which I try to avoid.

    Re: Rearview Mirrors

    Photos can't show the true differences and improvements in the field of view, because you'd have know what is being reflected in the mirror. To just look at the mirrors the only difference between them and the stock ones is the black bead around the perimeter of the glass, which covers the area on the stock mirrors that doesn't auto dim, and the nearly imperceptible line (noted in previous post) on the aspherical mirror.

     
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