Removing wing mirror glass

[roseytvr]

I have a loose wing mirror and having done a search there is plenty of info on the fix thankfully. However I need to remove the glass to progress and i have managed to slide the tab underneath the glass across to the left but it does not appear to release it. I dont particularly want to get violent with it - any ideas?
Thanks
Ian

[Loubaruch]

As heat from the heating coils seem to loosen the mirror perhaps careful heating with a hair dryer should loosen the glue. As previous posts have suggested, its worth disconnecting the heating coil unless you use your car in icy weather. My mirrors used to drop off without any persuasion until the heaters were disconnnected.

[FlipFlopGriff]

Maybe the tab needs to go a bit further. Push it back to where it can from and then trying and slip it over again - from memory the tab is pretty vertical when it releases. I use a long electrical screwdiver and put some tape over the bottom edge of the mirror housing. The glass should be attached to a plastic back which the tab releases so don't try and split the mirror from this unless you have to. Just be very careful not to slip and scrape the paintwork.
FFG

[Barreti]

I wouldn't bother trying to get the glass off the heated element, its a real pig of a job to do with the glass in your hand and applying a heat gun directly to the element. I've done it.

As FFG says, the plastic tab just probably needs pushing a bit further round.
See if this photo helps.
You're trying to move the plastic lever in the red oval which ever way it will go so the locking tabs which are inside the holes (like the one inside the pink square) slide back off their corresponding locking tabs on the mirror frame and releases the mirror. Put some tape on the glass itself so you can pull it gently as you shove the bottom lever aside.

Edited by Barreti on Thursday 6th October 22:28

[Big Al.]

I used to work in the Automotive glass industry for 6 years, we used to have to carry out various tests on glass and heater elements.

We used to put them in an industrial freezer @ -25 degs and it was still a nightmare getting them apart but it was doable.

[roseytvr]

Hi Guys
Thanks for all your replies. Having tried FFGs tip a couple of times without success I tried the hairdrier approach. Off she come revealing the reason I could not get the clip to release - the glass was stuck on to the entire internals with double sided tape which in turn meant the whole lot was stuck togeather. Problem is now fixing the fecking thing which is a different story. Still plenty of resouces thrown up by the search engine. Been at it 4 hours tonight and just cant successfull line it all up. Another day tomorrow..........

[PeteGriff]

When I recently replaced a broken 'toadstool' on the N/S mirror on my Griff I did not remove the glass and do it all that way! What I did was to first remove the mirror loom plug inside the door accessible from behind the speaker hole, secondly remove the plug pins from the plug, take out the whole mirror with the broken half of 'toadstool' (if not completely broken cut through any remaining supports), then carefully unscrew from the door mounting the remaining part of the broken toadstool, at the mirror end note which postion the sprung retainer is then undo the torx screw and carefully remove the other part. For reassembly: fit the new toadstool to the mirror making sure the sprung retainer is in the same position and ensure the cable loom follows the same route as when taken out and the plastic 'top hat' trim is in place, prior to that of course look at the threaded mounting that was taken out of the door noting and marking the position of the grub screw, fit the mounting to the new toadstool and tighten the grubscrew, now carefully feed the cable loom into threaded boss hole, then very carefully start the thread off making sure it is NOT cross threaded, continue to turn until it begins to tighten then ease it into position, finally move the plastic top hat trim in place and reconnect the loom wires and plug. Hey Presto your mirror is back. This method worked a treat on my mirror and did not involve all the hassle of trying to tighten the small grub scew when there is no room. Give it a go?

Hope that has been helpful guys? Pete

[Griffophenia]

PeteGriff said:

When I recently replaced a broken 'toadstool' on the N/S mirror on my Griff I did not remove the glass and do it all that way! What I did was to first remove the mirror loom plug inside the door accessible from behind the speaker hole, secondly remove the plug pins from the plug, take out the whole mirror with the broken half of 'toadstool' (if not completely broken cut through any remaining supports), then carefully unscrew from the door mounting the remaining part of the broken toadstool, at the mirror end note which postion the sprung retainer is then undo the torx screw and carefully remove the other part. For reassembly: fit the new toadstool to the mirror making sure the sprung retainer is in the same position and ensure the cable loom follows the same route as when taken out and the plastic 'top hat' trim is in place, prior to that of course look at the threaded mounting that was taken out of the door noting and marking the position of the grub screw, fit the mounting to the new toadstool and tighten the grubscrew, now carefully feed the cable loom into threaded boss hole, then very carefully start the thread off making sure it is NOT cross threaded, continue to turn until it begins to tighten then ease it into position, finally move the plastic top hat trim in place and reconnect the loom wires and plug. Hey Presto your mirror is back. This method worked a treat on my mirror and did not involve all the hassle of trying to tighten the small grub scew when there is no room. Give it a go?

Hope that has been helpful guys? Pete

Hi Pete, On removeing the broken toadstall, how did you remove the retaning ring left in the door aperture!! Is it screwed in- I cannot see a nut that holding it against the underside of the door!! or is it screwed into the firbre glass

Regards Phil

[roseytvr]

Griffophenia said:

Hi Pete, On removeing the broken toadstall, how did you remove the retaning ring left in the door aperture!! Is it screwed in- I cannot see a nut that holding it against the underside of the door!! or is it screwed into the firbre glass

Regards Phil

Phil
I assume you mean the boss it screws into which is bonded in by fibreglass if I remember correctly
Ian

[Griffophenia]

roseytvr said:

Phil
I assume you mean the boss it screws into which is bonded in by fibreglass if I remember correctly
Ian

Thanks Ian, Sorted removed the boss after a bit of a struggle!!

Phil

[PeteGriff]

Griffophenia said:

Hi Pete, On removeing the broken toadstall, how did you remove the retaning ring left in the door aperture!! Is it screwed in- I cannot see a nut that holding it against the underside of the door!! or is it screwed into the firbre glass

Regards Phil

Hi Phil, looks like you got yourself sorted. I always unscrew my mirrors now if they need removing, I do not bother with the pain of a grub screw method. I made a pair of rubber washers to go over the threaded bush of the 'toadstool' this enables the mirror to 'bed in'! before doing this my drivers door mirror came loose whilst driving and swung down!! All the best, Pete

[Griffophenia]

PeteGriff said:

Hi Phil, looks like you got yourself sorted. I always unscrew my mirrors now if they need removing, I do not bother with the pain of a grub screw method. I made a pair of rubber washers to go over the threaded bush of the 'toadstool' this enables the mirror to 'bed in'! before doing this my drivers door mirror came loose whilst driving and swung down!! All the best, Pete

Hi Pete, yes got it sorted I also made a washer to screw the threaded boss onto. Noway could you get an allen key into the grub screw between the toadstall and the car mirror recess.(approx. 2mm)
As you said its easier to unscrew the mirror from the screwed boss.
I also cut the wires and rejoined them because the wires/plug would not go through the boss hole!

Phil