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MG TD TF 1500 - Rear View Mirrors

My TF has two oval shaped mirrors attached to the windscreen brackets. I believe wing mirrors, positioned near the side lamps, are the best but I have 2 BA screw holes in the screen brackets which would be unsightly if left unused. I know I should have Lucas 160, oblong mirrors but they are very expensive - £140 each from Paul Beck. Before I commit myself can someone explain how the screws in the rear of the mirror hold the rim and glass on? The mirror on my dash has small, round headed screws that go through the edge of the rim into the flange on the rear plate. This is a Desmo mirror.


Cheers

Jan T
J Targosz

Jan; Think you will be much happier with the windscreen mounted mirrors vs the fender mounted versions. Have a helper hold your mirrors in the approximate location on the front wings while you sit in the drivers seat for a test before you drill holes in the sheet metal. With my seating position and vision, I found them to be almost worthless for accurate rearward observations. Be sure before you drill - holes are not fun to fill. Dan
Dan Craig

This is what I did. I took a TC mirror with the TD/TF windscreen mirror kit. I turned and threaded the end of the mounting shaft to 1/4" 24 and put it through one of the three windscreen mounting holes. This provides great performance, without hitting the side screen or interfering with folding down the windshield.
-David

D. Sander

And on the TF
-David

D. Sander

I was able to find some Honda motor cycle mirrors with a long thin chrome stalk, threaded at the end which I was able to mount to the windscreen bracket on both sides using the existing middle hole on the bracket. The are held on by a nut on the inside of the car. I believe these came from a Honda Festival motor scooter. Not sure if they are still available but they work well and look correct on my TD

John Quilter (TD8986)

Jan,

I have the wing mirrors on my TD and they are essentially useless. I rely on the dash mirror and a rear view mirror mounted on the left windscreen post (left-hand steering). That said, years ago when I had a 100-6, the wing mirrors were great. I believe the difference is the result of ride hight and seat height.

Someday when I decide that a respray is in order, the wing mirrors will be removed and the holes filled.
Charles Duffy

Hi Jan,
as noted above, wing mounted mirrors are just ornaments. Everybody is out to kill you, make sure you see them in pillar mounted mirrors.
I have amber indicators as modern drivers have never seen white/red ones. I also have an extra brake light mounted on the spare wheel hub cap.
I have been driving the TF for 40 years and driving standards have fallen badly.
Ray TF 2884
Ray Lee

Jan,

I second what everyone above has said about poor rearward visibility with a wing mounted mirror. My TD came with a single wing mirror and I adapted it to the wind screen post. That was three years ago and I still haven't gotten the hole in the wing filled yet. However, my TD is a driver and I don't worry much about the small stuff. The mirror that David shows above is the nicest (and probably the most practical) I have seen.

Regards,

Bobby L.
B. F. Loughridge

This is the mirror I started with on the TD and the TF. I purchased the mirror kit from Moss, but I modified it. I turned and threaded the end of the shaft and removed one of the three Phillips 1/4"BSF bolts holding the windshield base.
-David

D. Sander

Are copies of the original mirrors available, wind shield mounted? PJ
Paul S Jennings

To my knollege, the TD and TF did not have windshield mounted mirrors. There were popular dealer installed mirrors. The TC had a side mirror screwed to the windshield post, but not the TD and TF.
-David
D. Sander

David, is there a quality mirror out there that not a Chinese product? PJ
Paul S Jennings

Good Day all:

Brilliant job Mr. Sander !

TD based segment:

I acquired a Moss, TC styled reproduction mirror and arm set in a box of bits and will now follow your plan.

As the younger set of today might exclaim---Duh ! Never thought of using the forward w/s support fixing screw hole.

It will sure make folding down the windscreen easier !

*** And now for something completely different (but vaguely based on the same motif):

I received a TC LH mounting arm, for the stock mirror head, from the UK and fitted it as per the factory RH unit. Now, I must add, it does make things look ever so neatly balanced but, it is as far from being practical as my expertise is on things M.G. !

