Not sure why putting turn signal indicators in the side mirrors didn't occur to manufacturers earlier. Oh I'm sure there are some federal regulations that mandate their location to some degree, but putting them closer to people's field of vision seems like a smart move.
They've slowly been migrating to mirrors on luxury cars as if they're some kind of fancy extra, which I guess they are to some degree. Well, extra this is, not fancy.
On our Mazdaspeed 3 they're nicely integrated so they don't look tacked on or overly obnoxious. I'm guessing we'll be seeing more of these on more cars and trucks in the coming years and that's probably a good thing.
Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor, Inside Line
carlisimo says:
06:28 PM, 01/26/10
I think they only became important when turn signals started moving inboards. I liked them better when they were always at the corners of cars, not towards the center.
carguy622 says:
06:36 PM, 01/26/10
I have been watching mirror turn signals for the last few years and have come to the following conclusions:
1) Acura has saved money on the new TSX by eliminating the signal that ran practically the whole length of the mirror to just a little nub on the end. Cheap!
2) When Honda sold the Accord hybrid they later added the TSX's mirrors with turn signals to make it seems more special. Also, see Insight and Civic Hybrid.
2) The new Mercedes mirror turn signs are nasty looking with the two strakes (see new c-class).
3) They make it easier for Trucks and CUVs to see your signal.
4) On my '06 TSX I cannot see the signal from the driver's seat. VW's signals allow the driver to see the signal as well, and it's quite subtle. Which is nice.
subytrojan says:
06:49 PM, 01/26/10
This and fender sidemarkers, too.
I can't believe how some manufacturers :cough:Subaru:cough: could have fender sidemarkers on all of their previous generation Impreza all over the world except for North America. Just to save a handful (or two) of bucks per car? At the risk of our safety? Not cool!
http://carphotos.cardomain.com/ride_images/2/3633/81/21580040010_large.jpg (not my car)
I bought some from Subarugenuineparts.com for around $20 and had them installed for $70 (requires cutting into the fenders).
https://www.chaplinssubarugenuineparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=1100
allthingshonda says:
07:05 PM, 01/26/10
) Acura has saved money on the new TSX by eliminating the signal that ran practically the whole length of the mirror to just a little nub on the end. Cheap!
Why is this cheap? The signal is on the corner of the mirror and is wider than the older version so that the 2 LEDs can be seen by vehicles in the blindspot of the front and rear signals. The older version had a slender light with 4 LEDs that ran the length of the mirror so that a vehicle facing you could see it. Not necessary since the front signal serves that purpose. Vehicles in the blind could only see one small LED that was easily drowned out by sunlight during daytime and only noticeable in low light situations.
allthingshonda says:
07:09 PM, 01/26/10
Also, mirror or fender signals should be mandatory on all cars and trucks. I have had multiple occasions when I could brake early to avoid someone changing lanes and didn't notice me in the blindspot because I saw their signal light in the mirror or the fender.
subaru123 says:
07:13 PM, 01/26/10
@subytojan
Why does Subaru always cheap out on U.S. models? The new Legacy, Forester, and Outback lost folding(except forester) and turn signal mirrors, and we also don't get their radar based cruise control system (Japanese models have it). At least the Tribeca and STI get turn signal mirrors. Hopefully Subaru will start giving us better stuff, they finally brought over blue tooth and HID lights to the Tribeca.
Also I prefer GM's arrow on the inside of the mirror.
http://www.ridelust.com/wp-content/uploads/corvette_turn_signal_mirror_lrg.jpg
adavis2493 says:
07:25 PM, 01/26/10
I think the ones of the new Audi A4/S4/A5/S5 look great. They're really not visible unless they are on. I had them in my Envoy, and had a very bad experience with them when I tried to avoid a car that took a wide turn, and ended up slamming my mirror into a utility pole, which ended up shattering the little turn signal, and mirror, which both ended up entering the window of my car, into my leg.
