Pilote bus style cab mirrors.

[TUCANO]

Could someone offer me advice regarding the mirrors on my new to me motorhome. I have just bought a Pilote van and I do not understand the mirrors, can't see out of the damn things
Basically with the mirror casing folded out as they should be I cannot turn the electric mirror far enough out to be able to see what is behind me, I have just driven home 82 scary miles using reflections on the side of the van
Folding the casings against the van gives me vision but only until they spring back into the correct position. Question, can the casings themselves be pivoted/adjusted, I am a little concerned about applying to much pressure to them unless someone who knows can assure me that it is possible.
I am certain that this post will not make a lot of sense to people unfamiliar with these bus style mirrors but hopefully some of you/us will understand.
Many thanks in advance.
Norman.

 

[TheBig1]

yes the heads pivot at the mounting point. I find with mine on a rapido, keeping them close to the van (2-3 inchs) works best. replacement mirror heads are over a thousand pounds each to replace

 

[TUCANO]

Many thanks for that, as you said keeping them close to the side of the van is best except that they fold rearwards to achieve that but then vibrations cause them to return to their open position. I do understand what you are saying about them pivoting around the arms mounting position on the body but what I am trying to ascertain is can the mirror casing itself be rotated about its axis on the arm.

 

[TheBig1]

yes. often tight and can be loosened by popping out the glass and 4 allen screws inside at the top

 

[golly]

There is an adjustment hex screw that enables more adjustment of the mirror, it enables the arm to swing further away from the van. Or the head to rotate

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[TUCANO]

Many thanks for that, I will have to have a look at it as soon as possible because I cannot drive it comfortably as it is at present.

 

[GWAYGWAY]

yes the heads pivot at the mounting point. I find with mine on a rapido, keeping them close to the van (2-3 inchs) works best. replacement mirror heads are over a thousand pounds each to replace

My Hymer ones are the same, I broke one off on the Boulogne peage pillar that I didn't see. Came home with it inside on the cable. It was only yhe hollow bolt that broke so I made another, the big bind was I did not notice the cover had popped off and it is not a spare part like all the other bits, you MUST buy another mirror unit.. NOT ME I moulded an new one from Glass fibre. cos' I'ze a cheapskate, who does not want to make Hymer and the pirate brigade even richer.

 

[tonyidle]

If they're like the ones on my Le Voyageur there are four spline drive screws. They are accessible without removing the glass and there are two at the top & two at the bottom. Once removed the mirror casing rear shell can be removed. Inside there are two clamps. Remove them one at a time & lubricate. Re-tighten until you can move the mirror with some difficulty. Set the electric adjustment in the middle of its travel then move the entire mirror head by hand until you have the view you want. Replace back shell. I did the job last Tuesday on mine .

 

[golly]

Many thanks for that, I will have to have a look at it as soon as possible because I cannot drive it comfortably as it is at present.

Unless they have removed it, the reversing camera can be on while driving and on the 2nd camera view gives a reasonable rear view. PM me if theres anything I can help with.

 

[PeteH]

Mine where set by the Guys who did the PDI. I sat in the seat and they adjusted it. There would appear to be locking screws/bolts on the top of the arm?. Haven't had need to adjust since so not familiar with the adjustment personally. probably worth a look?.

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[tonyidle]

On the subject of bus style mirrors: I always liked the look of them until I bought my current van. Does anyone else find them a nuisance when entering roundabouts? Mine totally block my view of traffic entering the roundabout from the right hand side. I have to duck or lean well back to see past the mirror. When I was performing the adjustment I describe above I confirmed what I'd always suspected - they are intended to be bottom mounted and have been switched left to right. As they are the makers logo is upside down and the blindspot mirror is atvthe to.

 

[TerryL]

On the subject of bus style mirrors: I always liked the look of them until I bought my current van. Does anyone else find them a nuisance when entering roundabouts? Mine totally block my view of traffic entering the roundabout from the right hand side. I have to duck or lean well back to see past the mirror. When I was performing the adjustment I describe above I confirmed what I'd always suspected - they are intended to be bottom mounted and have been switched left to right. As they are the makers logo is upside down and the blindspot mirror is atvthe to.

Can you not switch them back?

Most mirrors cause a blindspot somewhere, just a matter of getting used to it. Often had similar problems when coach driving, especially the older buses.

 

[Lenny HB]

As said you need to adjust the arms to get them close to the body I set mine to about 1½" from the body/window, set close to the body you get a superb view. On mine a small screw holds a cover on the top of the arm which exposes the adjustment bolt.

 

[Lenny HB]

On the subject of bus style mirrors: I always liked the look of them until I bought my current van. Does anyone else find them a nuisance when entering roundabouts?

