Mirrorguard saved our mirror again (49 Viewers)

[nph]

Just in case anyone is wavering over whether to get some Mirrorguard mirror protectors, I thought our experience might be of interest. In the past three years, the Mirrorguards have saved our (interestingly) nearside mirror three times on our long arm Ducato-based Adria motorhome. The first was on a campsite where a caravan reversed into us when we were set up on a pitch, the second was when we were stationery in a small French village and a Volvo didn’t slow down as it passed and smashed her own mirror, whilst ours was undamaged. The third was terminal, unfortunately: last week again in France, a Fiat Berlingo van at speed hit our nearside mirror completely smashing his mirror assembly and sadly destroying our Mirrorguard; our mirror, however was intact (though the lower portion is slightly cracked), so once again Mirrorguard saved the day, saving us over £600 for a replacement mirror and the inconvenience of having to sort it out in France. We shall be replacing the Mirrorguard as soon as we get back.

 

[TinaLes]

Good news that your nearside mirror was protected apart from a small crack, this can hopefully be welded with a soldering iron or glued.
We bought our Mirror Guards years ago they are expensive but do the job much better than others like the thinner Milenco etc.
I am not sure you can buy Mirror Guards seperately, I think I heard they came as pairs only?
Can you let us all know if that is the case Please, I hope I am wrong and you can get a Nearside cover replacement.
Good Luck
LES

 

[Brains]

And ours.

See story here

 

[nph]

Good news that your nearside mirror was protected apart from a small crack, this can hopefully be welded with a soldering iron or glued.
We bought our Mirror Guards years ago they are expensive but do the job much better than others like the thinner Milenco etc.
I am not sure you can buy Mirror Guards seperately, I think I heard they came as pairs only?
Can you let us all know if that is the case Please, I hope I am wrong and you can get a Nearside cover replacement.
Good Luck
LES

I’ve contacted Mirrorguard by email to ask this question: will see what their reponse is. Unfortunately I don’t think they can be bought in France and none of the French vans seem to have any kind of protection.
I did have some Milenco ones a few years ago but they were of no use: just a flimsy plastic cover more for decoration than anything I think!

 

[nph]

Just in case anyone is wavering over whether to get some Mirrorguard mirror protectors, I thought our experience might be of interest. In the past three years, the Mirrorguards have saved our (interestingly) nearside mirror three times on our long arm Ducato-based Adria motorhome. The first was on a campsite where a caravan reversed into us when we were set up on a pitch, the second was when we were stationery in a small French village and a Volvo didn’t slow down as it passed and smashed her own mirror, whilst ours was undamaged. The third was terminal, unfortunately: last week again in France, a Fiat Berlingo van at speed hit our nearside mirror completely smashing his mirror assembly and sadly destroying our Mirrorguard; our mirror, however was intact (though the lower portion is slightly cracked), so once again Mirrorguard saved the day, saving us over £600 for a replacement mirror and the inconvenience of having to sort it out in France. We shall be replacing the Mirrorguard as soon as we get back.
View attachment 953545

As an aside to this, the van driver did stop and tried to blame me for being British and not knowing how to drive on the right hand side of the road! As Brains said in his post linked above, being right hand drive means that we are more likely to be as close as possible to the right hand edge of the road, more so than a local driver. I did refer to our dashcam footage saying that it showed we were close to the edge as possible, at which he just said that there was no point in discussing it. In fact I hadn’t seen the footage at that point, of course, but I was pretty confident: when I looked after the event I could see we were right on the edge of the road, but that he was well out and travelling at speed. Oh well, it could have been a lot worse and no one was hurt.

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[TinaLes]

nph
I know the guy that manufactures them supplies many motor home dealership accessory shops, perhaps if you cannot source directly from him, another UK dealership may have them in stock, but they may only sell in pairs.
Try Chelston Motor homes, Wellington, Somerset 1st, as the guy who makes them comes from that region and pops in regularly to re-stock them.
LES

 

[gus-lopez]

footage saying that it showed we were close to the edge as possible, at which he just said that there was no point in discussing it.

I'd keep the footage as the t++t is likely to have clocked your reg number & will put a claim in against you via his insurance company.

 

[nph]

I'd keep the footage as the t++t is likely to have clocked your reg number & will put a claim in against you via his insurance company.

Good advice: thanks. Yes, I’m worried about that. It’s safely stored on the iPad. I just hope it won’t be worth his time to pursue this and I’m not sure that French companies can pursue UK registered vehicles (at least I’m hoping they can’t, so don’t tell me otherwise!)

 

[nph]

nph
I know the guy that manufactures them supplies many motor home dealership accessory shops, perhaps if you cannot source directly from him, another UK dealership may have them in stock, but they may only sell in pairs.
Try Chelston Motor homes, Wellington, Somerset 1st, as the guy who makes them comes from that region and pops in regularly to re-stock them.
LES

Thank you. As it happens we live in Wellington and our van is from Chelston MH, so if Mirrorguard don’t get back to me, Chelston will my first stop once we’re home.

 

[HKF]

I’ve contacted Mirrorguard by email to ask this question: will see what their reponse is. Unfortunately I don’t think they can be bought in France and none of the French vans seem to have any kind of protection.
I did have some Milenco ones a few years ago but they were of no use: just a flimsy plastic cover more for decoration than anything I think!

If you want to get a replacement while you're in France, you could have them sent to a La Poste for collection. I've just had a shipment from Germany sent to La Poste for collection. Whereabouts are you in France now? If you're near us, you could have them sent to us and pop over to collect them, if that would help?

