Electric Mirror

Superman · 01-25-2002, 10:57 PM

I am removing my door for the horrible door stop repair thing. I need to disconnect my electric mirror. I assume I need to take the glass off. The glass heater is working only intermittently, so I'd like to fix that too.

The bentley manual says there is a big (2"-3") ring that needs to be rotated to the left using a thin screwdriver through a hole in the bottom of the mirror housing. There is a hole there, but I cannot seem to feel a ring.

I have heard these mirrors pry off. There is a metal backing on the glass. The metal backing is nearly the same size as the mirror. Do I pry the glass away from this backing plate? Or do I pry the glass and backing plate away from something else? Or not pry at all, and try the big ring theory again?

cary · 01-26-2002, 03:37 AM

On my 77 they just pop off.
Wish I had taken pictures, when I took mine off.

There are little sockets in the mirror housing itself. On the back of the glass there are 4 .........trying to think of a good description.
Kind of like the pin gadget that holds the door panel on. But skinnier, thicker material.
Stop at a glass shop and get one off their soft installing tools. Kind of like a screw driver / prybar. Less apt to chip the edge of the glass. Start at a corner and pop/pry it off.

Good Luck

Superman · 08:40 AM

I am not sure a '77 mirror is the same. My ('83) mirror is heated, and it has an electric motor.

Di I turn a big ring to release it, or do I pry it off? and if I need to pry it off, does it separate from its metal backing plate, or does the mirror and backing plate separate from something behind? I want to take this door off this morning if I can.

Okay, a '77 mirror is the same. To pry off the mirror, I would like to know whether the metal backing plate on the mirror glass stays, or separates. Do I pry the mirror off the backing plate, which is just about the same size and shape as the mirror glass? Or do I pry the mirror glass, along with its backing plate off of something else? I suspect I pry the mirror and backing plate off of something else.

I dread body work and interior work the most, particularly when I don't know how to deal with hidden fasteners. I've broken lots of things this way.

Superman · 01-26-2002, 08:46 AM

? I'm impatient, sorry.

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

If you push the mirror all the way to one side, you can actually get your fingers behind it enough to just pop it off. They have a plastic backing and are quite sturdy.

cary · 01-26-2002, 10:16 AM

Sorry, riding herd on the "rugrats".

Warren would give you a better explanation.
But imagine the backing material that is on mirrors. That grey stuff. Now imagine a "single circuit", like the one in the back window layed into/on the gray stuff. Thats what you have. With those pins at each corner.

As for the size. The perimeter of the grid probably 65-75% of the mirrors perimeter.
Scared the s*** out of me too. $250 mirror $$$$. Once you get it off. You'll go, DAH !!! Makes sense.

One of the pins was broken on mine. That's why I took it out. Glued the pin back on with the new GOOP automotive stuff. Worked great. But the wiring on mine was hacked up by one of the previous PO's. So I gutted mine.

Superman · 01-26-2002, 10:46 AM

This is great information guys, and I can just about visualize it. I can turn the mirror all the way to one side and get a little access. But I still need to know something:

Separate from the grey stuff on the back of mirrors, there is a metal plate. It is only about 1/8" to 1/4" less than the full rectangular dimensions of the mirror. It is very close to the grey mirror backing. Do I put my prying tool between the mirror grey coating and this backing plate? Or do I put my prying tool between the backing plate and whatever is behind it, which I cannot see. I'll look closer. Perhaps Cary has given me all the clues I need.

Yes, this is all about the nervousness of breaking an expensive part. It sounds like the Bentley method is full of $#i!. Thanks. I'll check back. In the meantime I have been battling piston wrist pins. Some are pretty stubborn.

cary · 01-26-2002, 11:18 AM

Hold tight, just popped the passenger side out. Sorry only three pins. I can see what you looking at. Pry right in the middle.
Front of mirror/Bevel/PRY HERE/Tin looking stuff/Frame.
Popped right out. But still scary, just the same.

Put it on the scanner. Pretty cool. Here's the back. Can't take credit, my 14 year nerd did it.

Glasgow 911SC · Glasgow 911SC's Garage

Just popped mine off with my fingers. Took about 10 secs. Looks different to one above though!

Superman · 01-26-2002, 11:38 AM

Awesome, guys. This place just rocks. You guys are nicer than churckfolk. The mirror is off and nothing is broken. Bartender, I'd like to buy everyone a round.

Doug Zielke · 01-26-2002, 11:43 AM

Nice images guys!
You can see the heating element plainly on Cary's photo.
No wonder these damn things are so expensive to replace.
Respect thy powered mirrors!

cary · 01-26-2002, 11:54 AM

Chris's has the right # on it for 76-86 911/T. Is mine missing the seal deal ?