I'm in the middle of one of my bi-annual continental outings in the motorhome.
All going relatively swimmingly, with mixed weather but generally good afternoons.
Today, heading South I crossed a narrowish (no width restriction and nearly two lanes wide) girder bridge over the Dordogne. Waited until it was clear the other way, and got halfway across before a black Audi SUV entered from the other end at speed.
Went as far right as possible (easy to judge in a RHD vehicle) and slowed right down. He/she came past at speed and took out the door mirror. I stopped on the bridge initially, and then again just off, but the Audi disappeared.
Ironically one of the perceived advantages of this motorhome is that it has neither the long-arm or medium-arm mirrors, but the standard van ones which protrude very little. Slotting the mirror back in place indicated it was still functional. So after a short delay on we went.
Once we were pitched up I ran the dash cam footage, which showed me at 15mph, and the Audi not close to the kerb, and not slowing. More surprisingly, after cursing French driving, it was apparent that it was a UK registered Audi! (with a 'personal' number).
Whilst it functions, the mirror is essentially borked (cracked) and it's going to be an expensive replacement (two adjustable sections, heated and with FM, DAB, and GPS aerial embedded.)
If I source one (they're different design this year) I can fit myself, but I'm miffed.
Please forgive me for hoping the Audi mirror is destroyed (and even more expensive). I've archived the footage, but there's not much prospect of pursuing anything. (The evidence of the impact indicates barely an inch between bodywork, let alone mirrors)
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Runfr hasn't been here for a while. Wonder if himself and the better half are in France? ;-)
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>> Runfr hasn't been here for a while. Wonder if himself and the better half are
>> in France? ;-)
France? I thought he was an uomo d'Italia
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I don't think he has an Audi but he does have problems with mirrors and kerbs I believe.
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An AUDI door mirror must surely be more expensive than a Sevel van door mirror. I doubt I'm the only one who certainly hopes so!
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>> An AUDI door mirror must surely be more expensive than a Sevel van door mirror.
>> I doubt I'm the only one who certainly hopes so!
250 quid for a heated electrochrome glass alone. More if it has the blind spot indicator.
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£600 upwards for the Ducato electric adjustable and heated double mirror, complete with FM/dab/GPS aerial.
Even the simpler ones aren't cheap.Aftermarket has been an option, but many are carp. They changed the design for this MY, however, and the clones haven't caught up.
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>> Runfr hasn't been here for a while. Wonder if himself and the better half are
>> in France? ;-)
>>
Is his reg no X5HOE?
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I know it's hard to believe the price, but here's an example of the previous model, entirely similar other than they've slightly changed the casing for MY 24/25.
coastalmotorhomes.co.uk/fits-fiat-ducato-peugeot-boxer-citroen-relay-left-arm-mirror-with-dab-aerial-15.html
Coastal are discounters, both oe and aftermarket.. Just check the Fiat RRP on that link!
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Yeah, my wife always blamed the other drivers too…
…and no I don’t have an Audi, don’t be ridiculous!
;-)
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…further to etc.
That’s quite expensive, on reflection…
Yeah, I’ll um, y’know…
;-)
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Looking backwards,which is something that I luckily still can do, I remember your comments often received a mixed reception.
(If it was your wife, definitely her fault!)
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>Is his reg no X5HOE?
Nah! Sounds like something a retired footwear salesman would have.
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If one were to draw a Venn diagram with the factors “Black Audi”, “To55er”, and “Private plate”, it would most likely be circular.
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Q5, 15 year old, which probably accounts for the private plate.
Scrappy if he needs a new mirror I reckon.
Surprised his mirrors were so high as mine are higher than most cars, but by the looks of it just 2 inches too low. (Though if they hadn't contacted there's a good chance he'd have gone down the side of the van).
Reran the footage; I was definitely about 5/8ths across the bridge before he appeared. The thing I hadn't noticed is the car-derived van behind him waited (and still didn't attempt to cross until I eventually cleared the bridge after stopping at the scene).
The heart says put a claim in against him with the footage, the head says it'll end up as knock for knock, and increased premiums on 3 policies for years.
As Fiat seem to make them out of rare Unobtanium, the mirror might get a careful super glue treatment once home until the market for the new current style matures somewhat.
Anyway, cracking evening views of the Pyrenees from a delightfully quiet aire has reduced my blood pressure somewhat.
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Surprisingly I think I've located the appropriate mirror at one of the usual suspects (there are a few go to places for bits for the commercial vehicles used for motorhome conversion, but my prime one doesn't have it).
