Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Soup it up

Aftermarket signal mirrors increase safety

Turn signals on exterior rearview mirrors alert other drivers; retrofit for Corvette is latest option.

By Larry Edsall / Special to The Detroit News

Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

The Chevrolet Corvette is the latest vehicle that can be outfitted with aftermarket signal mirrors, those exterior rearview mirrors with the built-in turn-signal arrows.

Muth Mirror Systems holds the patent on the mirrors it sells to automakers and as aftermarket vehicle enhancements. A signal mirror for the 1997-2004 Corvette is the company's most recent aftermarket offering.

The standard signal mirror retrofits for the Corvette carry a suggested retail price of $219. Signal mirrors with a heater option to clear away frost or snow are $269.

Muth recommends professional installation because of the electrical wiring involved and because the interior door panels must be removed for installation.

K.W. Muth established his auto supplier company in Sheboygan, Wis., in 1947, but in 1992 Muth LLC sold off its trim, vinyl acoustics and vinyl truck flooring divisions to focus on the original equipment market, aftermarket and glass divisions. The company has produced more than 1 million signal mirrors.

The mirrors use internal light-emitting diodes arranged in an arrow shape. The arrow blinks to indicate a turn to traffic next to the vehicle. The LEDs light up more quickly than conventional turn signals, fast enough to provide a warning to other drivers some 17 feet sooner when vehicles are traveling at 65 mph, according to Muth's Web site, www.kwmuth.com.

Muth also offers a brake module that produces solid arrows in both rearview mirrors when the driver steps on the brake pedal, as well as a multi-function module that uses a strobe effect to indicate the vehicle is backing up, flashes to indicate the door is not properly closed and that emits an arrow "tick" every five seconds as a theft deterrent.

Signal mirrors with a wide-angle feature also are available, as are signal mirrors for motorcycles.

For information, see the Muth Web site or call (800) 844-6616.

Larry Edsall is a Phoenix-based freelance writer. You can reach him at (602) 300-4518 or ledsall@cox.net.