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neil5886

Member Since: 15 Feb 2016
Location: York
Posts: 24

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Indus Silver

Oncoming lights reflections

I have noticed while driving my 110 XS in the dark that I get a bad reflection in my rear mirror of the oncoming car, i'm guessing its due to the angle of the back window, where I live there is no street lights at all which seems to make this worse.
So I am thinking of a way to reduce this effect, would tinting the rear window help at all, as anyone had the same issue and found a solution.

11th Mar 2016 10:14am

RRUK
Site Supporter

Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 2019

This has been discussed at length many times before.

Tinting makes no difference, there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. It is indeed due to the angle of the rear glass acting as a mirror to oncoming lights which are then seen in your rear view mirror.

Just something you have to get used to, or, remove the rear view mirror as some have done. 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol

11th Mar 2016 10:16am

neil5886

Member Since: 15 Feb 2016
Location: York
Posts: 24

Okay thanks for the reply, my old 110 didn't have a rear window so this reflection issue is new to me.
I am useless using the forum search I can never find anything.

11th Mar 2016 10:48am

Cupboard

Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey

Is there any requirement to have the rear view mirror? Mine's pretty pointless and I don't have a rear wiper either.

11th Mar 2016 10:50am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17211

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

Yes.

C&U (as far as I recall) requires that a vehicle is fitted with a minimum of 2 rear view mirrors, one of which must be external and on the offside. the other can be either internal or external and on the nearside, but must be internal unless for some reason an internal won't give a view to the rear.

So stricly speaking if you have a rear window, you must have an internal rear view mirror.

This is a change from a few years ago when there was no restriction on the second mirror and either internal or external was acceptable without qualification.

I suggest you're unlikely to be stopped, and I don't think it is an MOT failure as long as you have two mirrors.

11th Mar 2016 10:53am

RRUK
Site Supporter

Member Since: 31 Mar 2010
Location: Leicestershire
Posts: 2019

If you want to see what its like to not have a rear view mirror you can easily remove the original quickly, and replace in a matter of seconds.

Grab the arm firmly and turn the entire unit clockwise or anti clockwise, it will then release.

You can look at the spring mechanism after to easily see how it goes back on.

This is what the base plate looks like.

Click image to enlarge 2016 D4 HSE

1998 110 TUM HS FFR Hard Top XD WOLF

1982 Series 3 SWB Petrol

11th Mar 2016 11:01am

Happyoldgit

Member Since: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3471

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey

It's been a quirk of the vehicles for the past few decades, you quickly adapt. I wouldn't even bother removing the mirror, just ignore it and use the exterior ones instead. Steve.
Owned numerous Land Rover vehicles of all shapes and sizes over the decades.
Current Defender: A non tarts hand-bagged Puma 110 XS USW.

[Insert something impressive here such as extensive list of previous Land Rovers or examples of your prestigeous and expensive items, trinkets, houses, bikes, vehicles etc]

http://forums.lr4x4.com

I used to be Miserable ...but now I'm ecstatic.

11th Mar 2016 11:38am

Cupboard

Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

It would be quite a handy place for a screen, either phone or rear view camera.
I'm getting increasingly motivated to fit a reversing camera because I've got issues with a particular car park.

11th Mar 2016 11:45am

ken

Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

Mud do a fab Bracket my Sat Nav is mounted there (At times)

11th Mar 2016 12:34pm

jimbob7

Member Since: 06 Jul 2013
Location: uk
Posts: 2055

Imo,remove internal mirror,then save thousands on rear wiper blades/motor repairs etc.IF any police/vosa pulled you I doubt very much they would mention a missing interior mirror,at the most it would be a recommendation.
mot;
http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_810.htm

cu regs;
http://www.transportsfriend.org/road/mirrors.html
Also rear wiper is not a testable item,so doesn't have to work. Pov.spec,ftw. 2006, 110,TD5.

11th Mar 2016 4:51pm

Christian1402

Member Since: 17 Feb 2016
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 214

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Indus Silver

My hard top didn't have a rear view mirror, yet the bulkhead was a standard one, not full height.

I just presumed they came from the factory like this. Either way it didn't both me, the rear view mirror of my discovery is useless due to the 3.5" lift and huge spare tyre. I'll probably remove the one from the xs when I get around to it, as the reflecting light does annoy me

11th Mar 2016 6:40pm

Cupboard

Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

I have a 110 HT with no lift and the smallest tyres you get on a Defender. The rear view mirror is still completely useless for manoeuvring.

11th Mar 2016 10:23pm

Riccarton

Member Since: 10 Aug 2015
Location: Gods' Own Country
Posts: 280

2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Zambezi Silver

blackwolf wrote:
Yes.

C&U (as far as I recall) requires that a vehicle is fitted with a minimum of 2 rear view mirrors, one of which must be external and on the offside. the other can be either internal or external and on the nearside, but must be internal unless for some reason an internal won't give a view to the rear.

So stricly speaking if you have a rear window, you must have an internal rear view mirror.

This is a change from a few years ago when there was no restriction on the second mirror and either internal or external was acceptable without qualification.

I suggest you're unlikely to be stopped, and I don't think it is an MOT failure as long as you have two mirrors.

Any idea when this changed? It used to be "a) an external mirror on the offside and b) an external mirror on the nearside OR an internal mirror." Thereafter, any additional mirrors were not testable items.

I often wonder why they can't just leave things alone that don't need fixing and yet leave alone things that do need fixing !!

12th Mar 2016 10:17am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17211

Almost certainly Europe has something to do with it. It is fairly recent.

12th Mar 2016 8:31pm

Ryderoo

Member Since: 28 Aug 2015
Location: South Oxfordshire
Posts: 1666

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Santorini Black

Happyoldgit wrote:
It's been a quirk of the vehicles for the past few decades, you quickly adapt. I wouldn't even bother removing the mirror, just ignore it and use the exterior ones instead.

I am in agreement with happy/ miserable just man up and live with it. Just another Defender quirk, I have got used to it. Cheers Simon

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you

1990 110 TD5 county, my first Land Rover - gone
2012 Discovery 4 XS SDV6 - gone
2014 Discovery 4 XS SDV6 - gone
2015 Evoque SD4 dynamic - Wife’s - gone
2015 Urban Truck 90 XS Santorini Black Hard Top - Reluctantly gone
2020 Discovery 5 Eiger Grey 3.0 SE - gone March 24
2021 Defender S D250 Santorini Black 110 HT - gone March 24
2023 Evoque P300e SE wife’s current vehicle

13th Mar 2016 3:02am

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