
The LOR button on the door is the electric mirror adjustment switch knob. Turning it to L adjusts the direction of the left mirror, turning it to R adjusts the direction of the right mirror, and turning it to O turns off the electric mirror adjustment. The rearview mirror is a tool for the driver to directly obtain external information about the rear, side, and lower parts of the car while sitting in the driver's seat. The method to adjust the rearview mirror is: 1. Adjust the sitting position properly. 2. Adjust the left rearview mirror. Adjust the image of the left side of the car to the right quarter of the mirror, then adjust the image of the horizon seen in the rearview mirror to the center of the mirror. 3. Adjust the right rearview mirror. Adjust the image of the right side of the car to the left quarter of the mirror, then adjust the image of the horizon seen in the right rearview mirror to two-thirds of the mirror's height.

The other day, there was a button labeled 'LOR' on my dad's car, and it took me a while to figure it out. Turns out it was a typo—it's actually the L/R button, meaning left/right. Located at the lower left side of the steering wheel, pressing it lets you adjust the angle of the left and right rearview mirrors. This design is quite practical, allowing one-handed operation without fumbling around, especially useful during long drives when you need to adjust the mirrors on the go. Back when older cars didn’t have memory seats, this feature was even more thoughtful, making it easy for family members to switch drivers without readjusting the mirrors every time. Nowadays, new cars have shifted to touchscreens, but I still find these physical buttons safer and more convenient to use while driving.

Last week, I helped my bestie check her old Accord, and she had no idea what the button labeled 'LOR' under the steering wheel was for. It's actually the rearview mirror adjustment switch—press 'L' for the left mirror and 'R' for the right mirror, then tilt the small joystick up, down, left, or right to adjust. This design is especially handy for female drivers, as they don’t need to stretch for buttons on the door panel—just a quick touch does the trick. We tested it and found the joystick offers precise angle control, unlike some cars where buttons adjust in fixed increments. My friend even joked that after getting used to her new car with seat memory, she’d forgotten how to manually adjust the mirrors.

My off-roading buddy told me the LOR button in Land Rovers is truly fascinating—it stands for Low Range Off-Road. When switched to this mode, the engine feels heavier, the transmission responds a bit slower but delivers more power. Climbing rocky slopes, you can distinctly feel the torque amplification, as if being pushed forward by invisible hands. Especially when crossing artillery shell craters, the differential lock engages noticeably faster, preventing the front end from bouncing uncontrollably. My friend mentioned this mode consumes about 20% more fuel than regular 4WD and should never be used in urban areas.

My vintage car from the 90s has a mysterious LOR button. After studying the manual, I discovered it's an overtaking light function. A gentle press makes the headlights flash three times, politely reminding the car ahead to yield. This design is much more civilized than directly turning on the high beams, and works especially well when reminding trucks to change lanes on highways. Once, I flashed it twice when I noticed a car ahead had its trunk not properly closed, and the driver actually pulled over. It's a pity that modern cars have simplified this feature away—now we have to use the high beam switch instead, which can easily be misunderstood as provocation.

When repairing cars, novices often ask about this 'Lor' button, which in 90% of cases is the rearview mirror adjustment switch. A common mistake new drivers make is pressing the L button and frantically trying to adjust the right mirror, getting frustrated when nothing happens. Actually, you should first confirm which letter's indicator light is on before making adjustments. Some cars are even more considerate - when shifting into reverse gear and pressing this button, the right rearview mirror will automatically tilt downward to show the curb. However, we remind owners to wipe the panel dry after adjustment on rainy days, as water accumulation may cause button contact failure or sticking.


