Why are my door mirrors different??

[B1ondini]

Hi all,

I have a 1995 W124 E220 estate and have a question, which I'm hoping one of you people out there can answer.

Now, I know that everything is designed precisely on Merc's, so was wondering why the drivers door mirror is a rectangular one where as the passenger mirror is a square one?

At first I thought that it had maybe had one fitted from another car following an accident, but I have seen others like this also.

Any suggestions?

Over to you!

Cheers,

Scott.

 

[television]

My first thought is, all the better to see you with,and who is overtaking you

Malcolm

 

[malcolm E53 AMG]

Standard supply on 124s. My 124 also had a nice round additional mirror fixed to the drivers side mirror for viewing the blind spot, never knew whether that was standard but it looked it.

 

[Bolide]

Different mirrors

If you look at them closely you'll see that one is short & stubby and one is long and thin. And you'll also see that they're the wrong way round for the UK. If it was a LHD drive car it'd work correctly...

The path length from the eye to the mirror is different for the passenger side & the driver's side, because you don't sit in the center of the car, therefore the dimension of the mirror would need to be different each side to get the desired viewed area. I think someone very clever at Mercedes worked this out & calculated the optimum size for the mirrors. And so the mirrors were made that size, and that shape. Of course they're heated, too

Did the contemporary Ford Cortina have such care & attention? Er, no

This is just one example of what I love about these old bangers


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Chazchuzzlewitt]

Are they the wrong way round for the UK Nick? My US LHD car had the long mirror on the driver's side and short on offside. So I guess everyone, even the Germans have it the wrong way 'round! The fact that they don't fold in for city parking is slightly annoying.

The different shaped mirrors are quite a conversation piece for people when they get in the car for the first time, that and the mono-wiper.

And not so much of the old banger!

 

[tom7035]

Mono wiper.

On the subject of the mono wiper, the first time my good lady got into my MB I remarked on the one wiper. "You'll be able to pick up another one though won't you?" Yeh, I said. Bless her!

 

[Bolide]

LHD mirrors

Well if the LHD cars are the other way round I've got my sums wrong... again!

Mine's not outside at the moment for me to check - it's having a frontspringoplasty and a radical balljointectomy

Front ball joints only lasted 208,000 miles and they cost £12 each. Expensive cars, these W124s!


Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[andy_k]

I figured that the deeper mirror on the passenger side gave a better field of view for parking etc as it gives a view down the whole side of the car whilst the wider mirror on the drivers side worked better for overtaking or general driving as it offers a wider field of vision.

Andy

 

[kth286]

Yes - they are changed for the Uk market, which means they are different sides to continental cars.

Regards

 

[clive williams]

My LHD car has the small rectangular one on the drivers side LHS and I've found that the size and shape are suitable for the field of vision thats generally required and therefore makes sense. "Form follows function".

Clive

500E
E320CDIT210

 

[rollsroyce]

the 190e cossie has different sizes mirrors also

 

[londonmc]

Has anyone got the part number for the Passenger Square (Electric) wing mirror on the Left had drive 190D cars, and were i can source 1 from?

Have tried ebay.de already

 

[austria40]

email this guy: sales@wingmirrorman.co.uk

 

[john493]

Mirror cover

Any ideas how to remove the colour-matched cover on a late 190 left hand
door mirror (electrically adjusted) ?

Many thanks,

 

[m47fys]

Any ideas how to remove the colour-matched cover on a late 190 left hand
door mirror (electrically adjusted) ?

Many thanks,

Hi, just seen your question, I had a 190E and now have a w124. The electric mirrors were the same. I have taken the covers off the w124 in a vain attempt to fix it. Like the mirror on the 190 the mirror on the w124 (passenger side again) would only move up and down. The motor worked in and out but would not move the mirror. The upshot was that I could not get access to the guts of the thing to fix it, solution has been to find a replacement at the scrappy's. Taking the covers off requires the removal of the mirror from the door and lots of messing about with small thin screwdrivers and assorted blades. Unfortunatley I damaged a few of the locking tabs but managed to get it all back together.

 

[jibcl500]

On the subject of the mono wiper, the first time my good lady got into my MB I remarked on the one wiper. "You'll be able to pick up another one though won't you?" Yeh, I said. Bless her!

My wife commented ont he 124 wiper and said "why doesnt my car have one like that" my reply was "its an A class"

jib

 

[wireman]

Also the passenger mirror deos not stick out into the footpath when parked the legal way round.
The drivers side mirror is flat and the passenger side is convex.
Dont use glass polish on the mirrors, they are surface silvered and you will cut through it instantly with polish, anybody know where I can get a fresh LH glass at a sensible price from?

 

[wireman]

To get a complete mirror assy try GSF, www.gsfcarparts.com

 

[The German Flower Pot]

i hate it and if i could be botherd id buy a LHD mirror and change them