Loose side mirror

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635sharknose
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Loose side mirror

Post by 635sharknose »

Guys, all was good yesterday and today all of a sudden my side mirror is loose. It was a bit loose before a short ride today and after a ride it became extreme loose (see video).
How could I fix this in the best way without breaking stuff?
Thanks!

https://youtu.be/t7xXPFtTqZs
Paul
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bpoliakoff
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by bpoliakoff »

Hard to tell from your video. Loose from the body or loose on the pivot?
81 Euro 635 M90 with motronic. Currently under a complete nut and bolt restoration. Pictures at
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635sharknose
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by 635sharknose »

Thanks for your reply Bert.
I'm not sure, it looks like it is loose on the top.
I would assume I would have to get in there through the mirror itself by taking out the glass.

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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by Pod »

There is a plastic cap on the underside which you can remove. This will expose the pivot which is hollow with wiring running through it. You can possibly tighten this up as it is threaded. Best if you remove the triangular internal blanking piece on the inside of the door and remove the three screws holding the mirror assembly on. It will be easier to work on when off the car.
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by 635sharknose »

Thanks, I did remove the cap and see the pivot. I am a bit scared to damage the wires though.
I will take the mirror off the car to try.
Thanks.
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Sbeaud
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by Sbeaud »

Had the same problem on my 88 M6. I removed the mirror and tried to use a large screwdriver to rotate the male threaded portion into the upper housing (without damaging the wires). I rotated is quite a bit but could not get it secured. I assumed the female threads on the mirror housing were stripped. I ended up buying a replacement on ebay. Luck of the century when I found a matching red working mirror for $70 from a wrecking yard website. Just bolted it on and I was set.
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by bpoliakoff »

+1 to the above. Can it and get an other mirror. They aren't hard to find on Ebay and worst case you will have to have it painted
81 Euro 635 M90 with motronic. Currently under a complete nut and bolt restoration. Pictures at
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635sharknose
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by 635sharknose »

Thanks, that is exactly what I am facing now. I rotated the bolt as well but no luck.
Before buying another one I want to give it a try to fix it.
Anybody knows how to remove the mirror glass without damaging it?
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by jps635 »

See below, posts from Brucey and Ron

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4875&p=33163&hilit= ... ass#p33163

I did this a few years ago. You have to be a bit brutal and careful at the same time. I used a putty knife. Be careful not to damage the rubber boot. You'll need a good glue that can handle vibration for bonding the glass back on - not anything that goes brittle. Once back together, and to have confidence the glue was good, I drove around for a couple weeks with some self adhesive foam strip around the inside of the housing to prevent the glass falling out should the glue fail. This still allowed adjustment.

Once inside you'll see an amazing high tech arrangement of pulleys and string.
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635sharknose
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by 635sharknose »

Thanks! I will give it a try =D>
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by 635sharknose »

I managed to fix it guys. :D

I did not remove the mirror glass. I only opened the small plastic cap between the base and the mirror.
This cap has a very thin edge that you can break with a few moves back and forth. I later mounted it with super glue; it is barely visible.

The problem was that the bolt had come off the base. It’s not possible to push and screw it back because there is a strong spring inside.
An additional disadvantage is that the cables of the mirror adjustment run through the bolt. So you cannot use a suitable Torx key and wrench to compress the spring.
I cut the cables and took them out. With them cut I could remove the 2 section from another and could have a good look at how the system works. It also gave me the opportunity to put a spanner with Torx bit in the bolt to press hard when tightening.
That worked, the mirror was again fixed properly to the base. Then I soldered and extended the wires, pulled them through the bolt and connected them to the plug.
To prevent the bolt from loosening again, I drilled a hole through the bolt and placed a locking screw.

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Opened the small plastic cap between the base and the mirror

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Cables through the bolt

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The spring that pushed the bolt out, you need quite some force to get it back in

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Soldered and extended the wires
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by 86_6series »

When mine unscrewed I was able to screw back in with help from a friend.
He pushed up against the spring with the flat blade screwdriver as I turned it.

Can you show or be more specific on your locking screw fix?
I'd like to do that to mine.

Thanks
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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by 635sharknose »

I didn't make a photo of it and am now not able to access it as I glued back the plastic cap.

The locking screw is where I marked the green cross.
Drilled a hole through the housing and the bolt and tapped M3 thread in it. Then secured it with a small M3 screw.

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Re: Loose side mirror

Post by Sbeaud »

Wow. That is quite the spring. No wonder I couldn't get mine threaded back in to the housing.
1988 M6
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