Z3 mirror adapter

[rex979]

Does anyone know where I can get a rear view mirror adapter to fit a GM mirror to my M Roadster ? I have tried to contact Gary Hansel thru his website for over 3 months and all I get is an automated reply stating he is on holidays until March ( ? ! ) Thanks

[markd89]

Does anyone know where I can get a rear view mirror adapter to fit a GM mirror to my M Roadster ? I have tried to contact Gary Hansel thru his website for over 3 months and all I get is an automated reply stating he is on holidays until March ( ? ! ) Thanks

I've been wanting one of these for a long time too. It's too bad that Gary is totally MIA.


I think a better question would be -- who here has the capability to duplicate the adapter?

First we'd need to get one to copy (I'm sure someone here has one we could borrow), then we'd need someone who has CNC access or something..

Crazy idea?

[JonM]

I talked to Gary at HC. He said he retired from his day job and I don't think he has capability to make adapters. The way to go - if possible - would be for someone like Doug Whalen to make mirror adapters under license or whatever from Gary. If those two could strike an agreement, then we could get adapters again. I know Doug has wire EDM capability and I know Gary needed wire EDM to make adapters.

[Kaz]

I take it this adapter is to allow people to use the various lit/compass/autodim/etc. mirrors out there. Or is there some mirror from something obscure like a 88 Cimmaron that just works perfectly in a Z3?

[rex979]

I talked to Gary at HC. He said he retired from his day job and I don't think he has capability to make adapters. The way to go - if possible - would be for someone like Doug Whalen to make mirror adapters under license or whatever from Gary. If those two could strike an agreement, then we could get adapters again. I know Doug has wire EDM capability and I know Gary needed wire EDM to make adapters.
Thanks for your reply Jon,
I just ordered some seat bushings from Doug Whalen and asked him if he knew of any source as I was not able to contact Gary,and he said the only reason he would not make them is because he did not want to infringe on anyone else's business. However, if Gary is no longer able to make these perhaps Doug could take over and make a small production run. It would appear that a number of people would like them as well as myself, as I find the blind spot inexcusable.( see Gary's webpage )

[JonM]

Thanks for your reply Jon,
I just ordered some seat bushings from Doug Whalen and asked him if he knew of any source as I was not able to contact Gary,and he said the only reason he would not make them is because he did not want to infringe on anyone else's business. However, if Gary is no longer able to make these perhaps Doug could take over and make a small production run. It would appear that a number of people would like them as well as myself, as I find the blind spot inexcusable.( see Gary's webpage )

Doug is a stand-up guy. I don't think he'll make them without written permission or else a hand shake agreement with Gary. But like I said, if we can get those 2 to agree on some arrangement, we all benefit.

[dwaynemosley]

If someone starts making these, be sure to realize that there were at least two designs that Gary made. I bought two of the original ones in '99 when they first came out to add a Mito self-dimming mirror to my M roadster. Gary didn't offer this specific mirror. After installation, the fitment was "borderline" in its adjustment capabilities relative to the size of the mirror and they way it rested against the area that contained the interior light. It was very difficult to keep the mirror turned upward as much as I needed.

When I moved to a coupe, the original one still didn't offer enough adjustment for me. While reading through forums, I noticed that Gary had started offering a "tall man" adaptor. This new piece was basically thicker than the original, and may have had an angle change. When installed, it pushed the mirror downward and outward which allowed for a broader range of adjustment capability. The new design was exactly what I needed to resolve my adjustment issue.

When I contacted Gary about needing the newer ones, he sent me two of them "no charge". I could hardly believe he was so considerate.

Anyway, there are two sizes. Anyone that discusses this with him will surely learn all of this.

Dwayne

[markd89]

I tried emailing Gary before. No response.

Does someone have contact info for him so that we can get his blessing?

[phrider]

Someone on the Roadfly Z3 Coupe board posted looking for his phone number (http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/z3-coupe/5653278-1.html). The sites www.infospace.com, www.anywho.com and www.google.com can be a little scary about finding these things.....

PS: Gary has a domain name, z3mirrors.com. The registrar of his domain name has his contact info publicly listed. Go to http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/whois/index.jhtml and enter the domain name z3mirrors.com and you get:
Registrant:
Gary Hansel (SAC7K) hansbo@sprintmail.com
Hansel Industries
5002 Bright-Baldwin Rd
Newton Falls, Ohio 44444
United States
Phone: (330)8725446
Infospace confirms that as his phone number.
.

[markd89]

Cool, thanks.

I left a message on that #. I'll post back with what happens...

[corgicoupe]

I got him at that number yesterday and ordered one for me and one for a friend. If you don't hear from him, call back because he only has a limited number finished.

[Z3Mirrors]

Hello All!
I am Gary, the designer and manufacturer of the "Gary's ///Mirror AdapterZ". I own the web site z3mirrors.com, but have been locked out of it since the owners of the hosting company either went out of business or changed hands. :( I can't access my mail at z3mirrors.com or change the site. I will try more methods to have it transferred to a working host, but this is difficult when I can't contact the present host.

