Why Some German Cars Had Smaller Passenger-Side Mirrors Than Driver-Side Mirrors

Some drivers may have noticed it, while others are just discovering it now: a number of older European cars came with side mirrors of different sizes. At first glance, the design seems odd, but there was actually a very practical reason for it.

Take a close look at Mercedes-Benz models from the 1990s, and you'll find that some of them featured a smaller mirror on the passenger side. The same approach was used on certain Audi A6 and Volkswagen Passat models. So why did German automakers intentionally make the right-side mirror shorter?

The unusual setup appeared on many premium German vehicles during the 1980s and 1990s, a period when cars were rapidly growing in size. With each new generation, sedans became longer and, more importantly, wider.

Those larger dimensions created challenges on the narrow streets common throughout Europe. Side mirrors were often the first parts to hit walls, poles, or other obstacles, and the passenger-side mirror was especially vulnerable. Drivers could easily fold the left mirror manually if they spotted a tight space, but the right-side mirror was much harder to judge from behind the wheel.

Another factor dates back even earlier. In the 1970s, a passenger-side mirror was often an optional extra rather than standard equipment. Since passing on the right was prohibited in many countries, manufacturers considered the right mirror less important.

As a result, the smaller passenger-side mirror became something of a compromise aimed at making wide luxury cars easier to live with. Eventually, however, the solution disappeared. Automakers introduced mirrors mounted on flexible hinges and later added power-folding systems. Drivers also adapted to the increasing size of modern vehicles.

There was one more drawback: the smaller mirror simply didn't provide as good a view of traffic behind the car. As visibility and safety became more important, equal-sized mirrors became the industry standard.