Removing the folding mirror mechanism

[Simon Jones]

Can anyone offer any hints on how to get the folding mirror gubbins out of the plastic casing? I've got a spare pair of mirrors from which I'm trying to extract the chrome covers. Despite warming them up to soften the adhesive, they are not budging, so plan B is to remove the mechanism so I can get closer to the area where the adhesive strip is. Many thanks in advance.

[Northern Bongolow]

cannot help with the mechanism simon but ive removed the chromes using the tyre removal method--------------- find the longest side and insert 2 or more levers and gently lean on it, heating, or better cooling/ freezing may help, as the adhesive is then less tacky. gently gently though. on the ones ive removed it is usually 3 horizontal strips 10-15mm wide that hold them on the windward face.

[jaylee]

Simon,

A long time ago i got into the passenger mirror in an attempt to repair the internals.. Bit of a fiddle.! I gave up in the end, managing to get hold of a replacement for around the 20 mark...

I seem to remember undoing 3 screws to the back of the actual mirror housing..?



Kind of half twisting out the motor mechanism..?



Bottom right of this picture you can just make out a clip that sort of hold the shaft of the gubbins to the base that attaches to the door...

& Here too.. Bottom right...!



You should just make the grey clip out over the brass weird shape washer with (from memory) a spring underneath..?

Sorry i can't be much more help!

Would not some sort of "solvent" sprayed into the gap twix the chrome cover & the mirror housing help..? Or would that knacker the plastic..??

[g8dhe]

I've just re-sprayed one of mine, so these notes might help as I was going to remove the whole mechanism but decided in the end just to cover the inner up.
1. Removing mirror from door, Open window first, pull off outer black cover trim on door, remove two 10mm bolts,
2. On the inside, remove door card, by removing screw from door pull lock, and screw in base of plastic door pull, remove 3 screws under caps, and then release lower half of card by prising the clips out carefully, slide door card upwards, whilst pushing door lock mechanism back thru hole (twist slightly). Unplug window electrical connections from switch.
3. Open plastic covering in top right corner, identify the mirror electrical connector and unclip from door, then release the connector itself so that the cable can be pulled out.
4. Remove final bolt holding mirror from inside, catch mirror on the outside!
5. Remove three screws from base of mount, remove single screw from from cover.
6. Remove mirror itself (just prises off), remove 3 screws holding mechanism to cover.
7. Undo electrical connections - NOTE the COLOURS and positions for re-assembly!!!
8. Remove cable from cover thru the hole, and mechanism from inside cover.
Done.

[Simon Jones]

Thanks for all the replies. Too scared to use the tyre lever approach, I think I'd rather cut the plastic casing away than risk me putting a massive crack in the shiny stuff. Have tried soaking the gap between the two parts in WD40 as that is supposed to loosen adhesive, but not budged yet.

Geoff, have you got electrically retracting mirrors? The problem I have is that even tho' all 4 screws are out so the whole mechanism is loose in the housing, I can't split the hinge mechanism to get the alloy bracket out the bottom of the casing.

[g8dhe]

You undo the three screws to remove the outer part of the alloy support, and then the wires as its not possible to pass the support thru the hole itself.