Blind Spot Mirrors

[dallen3737]

I am looking for some quality blind spot mirrors with an OEM look for 08 Highlander, but all I can find are just the cheap plastic ones. The dealerships I've been to only carry the cheap generic ones. Has anybody body a good set they are happy with?

Thanks

[TrailDust]

I'm not quite sure what an "OEM look" is, can you be more specific?

[dallen3737]

A mirror that fits the curvature instead of just a round or rectangle one. I love what they did on the new Acadias where it's actually built into the mirror

[evjm]

I don't think you'll find a set that fit perfect. There are a few different diameter mirrors. The cheap ones actually work well. I had them on my Murano for 8 years with no problems.

[Jim Griffin]

For what it is worth, I was looking at the newly revised 2013 Venza at my local Toyota dealer recently. The new Venza have segmented side mirrors with an apparent blind spot patch in the upper left (drivers side mirror) and a smilar patch in the upper right of the passenger mirror. I assume that these can be adjusted.

[jgayman]

Originally Posted by dallen3737

A mirror that fits the curvature instead of just a round or rectangle one. I love what they did on the new Acadias where it's actually built into the mirror

I haven't seen the Acadia but hopefully they did a better job than Ford. I recently had an Escape as a rental and noticed the built-in blind spot mirrors. I thought it was a great idea until I pulled out of the parking lot. Because they are slightly behind the main mirror surface the field of view is very limited as compared to conventional stick-on spot mirrors. If I owned an Escape I would put a stick-on mirror over top the silly built-in one.

I've had the little round stick-on spot mirrors on every vehicle I've owned for the past 20 years and wouldn't want to drive without them.

Like the OP, when I traded in my 2001 HL for the 2011 SE I went looking for a decent quality 2" stick-on and for all practical purposes they seem to not exist. I ended up going with the typically auto parts store variety and they work fine and I'm sure they will last for many years.

[awisher]

I thought I read on here that the European 'highlander' has built in blindspot mirrors. I wonder if we could find the part numbers.....

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by jgayman

I've had the little round stick-on spot mirrors on every vehicle I've owned for the past 20 years and wouldn't want to drive without them.

Ditto. Got my Pep Boys specials mounted four years now, look perfectly fine, have survived direct sunlight and +128 degree temps and snow with 0 degrees but not fallen off, and I wouldn't drive without them.

[dallen3737]

I saw a 2012 a few weeks ago that had what I thought were factory ones and were mounted on upper outer side of the mirrors and looked to fit perfectly.

I put a temporary cheap set on my wifes new 2012 Sienna until I can find a better set and want the same for my Highlander. The mirrors look identical.

My wife loves the Sienna. It replaced our 2004 Odyssey that the trans went out in. My second Odyssey that's happened to, my Accord trans failed also. Dealer told me they have some plastic gears inside to keep the noise down and make it shift smoother....sorry to get off subject

[Ralph6410]

Speaking of mirrors... Where is the preferred location to mount them. It seems any corner is a compromise to a particular view.
I use those 2" round stick ons.. but keep looking for ones that would better fit the OEM mirror.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by Ralph6410

Speaking of mirrors... Where is the preferred location to mount them. It seems any corner is a compromise to a particular view.
I use those 2" round stick ons.. but keep looking for ones that would better fit the OEM mirror.

I have mine mounted in the lower right quadrant, or what you could also say is about the four o' clock position on the mirror. Main reason I did that is when either off-roading in the desert I want to be able to get the best view I can of my rear tires, and when on road I use them to view the distance of my rear wheels from curbs (especially true since I often back into parking spaces to prevent door dings). They still work perfectly fine for eliminating the blind spots when changing lanes and such, but that location affords me the best look down and close to my Highlander.

[awisher]

I have my 2 inchers bottom-outside corner to help when towing our small utility trailer.

[Ralph6410]

I take that as outside bottom. That is where I have mine.. but I put them there because the radius of the mirror fits better there than in outside top, and a tad farther out. All things being equal though I think outside top would give better access to the rest of the mirror.

[PhotonDreams]

I think that putting a wide angle view mirror on is the first thing I'd do with a Highlander. Almost sideswipeing someone inspired this feeling. In the past I've tried the round ones of different sizes but now I go with the rectangle ones that are about 2 1/2 X 3 3/4. Reason for this size is that at night, and with rain drops on the smaller ones, it's hard to see anything. I put them in the lower inside corner. By making a loop of duct tape you can test various positions if you like. I found that the lower inside corner leaves a little more than half of the big Highlander mirrors free to use as a regular reflection.


I think one guy supplies them all in different packaging. Does not take much pressure since the tape is pretty sticky. When you stick them on you have to sort of put a little pressure on the outside part of the flat mirror to compensate for the pressure you will put on the mirror to stick it on. If you don't you'll hear a little plastic clicking noise as you force the gears that move the mirror left and right or up and down. Don't think it hurts it but why take the chance.

Hope this helps.

[TrailDust]

Originally Posted by PhotonDreams

I think that putting a wide angle view mirror on is the first thing I'd do with a Highlander.

I think you'll find they're a huge help. I still have my head on a swivel when I drive, but when I still use these mirrors a lot especially when parking.