How does the w123 rear-view mirror come off?
Do I just push on it hard enough until it
breaks loose like on the w108 cars?

The mirror is "wobbly" and don't know if it
is something I can repair or if I should replace
it. I don't want to force it off if it is not
designed to "pivot" off.

Jeff

__________________
- Jeff

1957 W121 190 (history)
1966 W108 250S
1967 W108 250S (parts)
1982 W123 240D (history)
1989 W124 260E

Jeff,

Simply pull down and back on the mirror, one side at a time. Reinstalling is a bit tricker, but is essentially the reverse of removal, and no tools required.

__________________
Matt
------
1995 E300 Diesel (Die Blau Frau)

It basically has two spring loaded points that lock into some detents. Grab hold of the bracket and give it a mighty tug. Be braced so that you don't fall against something when it lets go. Putting it back in is a little more difficult but you can figure it out. Plan on getting a bit of a workout.

Good luck,

Thanks for the tips. It turns out that it
was like I suspected and it is like my '66
250S's configuration in that you just need
to tug on it to release it.

The only problem I encountered was that
apparently the spring set-up had "frozen"
in place. I tugged and tugged "this way and
that" (occasionally getting a glimpse of my
self in the mirror with sweat forming on my
face). It just would not come off!

I ended up pulling out one of the sheet metal
screws (bare handed, no tools) that hold the
bracket to the roof. At this point I decided
something was not right.

Back to the beginning: The reason I was
trying to remove the mirror was that it was
wobbly. It's a new car (to me) and I'm trying
to sort the problems out.

So after I pulled a screw out of the roof,
I figured that maybe someone had glued the
mirror to the mounting bracket. Then I
started prying between the mirror and the
bracket which was now held in place to the roof
by 2 more sheet metal screws. I was prying with
a thin blade flat screw driver. The tip of the
screw driver broke off.

This was definitely stuck in place pretty good.

There's an old saying that if you're not breaking
tools, that you're not trying hard enough.

I got another screwdriver (HA!) and when I had
a very small gap between the mirror ass'y. and
the bracket, I shot some WD-40 in there.
It came off very easily after that.

I replaced the sheet metal screw and put things
back together and everything is fine.

Looking back, I guess it would make sense to
spray a lubricant in that area if you suspect
that the mirror has never been removed from
an older car BEFORE you start tugging on it.

Another thought:
I ASSuME that the reason it is designed to
"break away" is in case of accident. For example,
if a human head comes in contact with the mirror,
it is not striking a fixed object. In my case,
my head would have had to overcome the sheet
metal screw(s) before it released.

So maybe this is something you could verify on
your cars and you're having an "otherwise slow
day".

Spray some lubricant where the mirror mounts
to the roof and wait a while and then try to
break it loose.

Putting it back is not that bad. I found that
if you get one side in place first, then push
the other side in, it is easier than trying to
push strait up and get both sides in at the
same time.

thanks for the suggestions,

Jeff

__________________
- Jeff

1957 W121 190 (history)
1966 W108 250S
1967 W108 250S (parts)
1982 W123 240D (history)
1989 W124 260E

I was going to suggest applying some WD40 or silicon lube first before attempting to snap it away.

Anyway, in an unlikely event of an accident, the mirror is meant to be secured and not break away too easily lest it becomes a scud missle. And the chances of anyone hitting their heads on it has such a low probability that I wouldn't even worry about it. Might be worth the extra moment to check the most impotant safety device - safety belt tension and elasticity in recoil.

__________________
... Kerry

126 tailed by a 203, 129 leading the pack.