Removing Side Mirrors for Better Aerodynamics

[lamontcranston]

Given all the work that's gone into honing the aerodynamics of this car, I can't imagine that hacking off the mirrors would give any significant improvement.

[Matt Herring]

Originally Posted by Boo

On the legality issue, I think this is the Federal law/regulation on rearview (includes side) mirrors:

Part 571: Motor Carrier Vehicle Safety Standards

Automobile regulations are governed by the state they are registered in...not by the Federal Government...and states have different laws regarding side and rear view mirrors. In Illinois, side view mirrors are not required...only an inside rear view mirror. Illinois State mirror laws can be found here on a list compiled by Ecomodder...

Mirror Laws by State (U.S.) - EcoModder

And if you need more info. on performing a side mirror delete I highway recommend you go to ecomodder.com Dozens of drivers have done it over there and some have done it very well to make it look very clean...just do a search on the site for side mirror delete.

Here's a thread from ecomodder that krousdb did on his Prius. I believe the photos of the side mirror delete are on page 2 of the thread...

Prius aero mods (undertrays, grille block, mirror delete...) - Page 2 - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

Best of luck...take lots of pics if you do it!

[Matt Herring]

Originally Posted by HTMLSpinnr

Unless you plan to replace them w/ fish-eye cameras w/ LCD screens in the operetta windows. I'd recommend against this as well.

DIY Side mirror delete with cameras and LCD screens from Ecomodder.com driver

DIY: Side View Mirror Delete, Side View Camera Addition - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com

[Matt Herring]

Originally Posted by krousdb

If you make it past the legality and the safety, and you actually removed them, you would find out, as I already have, that it makes no measureable difference in FE on the highway. So I put them back on. Good to be legal and safe again.

Krous,

I'm surprised you saw no FE gain with the mirror delete...how long did you run with them off? And didn't you only remove the passenger side mirror...in NC it is legal to only run the drivers side mirror with no passenger side mirror.

Here is some testing on a side mirror delete that showed a nice mpg gain...again, surprised you put them back on...

Reflections on side mirrors: testing drag vs. MPG - MetroMPG.com

[Gen 3 for me]

Matt,
Thanks for all the useful information in your replies. It seems like there would only be a problem in that a few states MI, NJ, NY require an outside drivers mirror. I was thinking I could get around this since my interior mirror would be adjustable and that I could make it flexible enough to extend to the outside should I ever get pulled over. I already have a detailed and highlighted copy of the IL law that I would carry with me.

Need to get the car which the dealer finally says looks promising, collct my baseline data, and consider starting the experiment on the passengers side.

Thanks everyone for expressing your true opinion. I was not looking for agreement, but did look for your honest feedback, which I got, in case I overlooked some aspect, before I finally decide whether or not to make a big move like this on a new car.