Blind Spot Info System

[gregross]

Anyone have any experience or opinions about this feature?

 

[nolefan]

Its really nice. I just picked up our 2011 Limited 301-a. I did not ask for this feature, but the vehicle we found already had it. It works well, its a little orange dot on the outside mirrors that lights up when a vehicle is in the blind spot. Not sure if I would order it for 400.00, but its nice to have.

 

[JAZNY]

I have been debating if it's worth the money. Standard mirrors have convex blind spot sections built-in. BLIS does offer cross-traffic alert (backing out of a parking space and sensing traffic right and left).

Since the window sills are high and there is nearly zero visibility out the back right of the vehicle, I will likely get BLIS.

 

[JDraper]

I'd rather not have the BLIS. I've driven Explorers with both and I prefer the built in convex mirrors. My '11 has it and I may swap back to the other mirror glass if I can. Mine gives lots of false indications since I live out on a narrow country road. It shows fences, mailbox rows, piles of snow, etc. on the right side of the vehicle on a regular basis. I turn it off when I'm not on the highway.

I do like the cross traffic alert system, but unfortunately, it's bundled with the BLIS.

 

[gregross]

But you find it works effectively on the highway? Is it easy to turn off?

 

[JDraper]

Yes, it turns off in the left hand menu in the dash. Unfortunately, it defaults to "on" every time you start the vehicle.

 

[edge929]

I chose not to get this with my XLT. If it was more like $200 I'd probably get it. I'd like to have nearly ALL the available options on the Explorer but in the end, I don't need them (have been getting along fine without them so far) and don't want to pay more for more things that could break in the future. Some options are worth this small risk, others I can't justify (like the $1600 moonroof most people never use).

 

[tmsoko]

I have BLIS on my MKT and the Explorers I have driven. It is AWESOME. Absolutely in-valuable on the Chicago Highways! It has become another can't live without feature for me.

Understand the concerns you have when not on the highway, but what is the big deal? As long as you are not planning to merge into the ditch, who cares if the BLIS system is picking up snow, mailboxes, etc.??

 

[JDraper]

It's very distracting at night when driving down a narrow country road. You keep seeing the light go off in the mirror and it takes your attention from the road.

 

[2011ExplorerXLT]

I'd rather not have the BLIS. I've driven Explorers with both and I prefer the built in convex mirrors. My '11 has it and I may swap back to the other mirror glass if I can. Mine gives lots of false indications since I live out on a narrow country road. It shows fences, mailbox rows, piles of snow, etc. on the right side of the vehicle on a regular basis. I turn it off when I'm not on the highway.

I do like the cross traffic alert system, but unfortunately, it's bundled with the BLIS.

Is there enough room on the mirror for a 2" stick on convex mirror to use in addition to BLIS, so we can have the best of both worlds?

I can't tell from the pictures, and mine won't show up for another two weeks to check myself.

http://www.etrailer.com/Mirrors/CIPA/49102.html

 

[JAZNY]

First day with the Explorer, the cross-traffic alert came in handy. It really works well.
I pulled into a strip mall with angle parking. When preparing to back out of the space, i saw no cars in the rear-view camera, in the right side mirror or when turning around. However, just as I started moving in reverse, the rapid beep of the cross-traffic alert surprised me. A second later a car whizzed past the back of the vehicle. That easily could have been a problem, as that car was travelling way to fast.

I say get BLIS. You'll be happy with it.

 

[GWA1]

Is there enough room on the mirror for a 2" stick on convex mirror to use in addition to BLIS, so we can have the best of both worlds?

I can't tell from the pictures, and mine won't show up for another two weeks to check myself.

http://www.etrailer.com/Mirrors/CIPA/49102.html

Yes there is room lower outside of mirrors for spot mirror. I have blis and plan on getting convex mirrors.. I've had them on my vehicles for years and miss them on the Ex. The blis works great. Glad a spent the money on it.

 

[gabella]

I think the mirrors set properly remove the need for BLIS. The blind spots aren't bad. However, the cross-traffic portion is super nice in parking lots and on my street. Kids and crazy teen drivers come out of nowhere and this has picked it up.

The bizarre thing with BLIS that I've had happen is that when I pass one particular medical building (and only going in one direction), it somehow blocks the system from working until I re-start the car. It's happened each time I've passed the building. At least, I assume it's that building that's doing it.

 

[Steve1942]

Definitely get BLIS. It is worth the money. We drive round trip from Madison to Chicago two to three weekends a month on I 39/90. Last weekend was the first time with the new Explorer. The little orange lights on the side view mirrors are comforting especially since it is so hard to see out of much of the car when compared to the old Isuzu Trooper (a shoebox with windows on wheels).

 

[blackjackdelta]

So far I really like the BLIS, but I do not understand why people like to hide in my blind spots, slow down a or get with it.

Jack

 

[w1kedz]

I'd rather not have the BLIS. I've driven Explorers with both and I prefer the built in convex mirrors. My '11 has it and I may swap back to the other mirror glass if I can. Mine gives lots of false indications since I live out on a narrow country road. It shows fences, mailbox rows, piles of snow, etc. on the right side of the vehicle on a regular basis. I turn it off when I'm not on the highway.

I do like the cross traffic alert system, but unfortunately, it's bundled with the BLIS.

Aren't fences, mailbox rows, piles of snow, etc all considered blind spot hazards? How are those false indications? #JustSayin

Regardless, the BLIS has saved me a couple of times in my area (SoCal, urban)... two lane roads where you just can't see out the back right side when switching lanes, thank you orange dot, come again!

 

[JDraper]

Aren't fences, mailbox rows, piles of snow, etc all considered blind spot hazards? How are those false indications? #JustSayin

Reg

They're only hazards to me if they're moving :. On the highway it's been fine, it's just that we live out in the country and have lots of narrow, windy roads. I've had it stay on for well over a mile as it picks up on things on the side of the road.

I've actually gotten used to it now. It doesn't bother me anymore.

 

[w1kedz]

They're only hazards to me if they're moving :. On the highway it's been fine, it's just that we live out in the country and have lots of narrow, windy roads. I've had it stay on for well over a mile as it picks up on things on the side of the road.

I've actually gotten used to it now. It doesn't bother me anymore.

Yeah, I was mostly being a smart@$$ Though I don't ever notice them unless I'm actually looking at the mirror for the purpose of moving over, so I'm not sure why you'd need to turn them off. I guess it's one of those "personal peeves". Interesting to hear other people's experiences with the technology.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Yeah, I was mostly being a smart@$$ Though I don't ever notice them unless I'm actually looking at the mirror for the purpose of moving over, so I'm not sure why you'd need to turn them off. I guess it's one of those "personal peeves". Interesting to hear other people's experiences with the technology.

My god, try driving in the OC and LA traffic, the rice burners are in your blind spot as fast as a fly takes to S..., the motorcycles travel between the cars, it will be invaluable when I head back there is August. Still wont replace looking over my shoulder.

Jack

 

[JDraper]

Yeah, I was mostly being a smart@$$ Though I don't ever notice them unless I'm actually looking at the mirror for the purpose of moving over, so I'm not sure why you'd need to turn them off. I guess it's one of those "personal peeves". Interesting to hear other people's experiences with the technology.

It's not bad in the daytime, but at night, it was constantly catching my attention.