Mirror Covers Milenco or others

hitchglitch
hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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edited June 2019 in Parts & Accessories #1

When we collected our Motorhome our dealer made a very strong point about wing mirrors. They can cost up to £400 to replace (Peugeot/Fiat) and are easily damaged so he recommended "Mirror Guard" protectors. These are rather expensive and Mlenco are much cheaper. Does anybody have experience of these?

Comments

  • JD6620
    JD6620 Forum Participant Posts: 202
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    edited March 2016 #2

    Mirror Guard protectors were recommended to me when I bought my motorhome, and that's what I fitted. They look very well made and I would think more than strong enough to withstand quite an impact.  With the price of replacement mirrors is it really worth
    trying to save a few quid now on protectors?  This could be an occasion where you get what you pay for. 

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #3

    Our MH is a Mercedes and MirrorGuard don't make the protectors for those, so we bought a stainless steel (not chrome) pair from Vanstyle via Ebay.  We've just got them and not fitted them yet.  Only thing is that the indicator lens is still a vulnerable
    part of the mirror casing.  It's what broke on our mirror, as well as the mirror glass, but the casing itself only has very minor damage.  We were fortunate that's all that was damaged, could have been a lot worse, hence the purchase of the protectors.

  • Hallsontour
    Hallsontour Forum Participant Posts: 199
    edited March 2016 #4

    I've had two lots of Mirror Guard and think they are great. My latest van has a silver pair on. Well worth the money I would say, after having mirrors knocked with these guards in place but no damage happening.

  • Reevsie
    Reevsie Forum Participant Posts: 18
    edited March 2016 #5

    We bought Mirrorguard for our motorhome. Very tight and secure fit and we are pleased with them. I would think in a low to medium impact they would help protect the mirror and surround. But I dont think anything would help in a high speed crash. 

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited March 2016 #6

    Thanks all for the excellent feedback. Looks like I shall be buying Mirror Guard, although I can't decide whether to go for black or white! 

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #7

    go for White , they will show up more .......

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #8

    Hitch, we have Millenco ones. We've had them 3 years they look good fit well (takes minutes) most people think they are Mirrorguard, agree with Husky the white ones stand out more, but our van is white so we would have got them anyway.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #9

    I have black, matches van, keep meaning to buy some hi-vis yellow tape to put on them!

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited March 2016 #10

    Not a MH, but I have hazard tape down the outer edge of my towing mirrors.

  • TanyaandMick
    TanyaandMick Forum Participant Posts: 139
    edited March 2016 #11

    Hitch, we have Millenco ones. We've had them 3 years they look good fit well (takes minutes) most people think they are Mirrorguard, agree with Husky the white ones stand out more, but our van is white so we would have got them anyway.

    Write your comments here...ditto, we also have white Milenco......

  • Jazone
    Jazone Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited April 2016 #12

    I've just bought black Milenco ones. I'm surprised how light they are. I hope they can withstand an impact - though I hope more that I don't have to find out. Perhaps I should have got white.

  • Randomcamper
    Randomcamper Club Member Posts: 1,062 ✭✭
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    edited April 2016 #13

    After reading this thread I too bought the Milenco ones. I am actually quite pleased with them, they were easy to fit and I think the white ones look good. I suspect their main value is through increased visibility rather than outright protection in a clash
    of mirrors though....

  • Solwaybuggier
    Solwaybuggier Forum Participant Posts: 6
    edited April 2016 #14

    We had MirrorGuards - until one broke in a collision with another MH in a built-up area in France last summer, so not a high speed collision by any means. It failed to protect the small (lower) mirror, although the main mirror was undamaged.  I would have
    expected the guard itself to have survived the collision, to be honest, but it didn't.  I can live with that.

    What I cannot accept is the abysmal customer service from Mirror Guard when I tried to buy a replacement.  It took them ages to decide if they had them, and it was always me who had to ring them back - they never returned calls when they
    said they would,  Then I was told they'd had to wait for materials, but the guard would be sent out the next week.  They kept delaying, not answering the phone etc - until I eventually cancelled the order, as we'd needed them before going away again last autumn. 
    I emailed this cancellation to them as well as leaving an answerphone message. 

