Broken wing mirror mechanism

Eggy101uk

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Made a mistake the other day, went through an automated car wash. Never used one before but was in a rush and car was absolutely filthy as it had been parked under a tree for two weeks. Any way, I didn't realise I had to fold my electric mirrors in and as I went through..... Crack. I looked when I got out and one of the gear wheels used to fold the mirrors in and out has snapped. I can't see wether it is the wheel or the mounting point broken but now when I drive down the road, the wind starts to blow my mirror in. Does anyone know if this is easy to fix myself or if I will need to take it to a dealer, mercedes or otherwise. If so how much would it cost roughly? Thanks in advance
 

television

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Bad luck,, no parts on these mirrors and best bought from a breaker, you can use your existing covers.
 

brandwooddixon

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You may find that it is the motor housing that has broken.

Check out the various threads detailing how to remove the outer casing and gain access to the mirror innards.

I had to repair the motor housing on my drivers side mirror, after the paperboy fell against it in the snow over the winter.

The motor housing is plastic, but after stripping it out and careful application of some glue along the break and resin putty to strengthen the area around it, it is now working
perfectly. I just had to shave the putty back a bit, once it had set, so that it cleared the hinge mechanism.
 
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Eggy101uk

Eggy101uk

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Thanks guys, I'll check the threads and see if I can't get the mirror off for a better look. :)
 

television

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The door liner has to come off to remove the mirror complete, you can take the cover off, if you need any instructions I can send them all
 

brandwooddixon

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Yes the door card has to be removed in order to disconnect the main electrical loom for the mirror.

Other than that all repairs can be performed with the electrical connections in situe, without recourse to removal of the door card, as all mechanical pieces can be removed externally.
 
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Eggy101uk

Eggy101uk

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Television, I think you send me the door card removal instructions before for another job I did, should have them still. Will check and make sure. Thanks guys
 

television

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If you want the mirror paper just ask:D
 

Henri

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Hi! I'm bumping this thread specifically for help from Mr. Television who appears to have some valuable information! :D

I too went through the bloomin' car wash without folding in my mirrors :( 'Clunk', mirror was then folded in..! But also, electric mechanism bust, wing mirror loose.

I'm unsure, after peering inside, if anything has snapped/broken, or if it's just been forced out of place.

I need to be able to take it off and inspect properly.. Repair if possible or worst case find another on eBay! Television, please could you assist me in this if you have instructions for the door card removal/mirror assembly? I'd be reallŷ grateful. This car was mint before my error and I'd live to be able to make it right!!
 

television

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Normally for this problem, just pull the mirror out, then operate the mirror switch one way or the other till the drive engages, it should re engage, it may take a little run time of the mirror switch.
 

Henri

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Hmm, how do you mean exactly? When I peer inside it doesn't look exactly the same as the driver's side, I can see a cog which if the mirror is folded in towards the car doesn't move but which I can wiggle when the mirror is sitting normally - it is however a bit loose now, there is a 5mm gap between the rubber seal and the casing ..
 

Henri

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Do you mean hold the securely in the 'out' position and run the motor?
 

television

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You could just run the mirror motor to the closed position and it could pick up the drive, or pull the mirror back out. They have a safety clutch that operates when this kind of thing happens, they could get knocked in by someone walking past the car.
 
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Henri

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I've just been out to the car and ran the motor folding in and out whilst holding the mirror in the out position then again while holding it folded into the door. You can hear the little cog whirring for the duration which is a good sign but nothing caught! It's more like a 1cm floppy gap as well
 

television

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Pull it back out and try, it should pick up, you must try the switch in both directions.
 

Henri

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Sorry I'm being slow but I don't know what you mean by pull it out - are you thinking it is sat in the closed position - this is how it currently sits, albeit a little slack and not firm, with. 1cm gap between rubber seal and the cover -
rk4fp1.jpg
 

television

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Once again the drive normally picks up and engages, yes I can see now it is almost open position. if the drive does not pick it up then perhaps something is broken, but most unusual, I have caught one of my mirrors the odd time on the garage door, and I either pull it back or run the folding motor
 

brandwooddixon

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I've had to repair the drive mechanism on both of my mirrors now.

You'll have to remove the mirror casing in order to determine exactly what is wrong.

There are threads on here on what to do.

Basically there is a sprung catch that holds the casing onto the mirror mechanism. A medium sized, flat bladed screwdriver will be needed to depress it. It's normally visible behind the mirror glass (on mine it's towards the top and outer edge).

For mine I push the bottom of the mirror glass in as far as it will go so that I can access the catch behind the mirror towards the inside surface of the casing. It's quite stiff and use of a torch may help to see it, but depress it and pull the casing away from the door (you're aiming to slide it off the mechanism). You may need to push the edge of the mirror closest to the door in in order to give clearance.

Once off you will see all of the mechanism parts, including the drive gears.

When mine have broken in the past it was the plastic housing of the drive mechanism that had cracked around the area where the drive gear exits the motor casing at the bottom to drive the main toothed lever of the folding mechanism.

It is possible to remove the motor and housing, with care, without having to remove the door card. Just remember where everything is (pictures help if you have a memory like mine).

To get to the motor I recollect having to disconnect the remove the mirror glass, disconnect the electrical connections if its heated; remove the hinge protection plate (torx bits required as it holds the mirror to the door); remove the wiring from where it wraps around the mechanism; remove the mirror glass tilt motor; unhitch the big spring; unscrew the holding screw for the motor.

The motor housing can be dismantled if required and once cleaned of grease I glued mine with a little araldite and then used some epoxy putty around the outside of the housing where it had split to reinforce it.

On reassembly you may need to trim the putty back so that the main mechanism clears it.
 

Henri

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Thanks! I have run the motor both directions with the mirror pushed in and pulled out... Nothing catches. I will try to take the plastic cover off and see what's what. :)
 

Arzaam

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dear television, my passenger motor was also weak, and although its going by using your suggestion of PTFE spray but i would still like to replace it in the future, could you please send me instructions to remove the door card on my w203

thanks!

by the way i also once knocked on the mirror while removing cover and it disengage and got loose, when i ran the retracting mechanism in and then out it reengaged and locked
 
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