I bought a backup camera with a claimed 170 degree wide angle view, hoping it would solve my backing blindness (everyone has big trucks and SUVs here, extra hard to see past). The camera is really only about 120 degree, and backing out of a parking spot is still an adventure.

Back-Up Alert Beeper and 1156 Style Halogen Bulb - HOP20100VA

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totally agree but the rays are very soft if thats the right word

#4 should be a non issue if you correctly set up your side view mirrors... Do you see your rear fender while looking into the mirror?

1 and 2 also are non issues if your side mirrors are setup correctly... many people do not set these up correctly.. next time you are on the highway go into the right lane for your left mirror and go slower than traffic, adjust it so that when cars pass by you you see them in your mirror and when you lose them in your mirror you see them next to you... fine tune this and you will NEVER not see a car next to you.. for the passenger window go into the middle or left lane and do the same thing.

you should not see your rear fender very much, if at all, in the mirror.

Oh? I didn't know that. Yeah, I've been very neurotic about parking and cornering around blind curbs because I don't want to scratch up the Enkeis. But I didn't know the rays were softer. In that case, yeah, I could see it being an extra concern.

Anything objective here, like Rockwell #'s or anything or just perception?

why not just take a glance back if you cant adjust the mirrors accordingly...takes less than half a second

to me the Worst thing about my Z is definitely bumping the center console with my elbow and opening the damn lid while driving!

Hah! Yeah, I have more trouble with that, than with the blind spot!

If the 370 has one design flaw it is the blind spots. which shouldn't be an issue considering the side mirrors are the size of an ford f150.

350z had the same problems, cant see in your blind spots. Helpfull tip I learned from instructors at BMW's Driving Academy in Greenville SC. You don't need 3 mirrors looking to the rear. Focus the rear center mirror on the back, adjust your side mirrors to view your blindspots rear side meaning the part of your blindspot that you would be twisting your head the hardest to the left or the right to view. After doing that you use the mirror to check that and just a quick glance left or right confirms that a cars not next to you or curb or whatever. If your backing out of a spot just drop the mirror down so you can see the curb and your rim.

What do you think of these? (Besides being ugly.) Would they even work on the hatch?

Amazon.com: ScopeOut Backup Mirrors - SUV, Van, Station Wagon, Hatchback Model: Automotive

^^ I don't think those would look good on the Z.

To me the worst problem with the Z is that it looks so good I'm afraid to park anywhere because there are alot of jealous people out there.

QFT!! This is hugely overlooked issue. No one it seems has ever been properly educated as to how to adjust side mirrors.

Wilson- too many things to look at in the rearview mirror! :D