Blind Spot Monitor?

4799 Views 8 Replies 3 Participants Last post by 2002, Jul 30, 2021

EV Nerd

Discussion Starter · Jul 12, 2021

Anybody found an aftermarket blind spot sensor and indicator for the side-view mirrors, that integrates well?

I was frankly surprised and disappointed that the PHEV Touring edition doesn't have them standard.

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Insighter

· #2 · Jul 28, 2021

Hi. Yes, I have added a blind spot monitoring system to my 2020 Clarity PHEV touring. The LED indicators mount just inside the front of each front door's window, near that little vent. That way they are directly in view when you glance at your side-view mirrors. It's a BrandMotion RDBS1500. I believe they make a lot of the OEM systems for different car brands. I had it professionally installed at a reputable shop for $749.95/labor $800.00. They didn't use the included orange LED indicators on the doors. They said they were very bright and recommended I have them install some smaller blue LED indicators (on the doors, inside the glass, in line of sight for the side view mirrors).

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EV Nerd

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 28, 2021

Insighter said:
Hi. Yes, I have added a blind spot monitoring system to my 2020 Clarity PHEV touring. The LED indicators mount just inside the front of each front door's window, near that little vent. That way they are directly in view when you glance at your side-view mirrors. It's a BrandMotion RDBS1500. I believe they make a lot of the OEM systems for different car brands. I had it professionally installed at a reputable shop for $749.95/labor $800.00. They didn't use the included orange LED indicators on the doors. They said they were very bright and recommended I have them install some smaller blue LED indicators (on the doors, inside the glass, in line of sight for the side view mirrors).

Great info, thanks. I had previously identified the Brandmotion RDBS-1500 as the one I wanted. Good to hear that it works well in a '20 Clarity Touring, as it's identical to my '21 Touring.

Edit to add: Did you place the LED in the soft bits adjacent to the window defrost vents, or the hard plastic bit between the two window defrost vents?

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Insighter

· #4 · Jul 29, 2021 (Edited)

EV Nerd said:
Great info, thanks. I had previously identified the Brandmotion RDBS-1500 as the one I wanted. Good to hear that it works well in a '20 Clarity Touring, as it's identical to my '21 Touring.

Edit to add: Did you place the LED in the soft bits adjacent to the window defrost vents, or the hard plastic bit between the two window defrost vents?

There is a small black piece of trim between the part of the window that rolls down and the part that is fixed. I had them put right beside those, which I think is between those two vents (and more directly in my line of site when looking at my mirrors). If you use their orange ones that come with the kit, and put them on the pillars, you'll be seeing them light up constantly in your field of vision. They would, in my opinion, be far too visible. They would not mimic the visibility of the OEM signals you see in side view (you don't see them until you look at the mirrors).

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EV Nerd

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jul 29, 2021

Insighter said:
There is a small black piece of trim between the part of the window that rolls down and the part that is fixed. I had them put right beside those, which I think is between those two vents (and more directly in my line of site when looking at my mirrors). If you use their orange ones that come with the kit, and put them on the pillars, you'll be seeing them light up constantly in your field of vision. They would, in my opinion, be far too visible. They would not mimic the visibility of the OEM signals you see in side view (you don't see them until you look at the mirrors).

Thanks! That's where I wanted to put them, but....My wife (who I'm installing these for, even though it's "my" car) prefers to be able to monitor vehicles around her all of the time, so seeing the orange beacons while looking forward is important to here. She's got neck mobility issues. "Happy wife, happy life", as they say.

In addition, the installer wants to put them at the base of the A-pillar, too. It's much easier, and he'd charge me another labor hour (a hundred bucks) to put them in the door.

I hate to be a pest, but where'd you end up putting the radar sensors on the rear? Those black pieces with the reflector and fake vent seem to be in the logical location, as they're probably a smaller assembly that can be popped out, rather than the entire bumper piece, which is huge.

Your info is much appreciated.

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Insighter

· #6 · Jul 29, 2021

Hi - No problem. With limited neck movement, the stock orange LED lights and location might be very useful.

I have also installed a blindspot camera on my left side-view mirror (underneath, you can just see it in the attached photo).

However, the most useful thing I've done for blind spot monitoring is the cheapest thing I did--the blind spot mirrors you see in the photos. Every time I post photos of them, people immediately chime in to tell me you don't need them if your side view mirrors are adjusted properly. That is simply wrong. They have other great benefits:

1. First, after a brief adjustment period, I never needed to look over my shoulders again (except when backing up). You can see everything in them. Get the biggest ones and forget about the rest of the stock mirror because you'll barely use it.

2. Second, if you get the spherical (round) ones, they allow you to see the lines on parking spaces as well as curbs (when you are parallel parking).

3. You can see the side of your car. Some people claim that is unnecessary, but it is very necessary in rare circumstances. Every now and then I will be turning and a bicyclist will be riding up tight against my car. I wouldn't see them much with my just my side view mirrors adjusted "properly" as people advise.

So, I invested about $2300 in blind spot monitoring and a side camera, and I really only use the mirrors for which I paid about $10!
...

Mirror Automotive side-view mirror Car Vehicle Motor vehicle

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EV Nerd

Discussion Starter · #7 · Jul 29, 2021

I've used those little mirrors before...40 years ago, heh heh. Sometimes the old ways are still the best.

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Insighter

· #8 · Jul 29, 2021

EV Nerd said:
I've used those little mirrors before...40 years ago, heh heh. Sometimes the old ways are still the best.

Side view mirrors in Europe and Japan now have a horizontal strip (about 2" wide) at the far end of each mirror that is a separate piece that's angled outward, which greatly increases each mirror's field of view. That's still illegal here, however.

Those round blind spot mirrors I have are 3 or 3.5" in diameter. I'd like some that are 4", but I couldn't find any. They really do away with all of the guesswork.

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2002

· #9 · Jul 30, 2021

I have used stick-on mirrors on every car I have ever owned, although not yet on my Clarity. I think because the lane watch camera is so good and the right side is the more problematic side in terms of visibility. So I haven't been in a rush, as I am still deciding between rectangular and round. I know I shouldn't think of cosmetics for something safety related, but I just don't like the look of the round mirrors, makes me feel like I am driving a school bus. I want to try some rectangular ones first, but if they still leave a blind spot I will certainly change to round. Also I hadn't thought about viewing the curb, especially important because of the flatness of the OEM Michelins which provide no protection to the wheels. Round may be better for that.

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