Hirby

im totally new to the mercedes world (im a huge bimmerhead) so i have absolutely no idea how to work on these cars... so i apologize if i post a braindead question (i posted this in the r230 section as well).

i have 04 sl500 im trying to sell and i want to make it tip top condition before i officially list it. and basically the blinker light on the sidemirror has a crack on the plastic surface and i want to replace it. how would one go about taking off the sidemirror cover to do this?

i already have the new part and it seems you have to take the cover off the sidemirror to do so.

any help is appreciated, thanks

scorchie

You cross-posted and posted more information in this thread. I suggest deleting the thread in the R230 section.

Before you do this, realize it is a huge pain and probably not for someone who isn't able to figure things out. With that said, here are the general steps:

1) remove mirror glass
2) remove mirror adjustment motor (this one is easy)
3) remove the bezel (it screws AND snaps together)
4) remove the indicator light (two screws, again easy)

-s-

Hirby

thanks for the reply. how exactly do you remove the mirror glass? this is the first thing i'd be doing to any mercedes. but i am pretty savy with my 2 bmws, so i think i can handle it .

scorchie

Use "search", almost all current models are the same or very similar.

-s-

vinamg

Position mirror (glass) all the way down toward floor and in toward car.
You should be able to see a metal clip inside the housing. Get a flat screwdriver a press on the clip, at the same time pull on the housing. The housing will slide off over mirror. Remove and replace blinker.
To put it back just slide it over mirror and snap into place.

scorchie

You've got to be kidding me.

-s-

bryanm

Try this:

http://www.mercedestechstore.com/cl2...ideosample.htm

scorchie

You've also got to be kidding me.

(With all due respect... he is asking about an R230... not a CL... not an E-class... etc. Although it is the same to take the GLASS off of nearly all the models, the COVER is a completely different story.)

-s-

vinamg

I've done this on a W203, W210, W215, W220. Never done it on a R230, but I don't see why a 230 would be different. My apologies if it is.

None of the models listed above require glass or motor removal. This is a 2 minute job.

scorchie

You may want to look at an R129 (late model) ,R230, R170, R171, W208, W209, and W219, if you can't remember what the mirrors look like; apparently you don't know the difference is quite severe! One look at the mirrors and you should be able to see how different they are. If not... well, I don't know what to say then.

-s-

p.s. your method isn't preferable for the W203 or W210 either. You just need to bend the mirror at its folding point to access the clip. Nor the W215 CL, you need to position the glass UP instead of DOWN.

vinamg

You need to calm down. I am not questioning you knowledge. I already apologized if in fact the R230 mirror doesn't have a clip for removal of mirror housing.

What does the shape of the mirror have to do with whether or not it has a clip for easy removal? None of the models that I mentioned have interchangeable mirrors. In other words they are all different, but still have the same basic setup for housing removal.

FYI, the clip location changed on the W215/W220 from MY2003. This is why I assumed the 03 and up R230 would have the same location.
The video shows the older W215.

I've never done this on any of the coupe models that you mentioned. However, I need to add W202 to my list .

BenzVince

Two question. First, why don't you have the MB dealer fix it since it should be covered underwarranty unless my presumption is that some mishap cracked your side blinker. Secondly, why are you selling it? It's a such a beautiful roadster, i wish I could afford 80 grands on that car.

scorchie

I need to calm down? I don't think so; I'm completely calm, so please don't tell me what I "need" to do. However, I can only recommend that you take a look at ANY of those cars and see how silly it would be to make the suggestions you did.

Again, the W202/W210/W203 clips should not be accessed through the mirror glass area. You should get to those through the area that the mirror sits flush with the body rather than through where the glass is.

-s-

vinamg

I never said that the 202 210 are accessed thru mirror. I know that these are accessed in between body and housing.
My whole point was that none of the models that I mentioned need mirror and motor to be removed in order to access housing.
However, I still don't see your logic of looking at the housing shape and knowing whether or not it has a clip to remove it. Please explain.

bryanm

Sorry, I'm not that familiar with the R230; just trying to help

scorchie

I will try to take a picture for you... in the meantime, just look at any picture of those models that I mentioned. It really should be quite apparent if you just look at the mirrors! Give it a try...

-s-

vinamg

I did, I was about to answer my own question before you replied.
All you had to say is that the mirror housing was separated from the door.

Maybe you should try explaining it next time rather than just replying by "You've got to be kidding me."

scorchie

I'll try that. And maybe next time you should think about what you're posting before you post it. (Especially when the CORRECT answer had already been posted.)

-s-

vinamg

It's interesting that with the exception of some trucks, this mirror design is strictly reserved for convertibles and models that have a convertible variant.

scorchie

Hmm, doesn't seem that interesting... because a similar mirror is on the CLS, and the SLR is completely different but still separate. So you could modify your statement to be... "... exception of some trucks and cars...". Using "exception" and "strictly" diametrically opposed seems to negate the meaning of "strictly"!

The M-class went from that design of mirror to the "other style" in 2002, I believe.

-s-

vinamg

Oops poor choice of words should have read, "found mostly." At least we can agree that they are in the minority 10% or less, but I'm sure we'll see more of this design as it is much sleeker.

Going back to the original post, Hirby did you ever get the lens replaced? I know the mirror removal is not as easy as "remove mirror."

tiggerfink

Hirby,

Give me the last 6 digits of your vin. I was told the lens removal is different from the 2003 and 2004 models. I will post instructions once I get the information.

scorchie

It is different between 2003 and 2004, that's why I posted the 2004 instructions (he says he has a 2004). 2003 requires unclipping the old light, drilling new screwholes, and screwing the new light in.

-s-

tiggerfink

This should work if the last 6 digits of your VIN is higher than 064521.

scorchie

Actually, the instructions right there say it will work if your VIN is higher than 064521, EXCEPT for a Model Year 2003 (sometimes new MYs are made before older MYs).

In most cases, the information is all there in front of you. It is up to the interpreter to make sure all the information is used. Not using the information given to you can cause problems, especially if you take the wrong thing as "the truth".

-s-