Side Mirror R&R
#1
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 134
Likes: 10
From: New Hampshire
C 32 AMG & FG2 Civic Si
Side Mirror R&R
Hi all,
Long story short, I need to replace my driver's side mirror on the C320. I bought a replacement off eBay, with the housing still attached. To replace the blinker lamp in it with the older style, and to install it at all, I need to take the housing off to expose the holes for the bolts that thread into holes in the body of the car.
The trouble is there's a small metal clip that holds the mirror housing to the whole mechanism underneath. It's nearly impossible to get to, and even if I can get a butter knife to touch it, there's no space to move the knife to unclip it. Hard to explain, but maybe the pictures will help.
Anyway, if anyone has advice before I pull my hair out, I would very much appreciate it. Figure I can install headers with no hiccups but I can't take the mirror apart.
Long story short, I need to replace my driver's side mirror on the C320. I bought a replacement off eBay, with the housing still attached. To replace the blinker lamp in it with the older style, and to install it at all, I need to take the housing off to expose the holes for the bolts that thread into holes in the body of the car.
The trouble is there's a small metal clip that holds the mirror housing to the whole mechanism underneath. It's nearly impossible to get to, and even if I can get a butter knife to touch it, there's no space to move the knife to unclip it. Hard to explain, but maybe the pictures will help.
Anyway, if anyone has advice before I pull my hair out, I would very much appreciate it. Figure I can install headers with no hiccups but I can't take the mirror apart.
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 1,657
Likes: 35
From: Austin, TX
2005 C230K(sold), Mk7 Jetta
See if you can detach the tensioning spring, then the housing "unfolds" on two hinges.
Actually even without removing the spring it should unfold - there is a little metal band that holds it in place, on the front hinge point (opposite of what you show in the pic).
Other than that, wedge something in there, that will give you more access to the clip that holds the cover on. Sometimes the clip "pops out" of its place that it is impossible to depress it. In that case push it "in" (i.e. parallel to the plastic cover, or "into" your picture) and down (toward the cover, or toward 11 o'clock in your picture).
Actually even without removing the spring it should unfold - there is a little metal band that holds it in place, on the front hinge point (opposite of what you show in the pic).
Other than that, wedge something in there, that will give you more access to the clip that holds the cover on. Sometimes the clip "pops out" of its place that it is impossible to depress it. In that case push it "in" (i.e. parallel to the plastic cover, or "into" your picture) and down (toward the cover, or toward 11 o'clock in your picture).
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 6,925
Likes: 123
From: So. Oregon Coast
C230 Sport Coup + 2006 W164 ML350 + 99 Ford Escort (What the heck, it gets 38 mpg!)
Yeah I recently replaced my driver side mirror, and I decided against purchasing the complete assembly because for that exact reason how are you going to get that thing that back when it's not mounted on the car? maybe you can get it in a vice or something. One thing not mentioned in the video is to try to pry it open and then prop it open with a small screwdriver or something anything you can find. You don't need to remove the complete mirror assembly from your car. the glass just pops off, depending on what part it is that you're trying to replace in the mirror.
#5
almost there, but. . .
How to Replace the Side View Mirror on a Mercedes Benz W203 C240 C230 E320 - YouTube
it's all out there....
it's all out there....