Wing mirror glass

[FinalD]

Potentially very stupid question....how do I remove the glass?

Current ones on the cab are rubbish, the glass is failing and so I need to replace them. I took some off the touring at the weekend that are lovely but the whole unit not just the glass. Whilst I could fit them to the cab as-is, they are in fact black casings (almost blue in some lights, I like the colour) which would look very silly on the lachsilber cab. :p

So how do I remove the glass from the unit without sending shards around the living room or into my hands/face?

On the E36 it just levered/popped out but I don't want to force either unit ('new' or 'old').

[daimlerman]

Wing mirrors?

E30's came with DOOR mirrors!
Glass on these is easy to remove once you understand how.

Tilt the glass upwards as far as possible,this lets you see into the casing at the bottom edge.
Insert a small,flat-bladed screwdriver into the casing via the hole on the casing's bottom... ...
You are looking to engage a serated locking ring,this moves to one side,allowing the mirror to drop out of the casing.

Note;
I cannot remember(it's me age)which way the locking ring turns to release,but I suspect that it is anti-clockwise.
The mirror,once the lock has been released,will be initially reluctant to leave it's home,and will need a little gentle help at a lower corner.

[FinalD]

I can see the rear WING in my DOOR mirrors!

I'll have a go at your instructions, not as simple as I'd hoped/expected then (or my E36 ones were broken).

[FinalD]

Ooooooh...just done one, easier than I'd hoped, flicked to the right on the driver's side one and it popped out.

After I'd done that I spotted that on the underside of the casing is a hole right for where the locking ring is, stick a screwdriver in the hole and you can remove the glass like that.

E: I'll get some pics

[daimlerman]

It's one of those lovely design touches on E30,difficult to see just how to get the glass out until one discover's the secret,then it is so obvious.

I'll be honest,I had to break a mirror before I discovered the correct way,but I did make sure that it was both a tatty housing and a damaged glass!

Whilst on the subject,the motor unit is just held by the screws revealed when the glass is removed,on the reverse,the wiring plugs in and the terminals are marked for the colours.The motor unit,if bust,can be regarded as not DIYable to repair.

[FinalD]

I'm glad I did ask about removing them as I would have snapped the mirror glass if I'd tried prising it out from the unit...anyway, pictures...



How to remove E30 mirror glass (this may only apply to facelift cars)

Tools you'll need: Small flat bladed screwdriver.
and if you're removing the unit, and 8mm socket/spanner to remove the unit

First, get your mirror (on or off the car):





Next, you need to locate the hole in the underside of the casing, it is in right about the middle of the mirror unit.





If you look into this hole (you might need a torch) you should see a little grey/white tab (just about see it in my picture above). If you don't see the tab, you'll need to level off the glass (press it in at the lower edge gently). Insert the screwdriver into this hole and onto the tab.





Gently prise it to the tip to the right (handle to the left) and it'll click/pop.





Once popped, push the top of the mirror into the casing and it'll come away from the back of the casing.







This is the back of the mirror and shows how the glass attaches to the casing, it is currently set to 'locked'.




Here is the picture of it 'unlocked'.




Simple enough design really and works nicely. Refitting is the reverse of removal to be honest. Place the glass back in, slide the tab to the left and you're all set.

[gooner1]

Good post D and it applies to both pre and post model mirrors.

[Grrrmachine]

Just stumbled across this for my own needs, and immediately Wikified it

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... rror_Glass

[Brianmoooore]

I find it easier to tilt the mirror fully up, so that you can just see the white teeth then insert the screwdriver between bottom edge of the glass and the housing, rather than levering through the hole, although you need to be careful not to damage the paint on the frame.
When refitting a mirror glass, be sure to turn the ring so that the little dimples on the ring lock into place, otherwise your new glass will last about three to five miles before it drops off.
If you fancy fitting heated glass, it's an easy mod. to do. You just need two short pieces of wire with miniature lucar connectors on them - door tweeter wires from a scrapper - and connect them to the black and brown wires behind the mirror motor assembly.