MX-5 OC Forum

 Hi All

Nightmare trying to find the bit where you can write a post.  Anyway hopefully there now.  Drivers wing mirror knocked off today leaving the arm attached to the car.  Do I need to get complete new mirror or is there some way of reattaching.  Inside mirror casing is a lot of rattling so obviously some rusty bits inside.  Also if new mirror required no visible external screws so presumably have to fix via inside of drivers door?

Sue

This has been asked SOOOOOOOOO many times before, So I've just cut and pasted what I wrote last time........ (Call me lazy If you want !)

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They say a picture speaks a thousand words........ I hope thats true 'cos my wing mirror just fell off and I'm in no mood for posting a 6000 word essay

Right then to get the shell and bezel apart I used a small flat screw driver on the outside, breaking the dots of glue as I went.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/16/989771/Wing%20mirror%20shell.JPG

See the little white dots around the edge? Thats where it's glued too the bezel.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/16/989771/Mirror%20rim.JPG

Close up of the edge of the bezel.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/16/989771/Mirror%20rim%20closeup.JPG

Next is the spring, A replacement bolt (A coach bolt I found in one of my tool boxes) and the ball joint.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/16/989771/Ball%20joint%20and%20bolt.JPG

My original bolt had rusted to the point that it split the ball joint in two, So I had to epoxy the ball joint back together, While I was at it I epoxied the bolt to the top of the spring (As its a coach bolt it has a square on the shank under the head thats meant to pulled into the wood to stop it from turning)

I couldn't get the bottom of the "cup" part of the ball joint off the car (Screws are too tight and I don't want to snap one of 'um off), This made it a pig too get a spanner on the nuts underneath, If I had thought it through first I would have possibly dremeled out a square on the ball parts hole to put the coach bolt in the other way up.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/16/989771/Shell%20back%20on%20the%20car.JPG

I then glued the bezel back on, I only put 15 or so little dots of super glue on the edge of the shell as I figure if I ever have to change the glass in it I don't want to destroy the body trying to split it again.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/4/16/989771/Glass%20back%20in.JPG

I also smeared the glass with liquid hand soap before putting it back together, I seem to remember that super glue vapour can stick to glass and make it look etched.

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Hope it helps,

Scotty B.

 Sue...Autolink sell this if it helps: http://www.autolinkmx5.com/door-mirror-repair-bolt-set-mx-5-mk1-443-p.asp

 Hi Scotty

What a wonderful person you are - many many thanks.  Have a great weekend.

Sue

Mr Reman:

This has been asked SOOOOOOOOO many times before, So I've just cut and pasted what I wrote last time........ (Call me lazy If you want !)

Scotty I'll make this a stickey and do something with it for the FAQs

Look out sue !!!!

Geoff's about to make this sticky ! Quite impressive that he can do this all the way from Australia.

......... (OK, My sense of humour may be a little bit on the smutty side, But at least it made me chuckle.)

Mr Reman:

Look out sue !!!!

Geoff's about to make this sticky ! Quite impressive that he can do this all the way from Australia. ......... (OK, My sense of humour may be a little bit on the smutty side, But at least it made me chuckle.)

No problem for us down here mate---

Thanks. Mr Reman. I had always wondered how to remove the mirrors without breaking anything. This gives me the confidence to remove my mirrors for refinishing.

niggle:

This gives me the confidence to remove my mirrors for refinishing

Glad to hear it mate !

Mr Reman:

Look out sue !!!!

Geoff's about to make this sticky ! Quite impressive that he can do this all the way from Australia.

 

 

 

......... (OK, My sense of humour may be a little bit on the smutty side, But at least it made me chuckle.

Hi Scotty

youre at it again I see!!!

At least I know you're quite 'armless really ...................these naughty humours will get us into trouble, but a chuckle is always good 

liz

For what it's worth, light rubbing with nail polish remover (acetone) shifts superglue film very easily.

rogerzilla:

For what it's worth, light rubbing with nail polish remover (acetone) shifts superglue film very easily.

I didn't know that (Every days a school day !),

That's handy to know as the proper "De-bonding" solvents I used to use to clean up repairs are bloody expensive !!!

Scotty B.

 Funny enough, my mirror fell off on Saturday. So this post was very well-timed. Also really informative. I've now put the mirror back in place at a cost of 23 pence - I decided to push the boat out and pay for 2 washers. Great post. many thanks.

Ivan

Northern Ireland

 Hi Ivan

Glad it helped.  As well as the small cost for the screw/washers etc. it cost me £10.   I found it very fiddly and not having a socket set didn't help.  However, two lovely men came to fit new immobiliser and I did the helpless female bit and they very kindly attached the mirror for me and I consequently  rewarded them with a £10 note. 

Sue

Hi Sue I had/have the same problem. I managed to get a replacement bolt that fits inside the mirror from, www.autolinkmx5.com  . The only problem is taking the coach-work from the door to get at the inside. Maybe you might need to take it to a garage to get them to fit it. It'll at least be cheaper than a new mirror. If you've already solved the problem perhaps you could tell me how you fixed it!!

Good luck    Richard