E30 Zone

Hi all, I have just bought some new wing mirror glass for both sides including backing plates, i was hoping to do the job properly rather than just sticking the new glass over the top of the old glass. I was wondering how I get the old glass and maybe even the old backing plate off so that I can install the new ones? Is it just a case of flipping the old glass & backing with a screw driver or do I need to take the whole wing mirror off?

My wing mirrors are electric and the glass & backing plates ive bought were from here:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 577wt_1167

Thanks in advance

Hi, if you look directly under the mirror housing, you will notice a small hole.
Insert a thin screwdriver into this hole and try and move the plastic lug/wheel inside to either left or right. The mirror glass should then come free. Place new glass in and move the lug/wheel in the opposite dircection to lock it in. Tricky first time, but easy when you,ve done it a couple of times.

easy peasy. There's a hole under the mirror, stick a small screwdriver up it and it'll connect with a large plastic wheel. The wheel has indents all the way around it. Push the wheel round (can't remember which way) and it'll release the glass. Keep your wits about you to avoid it falling on the floor and breaking.

When you get the first one off, you'll see the wheel and how it secures the glass in place. Reverse procedure for replacing the glass.

I'm sure it's left to release and right to tighten.

Would you post up your opinions of the quality and fit of these when you're done? Thanks Alex

Brilliant cheers, I will give it a go tomorrow

Hi Alex the quality seems to be average, Im no expert but you can see where the reflective mirror backing meets the glass around the edges and it doesn't seem to be cut 100% properly (backing) but thats only if your looking hard. They should last a few years and for the money they are 'ok'

This wheel inside the wing to release the glass really doesn't want to let go. Will keep trying but it feels like it's going to snap something.

Easier than trying to release the wheel through the hole underneath is to tilt the glass fully up and use a small screwdriver poked in under the glass, where you should just be able to see the teeth on the wheel.

Haha, I did that first but its really stiff, ive rotated it both ways but I can hear it creaking and it doesn't want to give. I think it's been on along time and might need a bit more force. Thanks all for the advice!

Follow Mr Moore's advice, it's useful to see the line of the screwdriver.

Someone's probably glued it on - the wheels that turn to release it are plastic so it won't be rust. If the glass is fecked and you can't see what you are doing, snap a section off carefully and you'll get in behind it to see what's going on (assuming you've got replacement glass).

Try a shot of WD40 / RP7 behind the mirror and leave it for an hour. Should free up and gung and lubricate that area

http://e30.bmwdiy.info/mirror-repair/index.html

........just what has been said already but with pictures Thank's again everyone