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  #1  
Old 10-19-2006, 10:38 PM
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Rearview mirror removal

I have had problem with my sagging sun visors for quite some time so I finally did a little INTERNET research on how to resolve the problem.

The first step, removal of the review mirror, is where I need a little help.
One set of instructions I found said to grab the mirror with both hands while sitting in the drivers seat and rotate it toward you.

Now I don’t believe the writer wanted me to grab the mirror as much as he wanted me to grab the “J-shaped” bracket the mirror is mounted on and rotate it toward me – here I believe he is suggesting rotating it counter-clockwise.

I tried grabbing the mirror bracket (with the ball at the end on which the actual mirror sits) and rotating it counter-clockwise, but no luck.
I have tried several times and it does not seem to move. Before I try with greater force I want to make sure I am following the correct directions.

Anyone done this?

I know the sagging sun visors are a common problem.
Maybe someone can point me to some more detailed instructions to the whole process of fixing the sun visor problem or at least tell me that I should be grabbing the actual mirror instead of the bracket.
1988 560SL


Last edited by whunter; 06-09-2012 at 05:56 PM. Reason: misspelling in title
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  #2  
Old 10-19-2006, 11:14 PM
Strife's Avatar
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This is hard to explain, I had luck by wiggling it back and forth. WARNING: It may take some force and OBVIOUSLY you do not want to hurt yourself by hitting yourself in the head or by cracking the windshield or breaking the mirror. I would wrap the mirror and hook in a towel and holding the hook, pull on the hook side to side and back but not so that it hits anything when it suddenly lets go. At least one person here broke their windshield in the process of removing/installing the mirror. BE CAREFUL.
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  #3  
Old 10-19-2006, 11:37 PM
t walgamuth's Avatar
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grab it firmly and yank it firmly out. wrap your hand all around the base and the mirror part so you dont just pull on the mirror part. if you cant do it get someone with bigger hands to do it.

tom w
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  #4  
Old 10-20-2006, 12:26 AM
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One more try with a little WD40

This time I sprayed a little WD40 at the base of the mirror bracket and top of the windshield. I wiggled it a little - not much force - and it came right off. Thanks for the encouragement.
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  #5  
Old 10-20-2006, 04:29 PM
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rearview removal procedure & visor tensioning copied from prior posting

Since this is such a common issue, instead of making people find a past set of instructions for fixing sagging visor I copied the instructions into this posting. I do have a couple of suggestions to add. When taking off the mirror WD40 sprayed at the base of where the mirror connects to the top of the windshield proved a great help for me. And on the reassemply side spraying WD40 on the metal points on both sides of the spring before setting the mirror back into the bracked worked wonders.

As for removal of the male visor clip from rod going through the visor it requires that you line up the visor with the bend in the rod and wiggle off the visor from the rod. Here are some instructions:Instructions for repair of 560SL sun visor tongue: 1) Loosen Phillips screw 1 full turn, 2) manipulate visor & rod so that they are pointed in the same direction, 3. Wiggle the visor off the rod just enough as to allow the old "visor clip" to drop out, 4) install new clip, Check to see if the new clip aligns with the "Socket if not it is likely upside down, 5) reverse steps 3, 2, 1

I bought both the male and female visor clips at: www.budsbenz.com

Here is the instructions for getting to the screws to tighten the tensioner screws for the visor clips:

Get about two square inches of fairly thin leather, maybe 1/16"; cut two strips about a half inch wide. (I did not need or use the leather strips - tightening the tensioner screw worked find.)

Tools: Phillips head driver, slotted screwdriver, Xacto or similar knife.

