CT5-V Manual 25 Blackwing no blindspot monitoring. Why

[Todd]

Anyone know of a wide angle side view mirror lens like found on the passenger side?

Maybe one from a RHD car ( I assume GM made some CT5 for export markets)?

 

[Todd]

Ok, I officially couldn't cope with this lacking feature anymore and broke down and added a blind spot mirror to the driver side. Official Old Man spec.

Even with the mirrors angled fully outwards, I could still lose a car on the driver side, and almost ran into one on the freeway, even after looking over my shoulder. So shitty for GM to drop the indicators for 2025.

This is what I bought, installed it directly on the glass without the pivot for a cleaner look, matches the corner radius perfectly:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHMMNK3F?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

 

[668LT4]

Ok, I officially couldn't cope with this lacking feature anymore and broke down and added a blind spot mirror to the driver side. Official Old Man spec.

Even with the mirrors angled fully outwards, I could still lose a car on the driver side, and almost ran into one on the freeway, even after looking over my shoulder. So shitty for GM to drop the indicators for 2025.

This is what I bought, installed it directly on the glass without the pivot for a cleaner look, matches the corner radius perfectly:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CHMMNK3F?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

View attachment 30573

I am glad you found a solution, Todd.

I have BSM on all my current cars, but honest to God, I never look at that light. I really do not understand how drivers get so dependent on such a feature. I never had it for 30+ years of driving, and even now that is is very standard, I never use it as I had never had it.

I guess I do understand your frustration on how all Blackwings have it except the 25s. That is a strange decision by GM.

 

[Todd]

I am glad you found a solution, Todd.

I have BSM on all my current cars, but honest to God, I never look at that light. I really do not understand how drivers get so dependent on such a feature. I never had it for 30+ years of driving, and even now that is is very standard, I never use it as I had never had it.

I guess I do understand your frustration on how all Blackwings have it except the 25s. That is a strange decision by GM.

As an owner of vintage cars that don't have this feature, I adjust when driving them.

The fact that I still looked over my shoulder, knowing that I couldn't rely on this feature in my BW, and I also had the mirrors angled fully outwards, and still missed a car in my blind spot, was the last straw for me.

Maybe it's the curiously tiny side view mirrors that this car has, combined with my seating position putting me at the B-pillar (I'm 6'5"), but I'd really appreciate indicators on this car.

 

[Finally-a-V]

Maybe it's the curiously tiny side view mirrors that this car has

I think that is a big part of it. The mirrors a so small. I can bob and weave in my truck with more confidence than the BW, partially because of the big mirrors. A lot has to do with how other people drive too.

 

[668LT4]

As an owner of vintage cars that don't have this feature, I adjust when driving them.

The fact that I still looked over my shoulder, knowing that I couldn't rely on this feature in my BW, and I also had the mirrors angled fully outwards, and still missed a car in my blind spot, was the last straw for me.

Maybe it's the curiously tiny side view mirrors that this car has, combined with my seating position putting me at the B-pillar (I'm 6'5"), but I'd really appreciate indicators on this car.

It is scary that you can't spot a car looking over your shoulder. I hope the small mirrors you added solve the problem.

My daily is a F250 crew cab. Massive vehicle, and yet the easiest of all mine to spot cars with the tow mirrors. You can't miss a thing with tow mirrors.

 

[Todd]

It is scary that you can't spot a car looking over your shoulder. I hope the small mirrors you added solve the problem.

My daily is a F250 crew cab. Massive vehicle, and yet the easiest of all mine to spot cars with the tow mirrors. You can't miss a thing with tow mirrors.

Lol, one of my other vehicles is an F450, and you can't miss a thing with those side view mirrors, all angles are covered, and the wide-angle tow mirror inspired me to put a similar one on this car.

I will admit that I once almost missed a car crossing in front of me with my F450, because of how high up you sit and how massive the hood is. That got my attention!

 

[668LT4]

Lol, one of my other vehicles is an F450, and you can't miss a thing with those side view mirrors, all angles are covered, and the wide-angle tow mirror inspired me to put a similar one on this car.