I Have tried every which way, I can think of, in setting the arm and mirror head but neither will submit to my benefit. The best view I can get, to the rear, is the kerb line of the LH side of the roadway ! Furthermore; when the side curtain is installed the arm and head horribly foul the operation of the door.

There is one saving grace however as it affords marvellous use for the passenger (sarcasm what !)

Seriously though any corrective or solving ideas will be greatly appreciated and thoroughly pondered upon !

Cheers then; respectfully:
Jack Emdall, TC6768/TD3191, Halfmoon Bay, British Columbia, Canada carminowe@eastlink.ca


kernow

The original arms used on the stock Lucas 160 mirror should be mounted such that the arm is pointed up and forward. This should avoid any interference with the side curtain or door.
I don't have a TC, but rather a PA (and PB), so any picture I could take is meaningless.
But on the subject, does anyone have a Lucas 160 mirror head in good condition they are willing to sell? With or without the Lucas badge - either is fine.
Contact me at lew (at) roundaboutmanor (dot) com
Lew Palmer

Look at www.vintagecarparts.co.UK



Jan T
J Targosz

I also found the wing mirrors to be attractive but useless. I found inexpensive suction cup mounted convex mirros at a local Target and stuck them to my wind wings. They provide excellent visibility and are easily removed for shows.
Jack Long

Jack,
Those suction cup mirrors might work, but they might be useless when you get stuck driving in rain with the hood up, wings folded in and the side curtains on,,,,,,, And that is a situation is when you really need a good side mirror...

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

IMHO:
Love the "look" of my wing mirrors ...but they are a pain to keep adjusted for use.
If you put them on, definitely have someone hold them on the wing whilst you sit in the car before you drill the holes.
When I re-painted in 2000 we relocated them as the old placement blocked the turn indicator on top of signal on passenger side.

To actually see what's behind me these help a lot.
Convex mounted on the wind wing knobs with a rubber coated hose clamp. As Steve said ....not much use when raining and side curtains on. (I have one on both sides.)

If I were doing this again...D Sanders has the right idea (IMHO) for something that works and looks good.

David Sheward

I don't drive with my windscreen down, so I mounted a pair of Harley Davidson mirrors in the swivel spot of the windshield with a cone washer and they have been on the car for 10 years with no problems and they look great. about 60 bucks for the pair if I remember right.
Tom Maine

Bought 2 motorcycle mirrors. ground the threads to go in screen brackets. fasentened with cone nut and all is well$5 each off used units.
Ellis Carlton

The Fender mirrors are usless on the fenders, but if they are attached to the windscreen brackets, they work great. The left fender mirror goes on the right side bracket, and the right on the left side bracket,, this makes the mounting arm arc upwards. Flat glass on the drivers side and convex on the passenger side.

SPW

STEVE WINCZE

Just checked with the Moss site,,, they still offer the Single Mounting Stud type mirrors (item "D") @ $19.95 each, either flat or convex,,, A bargain at that price !!!!

SPW
STEVE WINCZE

I have two fender mirrors purchased earlier and intend to mount them somehow on the windscreen. I'm watching everyone else's ideas on this as to mounting procedures. PJ
Paul S Jennings

The only thing I am going to change is use a chromed Acorn nut rather than the regular hex nut,
SPW
STEVE WINCZE

My driver's side (LHD) wing mirror gives a pretty good view directly behind the left side of the car. I don't have a right side wing mirror.

My problem was the blind spots near each rear fender.

I stuck a $2.00 Harbor Freight adjustable convex mirror to the upper left corner and to the top center of my windshield. $4.00 total cost. Bad for concours. Good for piece-of-mind.
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-inch-blind-spot-mirror-66003.html

Lonnie
TF7211
LM Cook

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/7600337
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/7600070

Here are two examples of rectangular chrome mirrors that look like they might be easily adaptable to fit a TD. $10 and $15 each, respectively.

If you want a laugh, just go through the whole mirror section to see how the gay Nazi pirate crowd likes their mirrors to look on their bikes...

Geoffrey M Baker

I would like mine mounted so the windscreen is still operable in a normal fashion. Hopefully. PJ
Paul S Jennings

This thread was discussed between 05/04/2014 and 07/04/2014

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