Mirrors Advice Needed for "Hot Rod" (not a tribute)

[RonCT]

Doing a hybrid of sorts and I have read every thread regarding mirrors going back to 2000. But while I found a few references here and at other forums via Google, I never found an answer to "does it work".

Primer - I do not want to patch the door holes from my 85 3.2. Whatever I do for mirrors wants to cover those holes. And I don't want to do a patch or an oversized gasket.

One obvious option is 993 mirrors, but they are expensive and a bit larger than I was looking for (photo attached of Flag and Aero).

The best choice appears to be, but cannot confirm is:

BMW early Z3 / Roadster mirrors (photo). Nice oval aero look and fairly large base for wiring and securing. A few people mention this, but I can't find a photo or a "wow, that worked great".

I've seen posts about early Miata and Mini mirrors and I would be OK with either as well. I like the oval aero look and don't care who makes it, what it was on before, etc. I just want the quality and function.

One thing I can't tell is the angle the mirrors would sit at Porsche vs. BMW vs. other. My eye suggests the old Miata mirror is close...

Thanks,
Ron

[GaryR]

I have two Vitaloni's mounted on stock bases I would let you have cheap, I really don't like them, especially on the passenger side..

[RonCT]

Hi Gary - long time no "drive / instruct" together! saw all the posts on the Vitalonis and didn't really go for them. Want something "all in one" with gasket for a clean look and operation (folding in). Would also be great if the wiring could work out for inside controls.

Thanks,
Ron

[GaryR]

Ron - I think your best bet other than the stock "Flags" is the OEM Porsche (electric) aero mirror. I'm pretty sure i'm going with two manual versions on the race car.. what's the deal, getting away from newer=better and getting back to your roots??

You may have to do some hole filling if you go with a different mirror..

[GaryR]

Ron - where did you find the Z3 mirrors FS? I see them on EBay but for more than what the Porsche manual Aeros cost new..

[Canine64]

Originally Posted by GaryR

Ron - where did you find the Z3 mirrors FS? I see them on EBay but for more than what the Porsche manual Aeros cost new..

Hey Ron and Gary,

Would love to know this as well. I am also watching this thread with interest as I am in the process of building a 964 hot rod. FWIW, Better Bodies has a set of FG Aero Mirrors for $279---I tried to order, but they are in the process of updating the mirror base to Al for more stability. These should be out within the next month or two.

Mike

[McLaren-TAG]

I think a lot of us have thought along the same lines. The Miata mirrors are worth a try since they'd be the cheapest to get a hold of.

My car needs a complete respray so the 935 mirrors are an option for me as well. When I'm ready to cross that bridge I think I'd enjoy the decision making process.

Throwing out one more idea, how about the Vitaloni mirror on the fender a la 550 Spyper?

[RonCT]

My old and tired eyes need good visibility, so the 993 Aero mirrors are probably what I should use, but if something like the Z3 ones are just a little smaller, but cover the holes - Bingo!

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by Canine64

Hey Ron and Gary,

Would love to know this as well. I am also watching this thread with interest as I am in the process of building a 964 hot rod. FWIW, Better Bodies has a set of FG Aero Mirrors for $279---I tried to order, but they are in the process of updating the mirror base to Al for more stability. These should be out within the next month or two.

Mike

Do NOT buy those mirrors, they are junk. The glass fell out of one the first week I had them, the 2nd one would have fallen apart also if I kept it on the car i'm sure. I contacted them, sent them pictures, got jerked around and just tallied it up as a learning experience. BTW, it wasn't the base, it's the mickey-mouse way the mirror attached to the plate for adjustability IIRC. Garbage. Be glad to sell you mine cheap! Even found the mirror glass unbroken under my passenger seat!

[Canine64]

Originally Posted by GaryR

Do NOT buy those mirrors, they are junk. The glass fell out of one the first week I had them, the 2nd one would have fallen apart also if I kept it on the car i'm sure. I contacted them, sent them pictures, got jerked around and just tallied it up as a learning experience. BTW, it wasn't the base, it's the mickey-mouse way the mirror attached to the plate for adjustability IIRC. Garbage. Be glad to sell you mine cheap! Even found the mirror glass unbroken under my passenger seat!

Uh.....wow!!! Thanks for the heads up!!! I hate "learning experiences" like that....

[al lkosmal]

I had the 935 mirrors on my 73 hot rod. I was skeptical at first, but they are surprisingly usable.

[Craig T]

Originally Posted by al lkosmal

I had the 935 mirrors on my 73 hot rod. I was skeptical at first, but they are surprisingly usable.

Al, you liked them? I had them on my race car for two weekends and found the passenger side pretty much useless. The driver's side was OK.

[GaryR]

Another option if you have the original holes filled..

FOR PORSCHE: VT5789, VT5 789 - READY TO SHIP - (CALIFORNIAN MIRROR, RIGHT)

[al lkosmal]

Craig,
I did like them...with some reservations. Not perfect, but they worked far better than I thought they would and i found them to be pretty good and useable, both sides. However, this was on a street car. I added a small, circular, convex mirror, bonded to the surface of the driver side. I have seen these with convex glass, which I tried to hunt down to no avail. This would definitely improve both the drivers and passenger side vision and if I use them again i would go that route.

regards,
Al

regards,
Al

[Gary.H]

Vitaloni Californians Light (335g each) and cheap (£60 a pair in the UK)

Flag mirror hole filling and paintwork was a total PITA, but I had corrosion under one of the old mirror mounts to sort and a dent where some scrote had kicked off the mirror so was worth it in my case.

Went from this:



to this (ghetto, rattle-can paint job all my own work - lol, lacquer still needs cutting back once it's fully hardened)



MUCH better visibility than the lipstick (935) or Engelman mirrors.

Edit :ah, sorry, just read your original post more carefully

Originally Posted by RonCT

Primer - I do not want to patch the door holes from my 85 3.2. Whatever I do for mirrors wants to cover those holes. And I don't want to do a patch or an oversized gasket

[pkracer21j]

We used vitaloni's mounted on the stock flag base. The mirrors are both useful which was a nice surprise because mounted directly to the door they were 100% useless.

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by pkracer21j

We used vitaloni's mounted on the stock flag base. The mirrors are both useful which was a nice surprise because mounted directly to the door they were 100% useless.

Funny you posted that, I was just about to beech Ron out for costing me $475 as I just ordered a set of 993 Aero mirrors and i'm selling my flag/Vitaloni conversions - http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/791710-pair-vitaloni-mirrors-flag-bases-fs.html

[Gary.H]

Originally Posted by pkracer21j

We used vitaloni's mounted on the stock flag base. The mirrors are both useful which was a nice surprise because mounted directly to the door they were 100% useless.

I've heard that from other people too.

[Gary.H]

Originally Posted by GaryR

Funny you posted that, I was just about to beech Ron out for costing me $475 as I just ordered a set of 993 Aero mirrors and i'm selling my flag/Vitaloni conversions - http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911-used-parts-sale-wanted/791710-pair-vitaloni-mirrors-flag-bases-fs.html

For clarity, yours are Vitaloni Sebrings, mine are Vitaloni Californians

[GaryR]

Originally Posted by Gary.H

For clarity, yours are Vitaloni Sebrings, mine are Vitaloni Californians

Yes, completely different mirrors, I like yours!