Here's a little tip...

Anything about BXs
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Philip Chidlow
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Here's a little tip...

Post by Philip Chidlow »

... Often, when I get in a BX and drive in sunny conditions I have always found the reflection of the top of the instrument binacle very intrusive. It might be my height, or the fact I'm going blind (well, I need glasses to read now lol), but has anyone else noticed this?

OK, I don't polish it and I use matt dash wipes etc. but the plastic itself is too shiny. Yesterday in bright autumn sunshine it was really annoying me - and as the sun was ahead of me, it was limiting my visibility to the extent that I had to do something.

A soloution came to mind, and now implemented I have to crown it a huge success. I bought some black velvet material - very non-reflective - cut a suitable rectangle out and, tucking it around the leading curved edge of the cowl where it meets the forward dash, fixed it with little black velcro dots.

Went out in very bright, dazzling light today - and NO REFLECTION at all. I peeled the velvet back and whoa, the difference was marked.

So for driving in the sun. I recommend it! (Doesn't look too bad either)...
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Post by ed4ferrets »

piccie required :P
Marty said: "Take some small comfort from the fact that the driver of the other car, having failed the breath test will even now be in a little cell, with luck they will double him up with some mean bastard who will be tattooing a fandango on his arse"

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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

It looks like a Photoshop job (and a bad one), but it isn't - honest!

It's hard to get it across but just contrast the reflectiveness of the plastic of the cowling top that's still visible, with the velvet and you get what I mean. I've been out in it again. The difference is quite surprising in these light conditions.


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• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
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Ian_Fearn
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Post by Ian_Fearn »

to be fair Phil, you are 7 feet tall :lol:
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Post by Tim Leech »

I just wear my sunglasses! 8)
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Philip Chidlow
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

I would not have believed the difference it makes under certain light conditions. Sunglasses are not much good at cancelling out reflections on the windscreen. This cheap and cheerful method works with sunglasses to improve visibility even more. Honest!

Anyway, it's a matter of preferrence. Just thought I'd share my discovery/solution. :D

I won't be going to JML with it though!
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Post by toddao »

Phil, that black velvet's a bit kinky that is. Either that or you're turning into a goth! Do you wear eye liner as well - in the interests of glare control obviously? :D
Todd


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Post by mat_fenwick »

Thanks for that Todd, I've just spat all over my screen and I can't get the image of a goth'd up Phil out of my head...
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

It's a thing about function over form. I'd rather not have it there from an aesthetic point of view - but I will use it from now on when the sun's shining!

And eyeliner's never been my thing... maybe a bit of rouge lol!!!
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

Oh,and you wait Mat: I have a pic of me as a camp cowboy! I'll post it if you don't behave! :lol:
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Post by stuart_hedges »

Pass the brain bleach!
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Post by docchevron »

Brokeback Mountain eh........

Can't say Ive ever really noticed it TBH. Although I'm only 5' 8" and sit a long way back from the teh wheel..

Although the next time we get some sunshine (2015 probably) I might give it a whirl.

I may even clean the windscreen, that may help too, one of the drawbacks of smoking in the car.
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!

Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
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Post by mat_fenwick »

I think I preferred the goth image Phil! Did you have a pink stetson?
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Post by Philip Chidlow »

It was in black and white days!
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Post by RichardW »

You shold see the reflection in the windscreen on a Xsara Picasso - in the right (wrong?) conditions visibility is compromised - I wonder how it got type approval really, it's that bad. Might have to make a dash blanket a la Phil, or just fill it with builders rubble and get a good coating of dust on the dash :lol:
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