    They predictably ignored the cancellation and sent the guard, which arrived after we left home - but fortunately we'd already arranged for the guards to be returned as "delivery rejected" if delivered late.  After a lot of hassle, the bank refunded the payment
    we'd made, and I believe reclaimed the cost from Mirror Guard.

    I know some people reckon they have had good service from the company, but I have to say I've never experienced worse customer service
    anywhere.  (And from disacussions on other forums, I know I'm far from alone in this.)  They have a very strange relationship with reality!

    We eventually bought a set of mirror protectors from Van Comfort in Retford, on our way down to the tunnel.  I'm very happy with the protectors, and the service from the company was outstanding, even though they were snowed under getting ready for the NEC
    show when we went.

    If you've got Mirror Guards and have been happy with the service, I'm pleased for you - but I think you've been
    very lucky.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited April 2016 #15

    We purchased a pair about three weeks ago. They were a bit slow in coming (we are used to Amazon!) so I phoned and was told they were running a bit late with despatch. I get the impression that it is a one man band operating out of his bungalow. However,
    the product looks good and solid, my only complaint is that there is a small cut-out under the drivers side guard which is meant to align with a small dome shaped receiver under the Peugeot wing mirror. It doesn't quite line up but I don't think this is an
    issue.

  • thebroons
    thebroons Forum Participant Posts: 165
    edited April 2016 #16

    Does fitting a cover make any difference to the already poor radio reception from the mirror mounted aerial. 

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited April 2016 #17

    The radio still seems to work even though the cut-out doesn't align. Haven't tried different stations though; we tend to avoid radio, CDs, TV etc.

  • Jazone
    Jazone Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited June 2019 #18

    On the narrow road along Loch Lomond, I unfortunately made use of the Mirror Guard. Was I too far right or was the truck? The guard broke and so did the mirror casing and the glass cracked (two fast - him or me?) but I was able to fix it well enough to carry on. At home I managed further repairs but I was worried about its passing the MOT. I'm glad to say it did even though the outer bulb protector was missing. It doesn't look pretty but it works.

    What bothered me though was if I decide to buy a complete new system, I don't see an easy way of fitting it. Is it hard?

  • dougA
    dougA Forum Participant Posts: 142
    edited June 2019 #19

    I purchased the mirror guard protectors at the nec caravan show after comparing them against the milenco guards. I must admit the mirror guards looked more solid than the milenco.

    Then i was unfortunate that a lorry coming towards me hit my mirror with quite a thud. My indicator lense was no where to be seen, mirror cracked and the mirror guard had a crack.

    I contacted mirror guard and sent a photo of the damage and they said that they are not indestructible and said I could purchase one.

    i was not very pleased by there reply.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2019 #20

    Sounds reasonable to me, Doug. The guards protect against scratches and minor knocks but nothing on earth will save your mirror or the guard if it's whacked at speed by an oncoming HGV. They can’t work miracles. 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited June 2019 #21

    Mirror Guards are much more substantial than the Milenco ones which seem hardly worth the bother.

  • BlueVanMan
    BlueVanMan Forum Participant Posts: 382
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    edited June 2019 #22

    A mirror strike by two opposing vehicles at say 45 mph and 3.5 tonnes each is going to apply a lot of kinetic energy to each mirror and any guard is unlikely to survive without damage. Some components of SEVEL mirrors are actually quite flimsy anyway and my offside mirror was ripped clean off in such an event. However for lower speed impacts especially with stationary objects they may well save a replacement. I think the design and fit of "Mirrorguard" is better than the other "clones" and I have fitted them. Just like insurance though I am not bursting to test if they work.

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited June 2019 #23

    We have the Milenco ones - here's a collision we had a few years back - just a small scratch on the guard and still going strong.

    Apology for the language on the video -

    -