Driver Side Mirror Oil Stain
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 40
Likes: 3
From: San Diego, California
1998 E320 Wagon 253K miles
Driver Side Mirror Oil Stain
My driver side mirror glass reflection gradually grew cloudier, from top of glass downward.
When the mirror fails, the oil inside that is used for heating the mirror glass can leak after a rainshower, or after hose-washing your car.
NOT GOOD!
This oil dripped down a long thin line down the side of my door.
This stuff is as bad or worse than sap or road tar.
Not to fear. After reading online about various methods to remove gunk from body paint, I figured I would try WD-40 and a microfiber towel.
It works! It doesn't come off right away, not by a long-shot. It took me about 20 minutes and a couple dozen sprays to remove the foot-long stain. No harm to paint or clear-coat either.
At very close-up, there is a trace of residue left. I will get a clay bar to get the rest off.
Now I have to figure out how much -- if any -- of this oil is still inside my mirror. Then order a replacement glass, of course.
When the mirror fails, the oil inside that is used for heating the mirror glass can leak after a rainshower, or after hose-washing your car.
NOT GOOD!
This oil dripped down a long thin line down the side of my door.
This stuff is as bad or worse than sap or road tar.
Not to fear. After reading online about various methods to remove gunk from body paint, I figured I would try WD-40 and a microfiber towel.
It works! It doesn't come off right away, not by a long-shot. It took me about 20 minutes and a couple dozen sprays to remove the foot-long stain. No harm to paint or clear-coat either.
At very close-up, there is a trace of residue left. I will get a clay bar to get the rest off.
Now I have to figure out how much -- if any -- of this oil is still inside my mirror. Then order a replacement glass, of course.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 301
Likes: 23
1997 E300D
What you call oil is likely the liquid crystal goo that does the auto dimming on the auto dimming mirrors. The mirror glass is actually a silvered glass, a layer of liquid crystal goo, and a cover glass. It is common for the liquid crystal to fail by become rather dark tinted even when you don't want any dimming. If the goo leaks out you should be able to see a horizontal line in the mirror where the top of the goo is. If it has all leaked out, you will not have auto dimming, and the heat might not conduct well to the cover glass, but if you can still see well with the mirror, you are lucky because auto dimming replacement glass is big dollars.
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
88 560 , 02 E320 wagon
Yes ..... that is the dimming liquid crystal oozing out -- need to replace the glass. The facelift mirror is very expensive - that price from AH is very good.
The pre-facelift mirror glass is much cheaper
The pre-facelift mirror glass is much cheaper
