diff --git a/changes.txt b/changes.txt
index 92b9cd7e..cc289229 100644
--- a/changes.txt
+++ b/changes.txt
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 Changes in 1.9 (not yet released)
 - Add IMeshBufffer::clone function to create buffer copies. CMeshManipulator::createMeshCopy uses that now and works now with all types of meshbuffers.
 - obj writer can now write 32 bit buffers
-- obj meshloader can now load 32 bit buffers when setPreferredIndexType is set to EIT_32BIT.
+- obj meshloader can now load 32 bit buffers when setIndexTypeHint is set correspondingly
   It's 16 bit meshes use now also an IDynamicMeshbuffer instead of an SMeshBuffer.
-- Add IMeshLoader::setPreferredIndexType and getPreferredIndexType to allow setting hints for the loaders if users prefer 16 or 32 bit meshbuffers.
+- Add IMeshLoader::setIndexTypeHint and getIndexTypeHint to allow setting hints for the loaders if users prefer 16 or 32 bit meshbuffers.
 - Add IMeshBuffer::getType to allow finding out which class type a meshbuffer has (similar to ISceneNode::getType).
 - Add IGUIImage::flip to flip/mirror images
 - IBillboardSceneNode got functions to access meshbuffers. So uv-coordinates can now be modified directly (previously only possible via texture matrix).
diff --git a/include/IMeshLoader.h b/include/IMeshLoader.h
index 065d76ef..de0ffa6c 100644
--- a/include/IMeshLoader.h
+++ b/include/IMeshLoader.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class IMeshLoader : public virtual IReferenceCounted
 public:
 
 	//! Constructor
-	IMeshLoader() : TextureLoader(0), PreferredIndexType(video::EIT_16BIT)	{}
+	IMeshLoader() : TextureLoader(0), IndexTypeHint(EITH_16BIT)	{}
 
 	//! Destructor
 	virtual ~IMeshLoader()
@@ -79,6 +79,20 @@ public:
 		return TextureLoader;
 	}
 
+	enum E_INDEX_TYPE_HINT
+	{
+		//! Prefer to use 16-bit index buffers even if it breaks the mesh
+		EITH_16BIT,
+
+		//! Allow using 32-bit index buffers
+		EITH_32BIT,
+
+		//! Allow 32-bit, but copy back to 16-bit when 32 is not needed.
+		//! So tiny overhead on loading, but meshes are later more optimal
+		EITH_OPTIMAL
+	};
+
+
 	//! Give loader a hint if you would prefer 16 or 32 bit meshbuffers.
 	/** 
 	Generally Irrlicht works with 16-bit meshbuffers so far.
@@ -87,22 +101,22 @@ public:
 	NOTE: Most loaders will ignore this hint so far, but hopefully 
 	will care about it in the future.
 	*/
-	void setPreferredIndexType(irr::video::E_INDEX_TYPE typeHint)
+	void setIndexTypeHint(E_INDEX_TYPE_HINT typeHint)
 	{
-		PreferredIndexType = typeHint;
+		IndexTypeHint = typeHint;
 	}
 
-	//! Return current preference user has for the index-size of meshbuffers
+	//! Return current preference user has for the index type of meshbuffers
 	/** Note that this is _not_ necessarily the type used by the meshloader */
-	irr::video::E_INDEX_TYPE getPreferredIndexType() const
+	E_INDEX_TYPE_HINT getIndexTypeHint() const
 	{
-		return PreferredIndexType;
+		return IndexTypeHint;
 	}
 
 
 protected:
 	IMeshTextureLoader* TextureLoader;
-	irr::video::E_INDEX_TYPE PreferredIndexType;
+	E_INDEX_TYPE_HINT IndexTypeHint;
 };
 
 
diff --git a/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.cpp b/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.cpp
index 2249716f..9fe99b01 100644
--- a/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.cpp
+++ b/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ IAnimatedMesh* COBJMeshFileLoader::createMesh(io::IReadFile* file)
 	core::array<core::vector3df, core::irrAllocatorFast<core::vector3df> > normalsBuffer(1000);
 	core::array<core::vector2df, core::irrAllocatorFast<core::vector2df> > textureCoordBuffer(1000);
 
-	SObjMtl * currMtl = new SObjMtl(PreferredIndexType);
+	SObjMtl * currMtl = new SObjMtl(getIndexTypeHint());
 	Materials.push_back(currMtl);
 	u32 smoothingGroup=0;
 
@@ -330,19 +330,21 @@ IAnimatedMesh* COBJMeshFileLoader::createMesh(io::IReadFile* file)
 	{
 		if ( Materials[m]->Meshbuffer->getIndexCount() > 0 )
 		{
+			if ( getIndexTypeHint() == EITH_OPTIMAL 
+				&& Materials[m]->Meshbuffer->getVertexCount() <= 65536 )
+			{
+				Materials[m]->Meshbuffer->getIndexBuffer().setType(video::EIT_16BIT);
+			}
+				
+
 			Materials[m]->Meshbuffer->recalculateBoundingBox();
 			if (Materials[m]->RecalculateNormals)
 				SceneManager->getMeshManipulator()->recalculateNormals(Materials[m]->Meshbuffer);
 			if (Materials[m]->Meshbuffer->Material.MaterialType == video::EMT_PARALLAX_MAP_SOLID)
 			{
-				SMesh tmp;
-				tmp.addMeshBuffer(Materials[m]->Meshbuffer);
-				IMesh* tangentMesh = SceneManager->getMeshManipulator()->createMeshWithTangents(&tmp);
-				mesh->addMeshBuffer(tangentMesh->getMeshBuffer(0));
-				tangentMesh->drop();
+				Materials[m]->Meshbuffer->getVertexBuffer().setType(video::EVT_TANGENTS);
 			}
-			else
-				mesh->addMeshBuffer( Materials[m]->Meshbuffer );
+			mesh->addMeshBuffer( Materials[m]->Meshbuffer );
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -579,7 +581,7 @@ void COBJMeshFileLoader::readMTL(const c8* fileName, const io::path& relPath)
 				c8 mtlNameBuf[WORD_BUFFER_LENGTH];
 				bufPtr = goAndCopyNextWord(mtlNameBuf, bufPtr, WORD_BUFFER_LENGTH, bufEnd);
 
-				currMaterial = new SObjMtl(PreferredIndexType);
+				currMaterial = new SObjMtl(getIndexTypeHint());
 				currMaterial->Name = mtlNameBuf;
 			}
 			break;
diff --git a/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.h b/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.h
index 29540560..096b0d75 100644
--- a/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.h
+++ b/source/Irrlicht/COBJMeshFileLoader.h
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ private:
 
 	struct SObjMtl
 	{
-		SObjMtl(irr::video::E_INDEX_TYPE indexType) : IndexType(indexType), Meshbuffer(0), Bumpiness (1.0f), Illumination(0),
+		SObjMtl(E_INDEX_TYPE_HINT typeHint) 
+			: IndexType(typeHint == EITH_16BIT ? video::EIT_16BIT : video::EIT_32BIT)
+			, Meshbuffer(0), Bumpiness (1.0f), Illumination(0),
 			RecalculateNormals(false)
 		{
 			Meshbuffer = new CDynamicMeshBuffer(irr::video::EVT_STANDARD, IndexType);