Corroding wing mirror on an Arnage

Corroding wing mirror on an Arnage

Author
Discussion

Pwig

Original Poster:

11,956 posts

271 months

Saturday 20th October 2012
quotequote all
Hi Folks,

We have just taken in an Arnage and the wing mirror is corroding. Is there anywhere that does repairs to this or is it definately a new mirror unit?

Birkin1932

784 posts

140 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
Have exactly the same issue at present on a 2000 car, looked everywhere, breakers will only sell me a pair for £1500 then I have to get them sprayed!!

It looks like it is caused by the heating element behind the mirror, It will fail the MOT on it next time.

If you find a fix please let me know

Big Al.

68,912 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
My background = 6 years in the automotive mirror industry as a quality manager.

Questions

Are you saying that the silver on the glass is corroding? (pic would be helpful)

Is the corrosion behind the glass surface i.e can you touch the corrosion?

buyer&seller

778 posts

179 months

Tuesday 6th November 2012
quotequote all
Birkin1932 said:
Have exactly the same issue at present on a 2000 car, looked everywhere, breakers will only sell me a pair for £1500 then I have to get them sprayed!!

It looks like it is caused by the heating element behind the mirror, It will fail the MOT on it next time.

If you find a fix please let me know
I think you'll find that they are an Audi (possibly A8) unit, so you could try matching one.

Birkin1932

784 posts

140 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
Big Al. said:
My background = 6 years in the automotive mirror industry as a quality manager.

Questions

Are you saying that the silver on the glass is corroding? (pic would be helpful)

Is the corrosion behind the glass surface i.e can you touch the corrosion?
Whats happening is a colour change running up the mirror, right across, so the mirror is two different colours, smoky and normal, it definately looks like a problem with heat, no flakiness or corrosion, but it makes the mirror very difficult to look through and therefore dangerous

Edited by Birkin1932 on Wednesday 7th November 10:47

Birkin1932

784 posts

140 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
[quote=buyer&seller]

I think you'll find that they are an Audi (possibly A8) unit, so you could try matching one.
[/quote]

thanks for that I will get straight on it

POORCARDEALER

8,527 posts

242 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
Or a good glass shop should be able to cut a piece the same if u provide old one

Big Al.

68,912 posts

259 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
Birkin1932 said:
Whats happening is a colour change running up the mirror, right across, so the mirror is two different colours, smoky and normal, it definately looks like a problem with heat, no flakiness or corrosion, but it makes the mirror very difficult to look through and therefore dangerous

Edited by Birkin1932 on Wednesday 7th November 10:47
Thanks for that.....

Questions again if I may, as I'm trying to find what "metal" the glass the mirror is coated with and what side of the mirror the coating is on.

To check this hold a ballpoint gentle on the suface of the glass, can you see a gap between the ballpont odn the reflective surface? for example if you hold a ball point against you bathroom mirror you will see a small gap as you cannot touch the coating because it is on the reverse/back of the glass.

Also whether the glass is flat, curved (convex) or aspheric (blind spot).

So to check for flatness, will a small straight edge rock on the mirror surface? if no it's flat glass
if yes it's convex, if it's convex does it have a vertical curved line about 80% of the way across the mirror? it may have text on the mirror i.e Objects may appear etc.

It may sound a lot of faffing about but it will enable to to get the right mirror cut for you car, if you can't buy one off the shelf.

I happen to know a professional automotive mirror cutter, that can cut most mirrors for most cars from stock. smile






Birkin1932

784 posts

140 months

Wednesday 7th November 2012
quotequote all
I appreciate this, I think what I will do is take a photograph tomorrow. Mirror looks like its on reverse and has a blind spot line running down it

Thanks again

Big Al.

68,912 posts

259 months

Friday 9th November 2012
quotequote all
How's the pic doing?

Birkin1932

784 posts

140 months

Saturday 10th November 2012
quotequote all
I'm stuck in wales, will try and do it in the next day or so. Can it be done from an ipad?

Thanks again

Edited by Birkin1932 on Saturday 10th November 16:33

Big Al.

68,912 posts

259 months

Sunday 11th November 2012
quotequote all
No panic, from what you have described it sounds as though you have aspheric (blind spot) mirror.

It would be very unusual if they were manufactured from anything other than second surface (back of the glass) chrome.

I'll have a chat to my mate during the week to see if he has any existing templates for the Arnage/comparable makes.

Not too sure about your question about posting your pic from and Ipad. smile