When you call back be polite,, but let him know about good old evil AmericanPie who worked out Taillight recall. Mirror will be next - Likely under contract with Mercedes his company will have to eat all the cost
Hmmmmm....another project for me I see
(It's in the works boys and girls)
__________________
"The true delight is in the finding out, rather than in the knowing." - Isaac Asimov
'99 SLK230 Sport
'00 ML320
'95 BMW 525iA (RIP)
'99 Honda Passport
I was very confused by the directions. I kept trying to PRY it off IE: stick the screw driver in and twist it. Everyone kept saying twist it. I thought they meant twist the screw driver!
I hope this helps the next person. Now I must glue all of my metal tabs back onto the head liner because they came off when I took that mirrors off and pulled that section out.
Ok when you look at the NEW mirror it has a clip so one would think you are trying to twist it to POP one side of the clip OFF um NO! this is not what you are trying to do.
Think of it this way and it makes much more sense you are using the screw driver to turn the base 90 degrees clockwise or counter clockwise there is a solid metal "hook" (hook is used loosly here) this hook looks more like a flat solid metal oval that protrudes out away from the windshield and has two lips that stick out at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock these "catch" the metal clips you see on the base of the new mirror and hook together when you twist it the metal base spreads these two metal clips in the base of the mirror apart and then the base just comes straight off the metal "hook" once it clears the two lips. You only need to twist it 90 degrees.
It is almost like a spring clip that once you twist it it allows the hooks on the window part to come out from behind the metal lips in the mirror base. These lips look more like the tip of a flat head screwdriver. They just lock behind the metal clicp when you twist the mirror base into place.
I amost thought I was ging to break my windshield doing this the other way. I examined the clips again and realized what was going on, took a while though. And putting it back on is a little tricky too.
If you look at the metal hook on the windshield it has a little tab at 12 o'clock this sets into the solid part of the base on the mirror if you notice there is a cast tab sticking out with a curve to it and a small indentation. When you twist it back on you just need to align it properly until this lines up and allows the tab on the window piece to snap into place. (no loud snap but it all lines up) took a couple tries but finnaly figured it all out. You can almost put it back on by hand and in fact I suggest you start that way to line it up right or it will not all fit into place properly. Then once you get it started get your bar and twist it on the rest of the way.
Just remember you are turing it clockwise or counter clockwise not poping it off like a soda can tab or a bear bottle cap ! Your not prying your just turning.
ByByeAmericanPie, I wonder do you have any updates on the mirror replacement issue?
Also, per the previous post, using this discount website, Mercedes Parts Superstore - Mercedes Accessories, Mercedes Parts Dealer, it appears that purchasing an OEM mirror without the auto dimmer is only $26 US Dollars plus shipping, and $127 US Dollars plus shipping for the auto dimmer. This is considerably cheaper then what the stealership parts store quoted me ($75 and $180). That's really not so expensive, although, I am waiting on ByByeAmericanPie to smack some sense into Magna Donnelly to take ownership of their problem.
__________________
1999 SLK 230, Sport Pkg, Auto, Special Order Obsidian Black Metallic, Oyster leather, First met on August 20, 1999
<IMG src=http://home.comcast.net/~dbottoms/douglasslk2.jpg>
ByByeAmericanPie, I wonder do you have any updates on the mirror replacement issue?
Also, per the previous post, using this discount website, Mercedes Parts Superstore - Mercedes Accessories, Mercedes Parts Dealer, it appears that purchasing an OEM mirror without the auto dimmer is only $26 US Dollars plus shipping, and $127 US Dollars plus shipping for the auto dimmer. This is considerably cheaper then what the stealership parts store quoted me ($75 and $180). That's really not so expensive, although, I am waiting on ByByeAmericanPie to smack some sense into Magna Donnelly to take ownership of their problem.
I bought the non auto dim replacement MB mirror. Does anyone have pictures to graphically describe the installation process?
I was very confused by the directions. I kept trying to PRY it off IE: stick the screw driver in and twist it. Everyone kept saying twist it. I thought they meant twist the screw driver!
I hope this helps the next person. Now I must glue all of my metal tabs back onto the head liner because they came off when I took that mirrors off and pulled that section out.
