REVIEW: Kool Vue MZ12ER-PLK replacement door mirrors
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 50
Likes: 3
1993 300D
REVIEW: Kool Vue MZ12ER-PLK replacement door mirrors
The rubber "cap" between the mirror and the door is known to petrify and crack. That was the case on my '93 300D. Call me crazy, but it bothered me to look at it.
The rubber cap is still available from MB (1248110161 left, 1248110461, right) but the price keeps escalating. The driver's side part is now $261.80
A Hagus OES mirror assembly is available from FCP EURO (part #1248107716) for $192.44. But, you would have to disassemble your mirror to swap the painted cover piece.
Poking around for alternatives, I found the Kool Vue MZ12ER-PLK "OE comparable" mirror set online. The best price was at autopartswarehouse.com at $110 for the pair and free shipping. With an online coupon, the price worked out to about $50 per mirror. The picture on the website shows two square mirrors, but the parts you get are actually the proper rectangular driver's side and the square passenger's side mirrors.
I was skeptical about what "OE comparable" really meant (particularly given the price), but ordered them anyway. When they arrived, I compared them to the OE mirrors on my car. I was impressed with the quality of these Made in Taiwan replacement mirrors.
Other than some raised lettering on the back of the driver's side mirror and slightly less robust prongs on the 5-pin plug on the driver's mirror, the parts seem to me to be pretty much indistinguishable. They are power driven and heated. The mirror glass even has the OE blue tint.
I couldn't figure out if you can swap your existing painted covers and decided not to try. I masked the mirrors and used rattle can auto parts store paint and clear coat to match the backs of the mirrors to the original color. This was made easier because my car is black and "universal black" was a good match. With 2000 grit sanding and hand buffing with rubbing compound, they came out looking fine. I suppose you could leave the black plastic backs unpainted too.
The rubber cap is still available from MB (1248110161 left, 1248110461, right) but the price keeps escalating. The driver's side part is now $261.80
A Hagus OES mirror assembly is available from FCP EURO (part #1248107716) for $192.44. But, you would have to disassemble your mirror to swap the painted cover piece.
Poking around for alternatives, I found the Kool Vue MZ12ER-PLK "OE comparable" mirror set online. The best price was at autopartswarehouse.com at $110 for the pair and free shipping. With an online coupon, the price worked out to about $50 per mirror. The picture on the website shows two square mirrors, but the parts you get are actually the proper rectangular driver's side and the square passenger's side mirrors.
I was skeptical about what "OE comparable" really meant (particularly given the price), but ordered them anyway. When they arrived, I compared them to the OE mirrors on my car. I was impressed with the quality of these Made in Taiwan replacement mirrors.
Other than some raised lettering on the back of the driver's side mirror and slightly less robust prongs on the 5-pin plug on the driver's mirror, the parts seem to me to be pretty much indistinguishable. They are power driven and heated. The mirror glass even has the OE blue tint.
I couldn't figure out if you can swap your existing painted covers and decided not to try. I masked the mirrors and used rattle can auto parts store paint and clear coat to match the backs of the mirrors to the original color. This was made easier because my car is black and "universal black" was a good match. With 2000 grit sanding and hand buffing with rubbing compound, they came out looking fine. I suppose you could leave the black plastic backs unpainted too.
Last edited by CCMcC; May 3, 2014 at 02:24 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 2,494
Likes: 17
From: REHOBOTH BEACH DE
88-300CE TWIN TURBO, 99-C43, 05-G55K, 71-280SL, 94-E320 CAB, 08 CLK63 BLACK SERIES
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,968
Likes: 3
1990 300ce 24v I6
These sound amazing for the price. I might finally be able to fix the broken adjustment lever on my driver's side mirror.
Thanks for the tip/heads up guys. I don't know what I'd do without the info you guys gather.
Thanks for the tip/heads up guys. I don't know what I'd do without the info you guys gather.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,506
Likes: 130
From: Bolingbrook Illinois
1999 C43 Amg
Had to remove it and use the oem clip from the old mirror.
Btw, I used my old oem housing not the one that came with the glass/mirror.
