Bentley Flying Spur OEM Options Review: Enhanced Visibility

Bentley Flying Spur Wide-Angle Mirror Upgrade: Solving Blind Spots

Even the most luxurious sedans, like the Bentley Flying Spur, can suffer from blind spots due to their substantial size. The original mirrors, while functional, don't always provide the comprehensive view needed for such a grand vehicle. This installation focuses on a common yet highly effective upgrade: wide-angle mirrors. We'll explore how this solution, applied to a real Bentley Flying Spur, completely eliminates those frustrating blind areas and enhances the driving experience.

The Vision Difference: Standard vs. Wide-Angle Mirrors

Standard factory mirrors typically offer a viewing angle of about ±15 degrees. In contrast, wide-angle mirrors utilize a more aggressive 680R curvature to expand this field of vision to over ±25 degrees. While the numbers might seem small, the practical impact on the road is immense. Areas previously hidden in blind spots become clearly visible, especially crucial during lane changes and navigating busy traffic. For a large luxury sedan like the Bentley Flying Spur, which exceeds 5 meters in length, the benefits are even more pronounced. This upgrade not only addresses side blind spots but also improves rearward visibility, making lane changes and parking significantly safer and more confident. It's a popular first aftermarket choice for many European premium car owners for good reason.

The Wide-Angle Mirror Installation Process

The installation begins with the careful removal of the original mirrors. Given that the Bentley Flying Spur's mirrors integrate heating elements and power adjustment systems, this isn't a simple swap. It requires a precise transfer of existing components to the new wide-angle units.

Installation process:

1. Carefully detach the original mirror glass from its housing.
2. Gently remove the integrated heating elements from the original glass.
3. Precisely transfer the heating elements to the new wide-angle mirror glass, ensuring proper connection.
4. Securely reattach the new wide-angle mirror assembly to the mirror housing, ensuring correct alignment and stability.

A critical step involves transferring the heating elements from the factory mirror to the new wide-angle glass. This ensures that the de-icing function remains operational, preserving a key feature while adding the benefit of expanded vision. This part demands meticulous attention from a skilled technician. Following this, the new wide-angle mirror is carefully attached to the original mirror pad. This isn't merely about adhesion; precise adjustment of angle, spacing, and vibration dampening is essential to prevent any rattles or instability after installation. Our process includes custom verification for each vehicle to ensure a flawless finish.

Transformative Results: A New Perspective

The reaction from the Bentley Flying Spur owner after the wide-angle mirror installation was one of revelation – describing it as seeing a "new world." Areas that were previously invisible black voids are now clearly visible from the driver's seat. This is particularly beneficial when making left turns, allowing for earlier detection of oncoming traffic. The quality of the mirror itself is paramount. The premium 680R curved glass offers minimal distortion and excellent clarity, providing a sharp image even in adverse weather conditions like rain. This directly translates to increased confidence and reliability during lane changes.

Complementary Upgrade: QHD Dashcam Installation

While wide-angle mirrors enhance your view, a high-quality dashcam ensures that view is reliably recorded. In this instance, an Thinkware QXD7000 dashcam was installed alongside the mirrors. Its standout feature is the QHD (2560x1440) resolution for both front and rear cameras. Compared to the standard FHD (1920x1080) resolution found in many dashcams, QHD offers approximately 1.8 times more pixels, significantly improving the clarity of license plate recognition. The advanced image sensor and lens tuning technology truly shine in low-light conditions, capturing clear footage even during night drives. For a high-value vehicle like the Bentley Flying Spur, where repair costs can be substantial, the QXD7000's superior video quality provides crucial evidence in the event of an accident, clearly recording license plates, traffic signals, and road markings.

Cost and Time for Wide-Angle Mirror Installation

The cost for this wide-angle mirror upgrade, including the transfer of heating elements and professional installation, is approximately ₩200,000 (Korean Won), which translates to roughly $150 USD. The entire process typically takes about 1 to 2 hours to complete.