You don't need to be able to see the side of your own car in the rearviews... there's no worry of passing yourself, or cutting yourself off. The key is to adjust them so that there is an overlap, when a vehicle is in the middle rearview, and begins to pass you, at some point you should be able to see the vehicle in the middle mirror and the side mirror. Then, once the vehicle is in just the side mirror, the final key point is that as it is leaving the side mirror, it comes into your peripheral vision WITHOUT having to turn your head. You should never had to turn your head to change lanes or pass someone, it is dangerous, and if your mirrors are adjusted correctly, you don't need to. I set mine up by going slow on the highway, and just keep making adjustments as people pass me.