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[dunnah01]

Not convinced by mirror guards and if you've been quoted £600 to replace then that hopefully included a new door. I replaced both regular long arm covers and mirror pairs on the last refresh for about £50

 

[StillGoing]

As an aside to this, the van driver did stop and tried to blame me for being British and not knowing how to drive on the right hand side of the road! As Brains said in his post linked above, being right hand drive means that we are more likely to be as close as possible to the right hand edge of the road, more so than a local driver. I did refer to our dashcam footage saying that it showed we were close to the edge as possible, at which he just said that there was no point in discussing it. In fact I hadn’t seen the footage at that point, of course, but I was pretty confident: when I looked after the event I could see we were right on the edge of the road, but that he was well out and travelling at speed. Oh well, it could have been a lot worse and no one was hurt.

I had a very similar experience 2 years ago in France. Our Milenco mirror protectors saved our mirror, but the mirror on the French 4x4 was wrecked! I don’t understand why the mirror arms are so long on our motorhome - they don’t need to be.

 

[StillGoing]

Not convinced by mirror guards and if you've been quoted £600 to replace then that hopefully included a new door. I replaced both regular long arm covers and mirror pairs on the last refresh for about £50

Where did you get them from?

 

[nph]

Where did you get them from?

No, the Mirrorguards themselves are about £140 a pair. The mirror unit and mounting including the inbuilt aerial and temperature sensors from Fiat are around £600 I understand.

 

[nph]

If you want to get a replacement while you're in France, you could have them sent to a La Poste for collection. I've just had a shipment from Germany sent to La Poste for collection. Whereabouts are you in France now? If you're near us, you could have them sent to us and pop over to collect them, if that would help?

That is so kind of you. We’re actually in les Landes (I think!), south of Bordeaux. I think I’ll just be even more careful on narrow roads (and try and avoid them altogether) until we get back to the Uk. But thank you for the offer.

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[StillGoing]

No, the Mirrorguards themselves are about £140 a pair. The mirror unit and mounting including the inbuilt aerial and temperature sensors from Fiat are around £600 I understand.

I think you’ve replied to the wrong post. I was agreeing with you and asking where dunnah01 got Fiat mirrors from for £50.

 

[dunnah01]

Where did you get them from?

eBay and Facebook Marketplace IIRC

 

[TinaLes]

From what I understand reading particular threads on Fiat mirrors & replacement mirrors etc.
The Nearside Fiat mirror has the all but useless radio Ariel inside it, but the offside/UK drivers side has the all important temp probe that not only shows the external temp on the dash, but also controls the fuel/air mixture via the ECU engine management.
Beware some fake copies do not include the all important small hole in the mirror housing bottom to enable the temp senor to work, same with some mirror guards I might add.
Always ensure there is a connector for the temp sensor in any replacement mirror and that the hole is there for the sensor to work.
LES

 

[dunnah01]

No, the Mirrorguards themselves are about £140 a pair. The mirror unit and mounting including the inbuilt aerial and temperature sensors from Fiat are around £600 I understand.

If you've clouted the mirror hard enough to damage the support frame then the door frame will also probably be bent. The aerial and/or temp sensor can be transferred over if you have just had the normal glancing blow to the cover.

 

[Kups]

Thank you. As it happens we live in Wellington and our van is from Chelston MH, so if Mirrorguard don’t get back to me, Chelston will my first stop once we’re home.

He does sell singles at.the.NEC show. We replaced a damaged one (Spanish van man ) last year.

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[DT]

Maybe avoid the Milenco set that I have. The white discoloured badly so I just rattle canned them, they are very thin.

 

[nph]

I think you’ve replied to the wrong post. I was agreeing with you and asking where dunnah01 got Fiat mirrors from for £50.

You’re right: sorry. Yes, I’d like to know the answer to your question too!

 

[TinaLes]

I have formed the impression over the last 7/8 years that most of the stuff Milenco sells is carp & a total waste of money, inc their ever popular plastic 3/4 tier (heavy) ramps, and external security locks.
There are always much better quality products out there it just involves searching for them and sometimes small additional cost.
LES

 

[Landy Andy]

A cheap FB market place, or eBay replacement doesn’t help whilst your on holiday with no mirror trying to enjoy yourself.

I will run the Mirrorguards and not have the problem in the first place. They have saved mine a good few time.

 

[dunnah01]

A cheap FB market place, or eBay replacement doesn’t help whilst your on holiday with no mirror trying to enjoy yourself.

I will run the Mirrorguards and not have the problem in the first place. They have saved mine a good few time.

It does if you carry the two big glass parts as spares The covers and small mirrors can wait until you get home or near an address or amazon hub.

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[Landy Andy]

It does if you carry the two big glass parts as spares The covers and small mirrors can wait until you get home or near an address or amazon hub.

£140 for a set of mirrorguards, or £60 for Chinese copies or old mirrors each time I have a strike, and I need to buy them in advance and drive them around with me whilst on holiday.


Mirrorguards thanks.

 

[dunnah01]

£140 for a set of mirrorguards, or £60 for Chinese copies or old mirrors each time I have a strike, and I need to buy them in advance and drive them around with me whilst on holiday.


Mirrorguards thanks.

I've never clipped my long arms in 40k so don't want to spend my cash on an ornament that makes it a bit more likely that I will wing them. I don't even bother with the spare glass at about £7.50 each

Right Driver side Convex Wing door mirror glass for Fiat Ducato 2007-24 + plate | eBay

Model: Ducato. A: The standard type of mirror for most cars is CONVEX. Features: Convex. Accuracy in selecting the correct wing mirror glass is crucial. Confirm that the mirror shape matches your vehicle's specifications.

www.ebay.co.uk

but we all have different priorities