Remove the inside rear view mirror; pull it strongly toward you and it will pop out.
Remove the metal bracket which holds it (3 phillips screws). Keep the screws in their holes in the bracket.
If you have courtesy lights in the windshield header, make sure the power to them is off and pop them out; use a slotted screwdriver to pry the inside edge, toward the center of the car, loose, and carefully free up the light; the bracket for the bulb comes in from the outside edge.
Remove the plastic socket near the center that receives the plastic tab holding the visor in normal position (one phillips screw).
Moving to the lateral end of the header, there's a single phillips screw deep in a hole in the header itself near the mount for the sunvisor. Remove this.
Carefully remove the header on one side only, starting at the center end. It will be stuck into the windshield sealant, and may need a fair amount of careful, fairly gentle prying loose. Don't be afraid of it, but don't apply maximum force.
You've now got the entire sunvisor mounting clip exposed. The small screw MIGHT tighten the mount enough for your needs, but we'll assume it doesn't.
Remove the two larger screws holding the mounting clip to the windshield frame. Note how the wire to the vanity mirror light passes under the visor stem.
Loosen or even remove the small screw that tightens the plain metal retaining clip into the mounting bracket. This will loosen the bracket on the visor stem. It's also held by a rivet, so it won't come apart.
Slide a strip of leather under the metal retaining clip so it lies between the clip and the ball of the retaining stem. If necessary, GENTLY pry the clip away from the bracket to allow this; don't overstress the rivet.
Trim the excess leather with your knife.
Tighten the tensioning screw so it still allows a little motion.
Re-mount the sun visor, making sure that the vanity light wire passes under the visor stem. Tighten the tensioning screw to desired firmness, making sure that you also set the tension on the visor-to-rod screw found on the visor itself near the lateral edge. You want the visor on its rod to stay in place well, but to move with less force than it takes to move the rod in the mount. You also want the mounting bracket tension to hold the visor well in place in any position; you should be able to put the visor anywhere and have it stay firmly without support, as when you need to swing it out to the side window to block sun from the side.
Replace the windshield header trim. Insert the lateral end into place and adjust the wire. If you left one side in place, it will help as you'll know exactly when you've got it fully seated laterally and the center end fits into place.
Replace the single lateral screw, the light and the plastic retaining clip socket.
Repeat for the other side.
When you're finally done, replace the mirror socket with its three screws.
Replacing the mirror in the socket is the hardest part of the whole procedure. I wound up using a padded segment of 1x1 wood stock and a rubber mallet.
Good luck!
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  #6  
Old 10-20-2006, 09:45 PM
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1729ers, I wrote the old post you quoted; glad it was helpful. I was never bright enough to think of the WD40 for the mirror spring fitting--it probably would have obviated the need for the 1x1 and the mallet!
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  #7  
Old 07-14-2007, 06:45 AM
tivoliman's Avatar
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Unhappy Fantastic Information but - Tell me again how you actually did it.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1729ers View Post
Remove the inside rear view mirror; pull it strongly toward you and it will pop out.

Good luck!
Great information!!!! I've read the same thing elsewhere.

I have pulled and pulled (tugged and tugged), but the mirror has remained in place...

Dismantling the 190E, I'd like to use the mirror in the 300R. So need to remove both and reinstall one.

Please tell me again - how do you pull that mirror off? Do you remove the actual mirror and just pull the spine?

I've pulled, tied rope to it pulled again from the back seat. It seems "looser" but not removed.

Thank you very much.

I may not be Mr. Muscle, but I am a healthy capable (desk worker) strong man.


Other threads have said to do the same thing -
Rear view mirrow replacement (W123)
Review mirror removal
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Thanks for the help
Bill Fisher

'86 560SL (186K) - Now a 'classic' : Registered as an Historic Vehicle
02 E430 in the stable
'14 LS460 (Lexus)
- - - - -
'95 E420 (198K) found a new home
'99 E320 (80K) (gave it's life for me as we hit a bumper)
'95 E420 (231K) Sold to a happy buyer, new to Mercedes
'90 300E (65K) Sold to an Mercedes Lover
'92 190E (215K) - retired to the salvage yard
'93 500SEL (214K) - Moved to another family, still runs like a young pup
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  #8  
Old 07-14-2007, 08:58 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tivoliman View Post
Please tell me again - how do you pull that mirror off? Do you remove the actual mirror and just pull the spine?

I've pulled, tied rope to it pulled again from the back seat. It seems "looser" but not removed.
It doesn't need anything like that kind of force. If yours does, there may be something more going on - like a PO that used glue or something.

The mirror has two spring loaded pins. The base that screws into the the windshield post has little recesses where those pins sit. When you put the mirror on, you just wedge one of the pins under the base and pivot it up to pop the other one in place. Removal should just be the reverse of that.

Yours is obviously stuck, but rather than tying a rope, etc., which is putting strain on the base and screws holding it into the windshield post, and could wind up deforming the windshield frame and possibly cracking your windshield, use a large flat blade screwdriver to pry under the mirror mount and separate the two pieces. The pins are located in the middle of the mirror. Focus your effort on the side of the mirror.

I'll go take a picture of my detached mirror and post it and hopefully that will make this more clear.

This is the bottom of the detached mirror.


And this is the base.
Attached Thumbnails
Review mirror removal-mirror.jpg   Review mirror removal-mirror-base.jpg  

Last edited by whunter; 06-09-2012 at 05:59 PM. