DIY - Side Mirror Replacement

[jarance]

OK,if any of you who is unfortunate to have your side mirror broken by something, here is the guide.I met an accident where my side mirror was damaged.here the damaged mirror..

Option 1 -So went to a chop shop to look for a replacement.. Was quoted RM860 for the whole unit (mirror, casing, motor).. Ask whether can sell just the mirror or not.. Boss say cannot... WTF.. Option 2 - Call up Bavarian Auto for replacement part - just the mirror based on the part number.. Was informed that the part is available for RM380 (with heater type).. :wink: Hee..hee.. wah more than 50% saving..OK.. went to the shop and talk to the guy.. after discussion, he say that the part for E46 with heater is RM380 but can try another part for E39? It is cheaper.. So how much I ask ??RM180.. I ask why so much price difference.. Boss, coz no heater lah.. OK, show me the good. He assured me that it will fit the E46..Here the pic of the part and price. (Ori some more).

Pay the guy the money and quickly rush home to fix the mirror.. ( Cannot stand to see the broken mirror )Here a pic on how to detach the mirror. Just use a flat screw driver and anchor it between the mirror base and the side mirror casing.

Here is a pic where the mirror is detached from casing. Note: the cable connection for the heater..(Who need heater for our climate) :stupid:

After detached the mirror, I tape up the cable for heater and stored it away as the new mirror does not have any heater.

Final check.. Just to make sure that everything is OK, I compare the base of the old and new mirror.Here is a pic of the comparison. Woh... wait a minute, they are not the same.. (WTF!! kena con...) :stupid:

Mmmm. what to do? Dismantle the motorised base and study the mounting.. Guess what, the motorised based is designed for two type of clips.. yeehaa..here is a pic of the old and new mounting.. :top::top:

Assemble everything back and align the mirror onto the motorised base. Push it until there is a click sound.and happy at last.. :love::top: :rock:

So moral of the story..talk to your friendly spare part supplier... :top:

 

[simonso]

Ahaha damn detail the post, am sure gonna book mark this

Thanks bro!

 

[simonso]

Ahaha damn detail the post, am sure gonna book mark this

Thanks bro!

 

[saat]

Nice DIY job bro but on the heater, wait till it rains then you'll swear at yourself. The heat from the engine, the water in the air and the cool surface of teh mirror make it an ideal place for condensation. Especially at night.

My E46 had a heated side mirror, I thought how wonderful it is. Even the "water repelling" hydrophobic mirrors on my other cars cant match it.

 

[jarance]

Nice DIY job bro but on the heater, wait till it rains then you'll swear at yourself. The heat from the engine, the water in the air and the cool surface of teh mirror make it an ideal place for condensation. Especially at night.

My E46 had a heated side mirror, I thought how wonderful it is. Even the "water repelling" hydrophobic mirrors on my other cars cant match it.

saat, no sure about the usefulness of the heater but it might come into play when the temperature is low.

I was actually think of transferring the mirror to the old base with the heater. Give up coz scare to crack the new mirror.

See pic of the many broken glass. Funny thing is that the glass dont really cut you.

Maybe should try to use a heater to soften the glue to remove the glass if the fogging is problem later.

 

[chetz]

hahaha.. this is kewl.. u arr bro jarance... haiz...

 

[maxkpp]

I can't see the pictures because I am surfing the net from office ...
Anyway, if the base is not broken, only the mirror...
the cheapest way is to go to any picture frame shop and ask them to cut out a mirror to size.
I did not do this yet but I saw it done at a picture frame shop I use to frequent.

 

[jarance]

I can't see the pictures because I am surfing the net from office ...
Anyway, if the base is not broken, only the mirror...
the cheapest way is to go to any picture frame shop and ask them to cut out a mirror to size.
I did not do this yet but I saw it done at a picture frame shop I use to frequent.

Have thought about that as well.

problem is that the mirror at the frame shop are one-to-one. i.e. no concave type or wide angle mirror.

The vision of the back car would be restricted.

Second thing is to cut curve shape. Normally glass are easily to cut in a straight line.

 

[saat]

Have thought about that as well.

problem is that the mirror at the frame shop are one-to-one. i.e. no concave type or wide angle mirror.

The vision of the back car would be restricted.

Second thing is to cut curve shape. Normally glass are easily to cut in a straight line.

Correct. Ordinary mirrors dont work because they provide a very small field of vision. It is significantly thinner and prone to break. The side mirrors are aspherical and provides a larger field of view.

Trust me on this I've done it. In the days when I got not much money, I tried this on one of my cars. It is downright dangerous. Fortunately, mine broke after 1 month and I ended up replacing it with a proper side mirror.


Dont ever do this folks

 

[turbology]

Just use a flat screw driver and anchor it between the mirror base and the side mirror casing.

Great DYI. I bet alot of E46ers can benefit this. And Other Beembers too.
Question: Does the old mirror just POP out with a flat screw driver ? Or does it have a screw inside ?

 

[jarance]

Great DYI. I bet alot of E46ers can benefit this. And Other Beembers too.
Question: Does the old mirror just POP out with a flat screw driver ? Or does it have a screw inside ?

Looking at the part for E36, YES, the mirror should pop out.
Not sure about E30
See pic below.

Outside mirror - BMW parts catalog

 

[datsunnismo]

Great DYI. I bet alot of E46ers can benefit this. And Other Beembers too.
Question: Does the old mirror just POP out with a flat screw driver ? Or does it have a screw inside ?

as know there's no screw. just a clip on only....

bro jarance: e30 also pop put only.