WTF,some kind of Lube inside the roof mount rear view mirror?

[compress ignite]

I've got the ashtray and console wood removed,driving myself into Gauge-itis...
AND I notice it looks like someone has been dropping little pieces of irregular
shaped black plastic (Coated with some kind of semi sticky lubricant like goo)
onto the console.I look up and the rear view mirror adjustment tab is gone and
parts are hanging out.I touch the mirror and springs and metallic loops fall out.
There is also the same substance on the mirror mount.

("Mercedes slimed by Aliens,while it in the Garage?")

Whatever this stuff is Anti-Bacterial soap doesn't completely remove it,But
91% Isopropyl will.

Information?

[compress ignite]

For Answer

[pmari]

Auto dim or manual?

Auto dim would be a goop leak. There is a film of "stuff" that is darkened when the light sensor sends current to it. Mercedes had a bunch of mirrors in the 90's supplied to them that were defective and ethier leaked or became obscurred with "lava lamp bubbles".

Manual would be the glue that holds the mirror to the front of the frame. Usually the older mirrors have a hardened brownish to black glue ooze around the bottom outer frame on the mirror that leaks, hardens and looks crappy. Splitting the frame case and scraping the glass with a razor makes a big difference in the interior appearence.

[Chadahar]

Factory lube for the dimmer flipper is my best guess. There is also lube on the spring that holds the mirror into the mtg in the ceiling. FYI

[compress ignite]

This mirror is not auto-dim(since it Had a dim tab on the bottom),
But it is Toast!
The bottom interface at the Mirror surface does have the Brown "ooze".

My original concern was the clear "Goo" was some kind of "Plastico Eating"
chemical ,which when not contained by the mirror casing would have leaked
out and eaten the mirror backing(AND then dripped down onto the Zebrano
wood console and had it's way with it!).That's why I was SO Happy to have
discovered this situation when the wood was not in residence!

babymog posted this which will aid in R+R:
W124 Headliner Replacement Photos

[pmari]

If the mirror has been out of the mount before it's eaiser to remove. I prefer to stand outside the car(drivers side, since I'm a rightie)) grabbing mostly the stalk towards the bottom and pulling sideways(with a locked elbow) gently forcing the passenger side of the spring down and out of the mount in a very controlled way. Shoving it toward the windshield might be risky for some

The hanger trick looks neat but I'd probably scratch something with it. If you place the mirror in a freezer for a 1/2 hour, it makes installing into the mount eaiser, using the cold to compress the spring a bit.

[pawoSD]

That is one technology-loaded mirror! Two lights....microphones?...auto dim....garage buttons? Wow. Same dome light assembly as my 1990 300E though....same interior color too.

[pmari]

I can't remember what it came out of..I think a 06 or 07 ML? Got it on ebay for 25.00 Here's the mod....using a w140 interior mount with a w124 stalk and ball SEM painted. I also added the toggles for the map lights. Look closely and it also has a LED mood light that splashes the console.

The original mount from the ML and the W124 stalk with W140 interior mirror mount



W124 stalk with the W140 interior mounting plate in the ML mirror


You can see where I drilled the stalk to run the wires. Still black and not SEM painted.


Mood light LED in the middle, no toggles yet.

[pawoSD]

Wow, that's pretty sweet! I'm tempted to try that on my W126!