Ok when you look at the NEW mirror it has a clip so one would think you are trying to twist it to POP one side of the clip OFF um NO! this is not what you are trying to do.
Think of it this way and it makes much more sense you are using the screw driver to turn the base 90 degrees clockwise or counter clockwise there is a solid metal "hook" (hook is used loosly here) this hook looks more like a flat solid metal oval that protrudes out away from the windshield and has two lips that stick out at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock these "catch" the metal clips you see on the base of the new mirror and hook together when you twist it the metal base spreads these two metal clips in the base of the mirror apart and then the base just comes straight off the metal "hook" once it clears the two lips. You only need to twist it 90 degrees.
It is almost like a spring clip that once you twist it it allows the hooks on the window part to come out from behind the metal lips in the mirror base. These lips look more like the tip of a flat head screwdriver. They just lock behind the metal clicp when you twist the mirror base into place.
I amost thought I was ging to break my windshield doing this the other way. I examined the clips again and realized what was going on, took a while though. And putting it back on is a little tricky too.
If you look at the metal hook on the windshield it has a little tab at 12 o'clock this sets into the solid part of the base on the mirror if you notice there is a cast tab sticking out with a curve to it and a small indentation. When you twist it back on you just need to align it properly until this lines up and allows the tab on the window piece to snap into place. (no loud snap but it all lines up) took a couple tries but finnaly figured it all out. You can almost put it back on by hand and in fact I suggest you start that way to line it up right or it will not all fit into place properly. Then once you get it started get your bar and twist it on the rest of the way.
Just remember you are turing it clockwise or counter clockwise not poping it off like a soda can tab or a bear bottle cap ! Your not prying your just turning.
do you have any diagrams or pictures to help me get the old mirror off. I bought the benz replacement mirror with the toggle switch bottom. It appears to have the same mount as the auto dim but I do not know how to get it off.
i couldnt find the inside mirror on the site. they do have outside glass i need, but it might not be the convex style that i would prefer. can you locate that inside one for me? thanks!
ByByeAmericanPie, I wonder do you have any updates on the mirror replacement issue?
Also, per the previous post, using this discount website, Mercedes Parts Superstore - Mercedes Accessories, Mercedes Parts Dealer, it appears that purchasing an OEM mirror without the auto dimmer is only $26 US Dollars plus shipping, and $127 US Dollars plus shipping for the auto dimmer. This is considerably cheaper then what the stealership parts store quoted me ($75 and $180). That's really not so expensive, although, I am waiting on ByByeAmericanPie to smack some sense into Magna Donnelly to take ownership of their problem.
At present the complaint is still active under the ID number 10235333. The more complaints that are posted, the better chance we have of getting this thing seriously looked at. The complaint should state that the failure of the mirror has no manual backup and causes the driver to be blinded by rear approaching vehicle headlights, creating the necessity of moving the mirror so the driver has no rear vision at night.
Here is a copy of the existing complaint:
Make : MERCEDES BENZ Model : SLK230 Year : 1999
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Crash : No Fire : No Number of Injuries: 0
ODI ID Number : 10235333 Number of Deaths: 0
Date of Failure: July 11, 2008
VIN : WDBKK47F5XF...
Component: VISIBILITY
Summary:
VEHICLE TYPE IS 1999 MERCEDES BENZ SLK230 (R170 MODEL). THE INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS AN ELECTROCHROMIC SELF DIMMING MIRROR THAT HAS NO MANUAL BACKUP. THE MIRRORS FAIL LOSING THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE DIMMING AGAINST REAR APPROACHING HEADLIGHTS CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EITHER BE BLINDED OR TO HAVE TO TURN THE MIRROR UP AND HAVE NO REAR VIEW CAPABILITY. I KNOW OF MANY DOCUMENTED CASES OF THESE MIRRORS FAILING INCLUDING MY OWN. SOME FAIL BY JUST QUITTING WORKING WHILE OTHERS LEAK THE INTERNAL FLUID. *TR
Go to the NHTSA website and file the complaint under the Vehicle category, subcategory Visibility.
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Thank God!!
LOL
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