On my Hymer they are fine & the view in them is so much better than the low mounted ones on my last Hymer.
My mates wife complains about them on their Carthago e Line but they are huge compared to the Hymer mirrors.

 

[tonyidle]

Can you not switch them back?

Most mirrors cause a blindspot somewhere, just a matter of getting used to it. Often had similar problems when coach driving, especially the older buses.

These are huge. It isn't so much a blind spot as a totally blocked view. It would be possible to switch to bottom mount and is something I'm considering. I have absolutely no complaints about the view in the mirrors to the rear - they're brilliant.

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[rb62]

These are huge. It isn't so much a blind spot as a totally blocked view. It would be possible to switch to bottom mount and is something I'm considering. I have absolutely no complaints about the view in the mirrors to the rear - they're brilliant.

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Loks like they are designed to go either way

I don't have a problem with ours ,the only difference must be the driving position,Merc v Fiat.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don't think it's the mirrors it's the height of your side windows. Mirrors look the same size as the ones on my Hymer but my side windows come down lower so the bottom of them is nearly level with the base of the windscreen & I think my screen comes down lower than yours.

 

[tonyidle]

I don't think it's the mirrors it's the height of your side windows. Mirrors look the same size as the ones on my Hymer but my side windows come down lower so the bottom of them is nearly level with the base of the windscreen & I think my screen comes down lower than yours.

Could be. Though normally seated I'm looking straight at them so a lower sidescreen wouldn't help. I'm not normally fussy about such things - usually getting used to them. But these are very awkward when entering roundabouts.

rb62 - those aren't my mirrors.

 

[Lenny HB]

Looking at the pic RB62 put up your mirrors look a lot deeper mine are more the size of rb62's pic.

For compassion here's mine.

 

[tonyidle]

Looking at the pic RB62 put up your mirrors look a lot deeper mine are more the size of rb62's pic.

For compassion here's mine.

View attachment 317964

Yours definitely look small / slimmer. The centre of mine are drivers head height too. Nice looking mirrors those . My last Hymer had classic arms mounted top & bottom so any decent looking wagon mirror could be installed at any height I chose. I thought at the time they looked a bit old-fashioned. Now I'm not so sure .

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[TUCANO]

Lenny HB Your mirrors in that pic are where I want mine to stay but they vibrate whilst I am driving and return to the outboard position.
The view is great from them if only they would bloody well stay there

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB Your mirrors in that pic are where I want mine to stay but they vibrate whilst I am driving and return to the outboard position.
The view is great from them if only they would bloody well stay there

One of mine did that until I tightened up the adjusting bolt. Makes a huge difference to the view having them close to the van.

 

[TUCANO]

Could all you good people with this style of mirror please tell me wether you drive with the arms close to the body or in the out position.
Many thanks.

 

[Lenny HB]

Could all you good people with this style of mirror please tell me wether you drive with the arms close to the body or in the out position.
Many thanks.

Close to the body mine are about 1½" out any further and you get a very poor view.

 

[tonyidle]

Same as Lenny HB - that way the OS mirror is still on my side of the road .

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[shunter]

Mine are in close to the body as well

 

[johnco1]

Could someone offer me advice regarding the mirrors on my new to me motorhome. I have just bought a Pilote van and I do not understand the mirrors, can't see out of the damn things
Basically with the mirror casing folded out as they should be I cannot turn the electric mirror far enough out to be able to see what is behind me, I have just driven home 82 scary miles using reflections on the side of the van
Folding the casings against the van gives me vision but only until they spring back into the correct position. Question, can the casings themselves be pivoted/adjusted, I am a little concerned about applying to much pressure to them unless someone who knows can assure me that it is possible.
I am certain that this post will not make a lot of sense to people unfamiliar with these bus style mirrors but hopefully some of you/us will understand.
Many thanks in advance.
Norman.

Hi - I have the exact same problem. Have you found a fix? Can you describe how to fix this really irritating problem?

 

[TheBig1]

Hi - I have the exact same problem. Have you found a fix? Can you describe how to fix this really irritating problem?

Just simply don't push the arms right out to where you think they should be. The correct position is much nearer the side of the van. These mirrors are super expensive to replace, so it also limits the risk of collision damage

 

[TUCANO]

Hi - I have the exact same problem. Have you found a fix? Can you describe how to fix this really irritating problem?

johnco
The van had to be returned to the dealer for various other things and they adjusted the mirror arms so l really don't know if as TheBig1 says you just have to push them out.
However l recently adjusted one of the mirrors within the casing, turning the mirror inwards as far as possible l was JUST able to get a thin wrench onto what is really an allen key.
So far so good, l would guess that the correct long allen key would not be cheap. The arms are approx one upright hands width away from the van body
I hope this helps.

 

[Simon Meadwell]

Drivers side mirror touching the van side and passenger side out slightly more gives me perfect view

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