10 Stitches later.....
creeper says:
07:40 PM, 01/26/10
Ed,
a man in Aurora, Illinois just won a lawsuit against the mighty Ford after they stole his idea for a turn signal/ puddle lamp mirror unit for their trucks. He approached Ford (and Mercedes) with the idea back in the late '90s after patenting it because he only drove their trucks (and cars) and was turned away. When he went to buy a new truck a few years later, they all had his mirror on them. 8 years or so later his suit was ruled on in his favor awarding him a lump sum of 8 figures (tens of millions) for patent infringement and back royalties. no word if Mercedes had to pay anything yet.
carguy622 says:
08:24 PM, 01/26/10
@allthingshonda: Perhaps it's not cheap. What I should have said was I think it looks cheap compared to the old unit, but if it's more effective than it may be worth the tradeoff in my perceived cheapness factor ;).
I will say that the older TSX's side mirror signals are also visible from behind the vehicle at night which is nice.
mark19 says:
10:39 PM, 01/26/10
The Scion tC has had this feature of side-mounted LED turn signals since June 2004 when it was introduced. Most of the rest of the Scion lineup now has them as well. Mazda was just copying it's competition and YES i think it should be on all cars. Definitely much more visible in traffic.
fundango says:
05:01 AM, 01/27/10
Agreed, should be standard on all cars.
drhorrible says:
05:07 AM, 01/27/10
Quote "creeper says:
07:40 PM, 01/26/10
Ed,
a man in Aurora, Illinois just won a lawsuit against the mighty Ford after they stole his idea for a turn signal/ puddle lamp mirror unit for their trucks. He approached Ford (and Mercedes) with the idea back in the late '90s after patenting it because he only drove their trucks (and cars) and was turned away. When he went to buy a new truck a few years later, they all had his mirror on them. 8 years or so later his suit was ruled on in his favor awarding him a lump sum of 8 figures (tens of millions) for patent infringement and back royalties. no word if Mercedes had to pay anything yet.".
It was 55 million dollars.
http://cbs2chicago.com/local/Jacob.Krippelz.aurora.2.1337070.html
dg0472 says:
05:40 AM, 01/27/10
Why didn't the think of it earlier? Obviously, the cost of LED's. Putting in incandescent bulbs would have added too much weight and taken too much room to make a design where the bulbs could be changed easily. But previous LED's were too dim and then once brightened were too expensive to use on ordinary sedans. That's not the case any more, so we're seeing them on more and more cars. Simple.
ddoouugg says:
07:16 AM, 01/27/10
No one uses their signals anyway.
jeepsrt says:
07:51 AM, 01/27/10
I agree, I wish the little lights on the mirrors of my Toyota FJ were turn signals, at least that would give them a purpose.
ptcdawg says:
10:26 AM, 01/27/10
Regarding the "blindspot" comment above...with properly adjusted mirrors, there is no such thing as a blind spot...
All that said, I'm all for mirror/fender signals....even better if folks would actually use them. :)
carguy622 says:
11:06 AM, 01/27/10
@ptcdawg: It doesn't matter how I adjust the mirrors on my Miata, with the top up there is always a blind spot. ;) But I know what your talking about.
ptcdawg says:
11:14 AM, 01/27/10
Miata, "top up"....blasphemy.....
speedynk says:
12:01 PM, 01/28/10
My personal favourite rant.
Mirror or fender mounted turnsignals are mandatary in EU and most of the rest the world.
They are not required by Federal law in the US which to my mind is a big failing of the Agencys responsible for Road Safety.
Check out Honda World Wide website - all their vehicles have mirror or fender mounted turn signals - in the NA market they are reserved for the "up market" vehicles - its a marketing decision - safety doesnt matter.
matt310 says:
10:15 AM, 02/ 4/10
It would be nice if people used their turn signals in the first place. Most cars come with the 'three-blink-stalk' now so you don't even have to turn them on. Just flick the switch. The most common offenders of vehicles (and drivers) not using their turn signals in and around LA:
Previous-generation Nissan Altimas
"Modified" Honda Civics
Any generation Mercedes C-Class, E-Class, and ML-Class, particularly in Westwood
Any generation Lexus RX
Nearly every BMW on the road
Time Warner Cable vans
I could draw racial ties to the above-mentioned vehicle owners, but I won't.
Now that auto designers have started making turn signal designs cool, a la Range Rover's blinking LED rings, the Mustang's sequential LEDs, and the above-mentioned wing mirror integration, maybe that will lure people to actually bloody use them!