Checking theis other site it resolutely offered me only a version with only the upper mirror electrically operated; the lower wide-angle section is also thus equipped on mine.
Searching on that part number to check the details, however, gave me an eBay hit (from the same supplier) with the required one in the 'similar items ' bar.
Genuine Fiat part at £542. Bloomin' expensive, but better than £900 plus.
I'm still going to investigate the super glue approach when we get home (especially if it continues to function ok) but I now know the options.
I replaced an offside mirror on the previous van (twice as it happens, as the first aftermarket one was carp, and then I got a bargain genuine one in clearance). It's a mildly fiddly job getting the wiring connected, the hole left by prising out the mirror switch is the only access, but it's do-able. Unfortunately, motorhomes often come with cab-blinds, which also have to be removed to unbolt the mirror. That helps to complicate things.
(Just for Runfer, I lost that to white van man in Devon, whilst I was stationary, and that was a long arm elephant ear type.)
Ironically, the blind on the other door gave up the ghost last Saturday, and a replacement is on order under warranty (I'll likely be fitting that to avoid a long round trip to the dealer - so I'll get some more practice)
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Not knowing the full extent of the damage but check out plastic welding techniques on Youtube. Even simple 'stitching' can be achieved with a soldering iron. You can buy a heated staple kit from Amazon etc for not a lot of money. This contains staples and fine mesh to melt int the plastic Finish can be achieved with Superglue and a fine powder like charcoal or baking soda. Rubbed down and finished with a plastic paint.
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Thanks FC.
If it is fixable super glue will be sufficient. It cracked round the rim of the casing and partially along the support, but all the plastic is still there The crack is also closed in normal position, but manoeuvring to an extreme position opens a gap big enough to get glue in if I'm careful. It closes up again when released .A job to wait until we get home.
The mirror assembly as a whole has plastic bits clipped together, and they've 'sprung'. They're back together after a wrestle, but we'll have to see if that lasts.
I'm also mildly concerned about the contained electronics (amplified aerials and GPS, but the rest of the holiday will give that a test ( not sure I could judge the quality of French radio, though) ;-)
Anyway, I'm well into the Pyrenees, the sun is shining, so time to chill about it for now.
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Hey TnE,
Will these fit and provide a bit of support/protection?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KNS6E9K
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>> Hey TnE,
>>
>> Will these fit and provide a bit of support/protection?
>>
>> www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00KNS6E9K
>>
I fitted "mirror guards" ones to the last van - which had long-arm "elephant ears" mirrors, after white van man had divested me of the driver's mirror in Devon. ( Shutting the stable door and all that).
If there'd been more cosmetic damage, I'd have considered them this time as a disguise, but if I'm careful a super glue repair should be virtually invisible given it's all the inner face.
Frankly, with the standard mirrors extra protection shouldn't be a requirement. Anything would have to get very close to the bodywork to damage them (and, as I said before, it can't have been much more than an inch in this case).
I hit another narrow bridge today (not literally) and had a long wait for a gap, but that's what you do.
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Left the Pyrenees in improving weather, and in various steps including Gaillac, Albi and Cordes sur Ciel, I've made it to Murat in the Cantal.
Having rolled-up, had lunch and wandered into and around town we returned to find an elderly gent, partner and dog pitching a Swift Basecamp. 8-0
For a split second I thought I was going to have to move on...... but then I realised it was a French van (can't be many French Basecamps) being pulled by a Fiat Talento, the contents of which seemed to consist entirely of a large motorbike.
Took him about 2 hours to pitch up (took me two minutes to run the hook-up).
Anyway, safe in the knowledge I'm not going to be ambushed, it looks like a further night and a good but hot walk tomorrow ( the countryside looks very attractive).
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we have two french basecamp owners on our BC group. both personal imports from the UK. BC is quite popular in New Zealand where there is an importer of such beasts.
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>> Left the Pyrenees in improving weather, and in various steps including Gaillac, Albi and Cordes
>> sur Ciel, I've made it to Murat in the Cantal.
Murat-le-Quaire?
EDIT. Googling suggests further south.
Last edited by: Bromptonaut on Wed 17 Sep 25 at 21:53
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Yes. We considered Murat le Quaire, but Murat gets a good write up, and was far enough.
Probably a good choice. The aire at 'le Quaire' is rather higher. It's 7C in the van this morning with the heating on. Beautiful morning, though, and due to hit 28C later.
Somewhere in-between would be better for walking (avoiding all the strikers).
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FIAT Ducato Sevel X250 - French Drivers -Huh - Robin O'Reliant
