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Removing Door Mirror Glass?
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 7:57 am
by Bilko
Has anyone got any tips on how to remove/replace the glass in door mirrors?
Don't want to break it out if there is a better way.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 8:16 am
by autofetish
Glue a new Mirror over the top of old

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 8:49 am
by db
The only thing I can think of is to boil it in a pan (when your wife's out) til the glue gives up.
I've not tried it but it might work?
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 9:24 am
by Dave999
is it bonded in or is it popped in?
mine is popped in
the glass is too small for the shell lip by about 1/2 mm
it has a plastic surround that is bigger than the lip of the shell on its outer profile and smaller than the glass in its inner profile
i push the glass back against the spring which takes it out of the inner profile of its plastic frame which usually stays in place round the inside of the shell opening
twist out the plastic frame
and the glass is free to come out
the plastic however gets brittle and nobody makes em anymore
the spring inisde provides pressure to keep glass in at one end and pressure on the ball and socket for the mount onto the mirror stem at the other
mine is an aussie mirror.
to re assemble glas in first
forec in frame
jiggle about for hours until its fits
Dave
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 9:30 am
by Dave-R
It's bonded. If it is the drivers side remote adjustable one that's broken you have your work cut out.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 12:41 pm
by Bilko
Dave wrote:It's bonded. If it is the drivers side remote adjustable one that's broken you have your work cut out.
It's both mirrors Dave. Not broken but glass but is 'cloudy' for some reason. I think new glass over old might be the way to go.
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 1:55 pm
by Dave81
Bilko wrote:Dave wrote:It's bonded. If it is the drivers side remote adjustable one that's broken you have your work cut out.
It's both mirrors Dave. Not broken but glass but is 'cloudy' for some reason. I think new glass over old might be the way to go.
Have you tried some oribital buffing complete with a very light cutting compound!
I'm sure I've seen someone do this on a mirror and it removes clouding!!?

Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 2:02 pm
by Dave81
Dave81 wrote:Bilko wrote:Dave wrote:It's bonded. If it is the drivers side remote adjustable one that's broken you have your work cut out.
It's both mirrors Dave. Not broken but glass but is 'cloudy' for some reason. I think new glass over old might be the way to go.
Have you tried some oribital buffing complete with a very light cutting compound!
I'm sure I've seen someone do this on a mirror and it removes clouding!!?

Have your tried white vinegar and scrunched up newspaper first...........?
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 15 2:47 pm
by Dave-R
Bilko wrote:Dave wrote:It's bonded. If it is the drivers side remote adjustable one that's broken you have your work cut out.
It's both mirrors Dave. Not broken but glass but is 'cloudy' for some reason. I think new glass over old might be the way to go.
If it is on the surface of the glass it will polish off. I would get the brasso out.
But if it is the silvering on the reverse oxidising then new glass is the only way to go.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 15 11:26 am
by MrNorm
Heat is usually recommended when I've seen this question asked. I did my passenger side with a heat gun OK with this method. But I couldn't do the drivers side, in the end I broke the glass to get it out. But if it's knackered I guess that shouldn't really be an issue.
The glass is held on to the metal backing plate with four spots of black adhesive. Trouble is the metal has a lip all around the edge which makes it VERY difficult to get something underneath it, like a flat blade or a wire to cut the adhesive (like when doing a windscreen). I tried that with limited success
Personally I wouldn't bond new over the old glass - honestly I think it would look a bit naff.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 15 12:51 pm
by Dave-R
Yeah Gavin is right. I never figured out how to do the drivers side at all. Looked a nightmare.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 15 3:21 pm
by Prothed
How about using a heat gun, then using a small suction cup (the type used for pulling dents out of body panels) to get the glass off???
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 15 4:58 pm
by Bilko
I've given the glass a good clean and it's a bit better so might leave it be. Loads of micro scratches but these can't be see from a distance.
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 15 5:08 pm
by Mossy68
Bilko wrote:I've given the glass a good clean and it's a bit better so might leave it be. Loads of micro scratches but these can't be see from a distance.
As Dave 81 said. Buffing the glass with cutting compound and an orbital /DA will bring it up a treat.
My plastic lenses on the Jeep were cloudy. My brother buffed them to like new !

Posted: Mon Jan 26, 15 8:03 pm
by Bilko
Decided to try something I read online and soaked the mirror in Goo Gone and left overnight. Had a look tonight and the glass popped out easily in one piece! Straightforward swap for new glass now as the silvering has gone on the old one and I can now tighten up the mirror as it had become 'floppy'.