Until I can accomplish this, here is the status of the operation. I have a handful of completed adapters ready to sell. I also have several hundred ready to be power coated after the final polishing and fitting of locking pins. The first batch should be ready in about 2 weeks. I have the small 8" mirrors and the new style 10" reading lamp mirrors. I do not have any of the electrochromatic mirrors.

You can contact me at z3mirrors@ohiocybermall.com for more info about the mirrors or with any suggestions on how to reclaim a web site from a non reachable ISP. :dunno:

Thanks
Gary

P.S. My thanks to corgicoupe for tracking me down and making me aware of this forum. :thumbup:

[z3scot]

Hello All!
I am Gary, the designer and manufacturer of the "Gary's ///Mirror AdapterZ". I own the web site z3mirrors.com, but have been locked out of it since the owners of the hosting company either went out of business or changed hands. :( I can't access my mail at z3mirrors.com or change the site. I will try more methods to have it transferred to a working host, but this is difficult when I can't contact the present host.

Until I can accomplish this, here is the status of the operation. I have a handful of completed adapters ready to sell. I also have several hundred ready to be power coated after the final polishing and fitting of locking pins. The first batch should be ready in about 2 weeks. I have the small 8" mirrors and the new style 10" reading lamp mirrors. I do not have any of the electrochromatic mirrors.

You can contact me at z3mirrors@ohiocybermall.com for more info about the mirrors or with any suggestions on how to reclaim a web site from a non reachable ISP. :dunno:

Thanks
Gary

P.S. My thanks to corgicoupe for tracking me down and making me aware of this forum. :thumbup:

Gary,

Some browsers will do a complete download of a site to your local harddisk. They will get all the HTML and pictures for you. If you have a Mac, you might try Interarchy 7.2.1., a super FTP client for uploading and downloading web sites.

-- Scott

[markd89]

OK, I talked to Gary and just ordered my adapter and mirror. :)

He says he has 1 GM one left and a few Ford ones left. If you get the small 8" mirror from him, as I did, it uses the Ford adapter.

I asked Gary about getting his OK to reproduce the adapter for other people. He said No. Apparently he has 800 in a state of partial completion and plans on selling them again. After retiring, he traveled around for months, that is one of the things he's going to do in retirement.

[BumbleZ]

Gary shipped out same day :angel:

[phrider]

I own the web site z3mirrors.com, but have been locked out of it since the owners of the hosting company either went out of business or changed hands. :( I can't access my mail at z3mirrors.com or change the site. I will try more methods to have it transferred to a working host, but this is difficult when I can't contact the present host.Gary,
Contact the registrar of your domain name, http://www.names4ever.com at 877-275-8763 to see if they can switch your domain name hosting, although they seem like an unusual registrar....

[markd89]

Wow, that was fast!!

I got the mirror and adapter and carefully installed them today. No problems and the view is much better as expected. :) I'd recommend this $60 mod to everyone.

[bob lindquist]

Hello All!
I am Gary, the designer and manufacturer of the "Gary's ///Mirror AdapterZ". I own the web site z3mirrors.com, but have been locked out of it since the owners of the hosting company either went out of business or changed hands. :( I can't access my mail at z3mirrors.com or change the site. I will try more methods to have it transferred to a working host, but this is difficult when I can't contact the present host.

Until I can accomplish this, here is the status of the operation. I have a handful of completed adapters ready to sell. I also have several hundred ready to be power coated after the final polishing and fitting of locking pins. The first batch should be ready in about 2 weeks. I have the small 8" mirrors and the new style 10" reading lamp mirrors. I do not have any of the electrochromatic mirrors.

You can contact me at z3mirrors@ohiocybermall.com for more info about the mirrors or with any suggestions on how to reclaim a web site from a non reachable ISP. :dunno:

Thanks
Gary

P.S. My thanks to corgicoupe for tracking me down and making me aware of this forum. :thumbup:
When people ask me whats my favorite mod to my car, I always say my "Gary's mirror adapter"!

They think I'm crazy, since I have done so many things to my car, but once you have one of your adapters, you realize they are great.

Thanks a VERY satisfied owner, Bob

[corgicoupe]

Second driving school at Road Atlanta this weekend; and for those who are familiar with this trak, the mirror makes it muuuch easier to "look through" the turns, particularly 6 and 12. Recommend theis mod to anyone doing track events.




Installed in couple of minutes, and what a difference! Thanks, Gary. :thumbup:

[BumbleZ]

Installed in couple of minutes, and what a difference! Thanks, Gary.


Ditto - much better visibility :thumbup:

[z3scot]

When people ask me whats my favorite mod to my car, I always say my "Gary's mirror adapter"!

They think I'm crazy, since I have done so many things to my car, but once you have one of your adapters, you realize they are great.

Thanks a VERY satisfied owner, Bob

That goes for me too.

I bought a mirror adapter over a year ago, and mounted a nice GM self dimming mirror with map lights. It also is one of my favorite mods. The mirror is a tight fit with the overhead light switch, but fit OK.

I just contacted Gary, and got the version 2 adapter. He sent it out right away, I received it on Friday. The new V2 adapter positions the mirror better, so I can reach the switch with no problem.

Thanks Gary, I am a very satisfied customer.

-- Scott