I will admit that I once almost missed a car crossing in front of me with my F450, because of how high up you sit and how massive the hood is. That got my attention!

Well that is very true! Modern HD trucks are overly behemoth and tough to see over the front end.

 

[Qasmoke]

As an owner of vintage cars that don't have this feature, I adjust when driving them.

The fact that I still looked over my shoulder, knowing that I couldn't rely on this feature in my BW, and I also had the mirrors angled fully outwards, and still missed a car in my blind spot, was the last straw for me.

Maybe it's the curiously tiny side view mirrors that this car has, combined with my seating position putting me at the B-pillar (I'm 6'5"), but I'd really appreciate indicators on this car.

When I just got my car from the dealer, I couldn't make my passenger side mirror angled outwards enough to cover the blindspot. The mirror had this weird twitch when it was almost angled fully outward, so I suspected the mirror may not be seated properly in the mount. One day I decided to go for it and tried to press in the mirror. I got a cracking sound and thought I broke something, but after making sure the mirror can still be adjusted using the buttons, it seemed to actually work. Now my mirror can cover the blindspots properly. Not sure if this is the same case for you.

 

[Todd]

When I just got my car from the dealer, I couldn't make my passenger side mirror angled outwards enough to cover the blindspot. The mirror had this weird twitch when it was almost angled fully outward, so I suspected the mirror may not be seated properly in the mount. One day I decided to go for it and tried to press in the mirror. I got a cracking sound and thought I broke something, but after making sure the mirror can still be adjusted using the buttons, it seemed to actually work. Now my mirror can cover the blindspots properly. Not sure if this is the same case for you.

Passenger side is fine, mostly because it has a wide angle aspherical mirror.

Driver side is the issue. It moves all the way, same as the passenger side, but it’s not a wide angle mirror and leaves a tiny (but big enough) blind spot.

 

[shbox]

I find that the rear view camera mirror on a wide setting helps with a car that is approaching the blind spot. I still turn and glance even with the BSM.

 

[vagabond]

If you have the rear view mirror camera it can definitely help with our blind spots. The door mirrors could be adjusted differently if using it.

I have the rear view camera option but rarely use it though. I don't prefer how the camera messes w/ my spatial awareness when I move my head. And it doesn't let me see my 2 hooligan children in the back seats like the glass does.

@Todd thanks for the link and test fitting the mirror. I ordered one!

 

[Todd]

If you have the rear view mirror camera it can definitely help with our blind spots. The door mirrors could be adjusted differently if using it.

I have the rear view camera option but rarely use it though. I don't prefer how the camera messes w/ my spatial awareness when I move my head. And it doesn't let me see my 2 hooligan children in the back seats like the glass does.

@Todd thanks for the link and test fitting the mirror. I ordered one!

I have the mirror camera, and after 1000 miles of forcing myself to acclimate to it, I just couldn’t do it.

My eyes couldn’t focus fast enough to really pick up far detail, and I am always scanning for police-type vehicles in rearward traffic given my speed addiction on the highway.

And I could never get comfortable with judging distance of cars behind me when they were coming to a stop, always gave me fear of imminent rear ending.

I do use it occasionally when I’m stop and go rain driving, as the rear window gets covered in rain easily because of its slope.

For what’s it’s worth, the one time I lost a car in my blind spot, I was using the mirror camera.

Good stuff on the stick on mirror, glad I could help.

 

[nordique14]

Good article that describes why your eyeballs treat a the image from a rear view camera different from a mirror.

Digital Rearview Mirrors Are Garbage And I Can Explain Why With Science - The Autopian

There are some things that sound great on paper, but in practice are awful, just awful. Things like, say, a popsicle made of chowder or a genetically-engineered flying chihuahua. When it comes to cars, I think one of the best examples of this concept is the inside rearview mirror that is...

www.theautopian.com

 

[shbox]

The camera mirror is obviously not for everyone, but my brain, eyesight condition, glasses prescription and age don't get in the way of me using it pretty much 100% of the time. I don't need some doctor, dude or columnist telling me my perception is wrong for me.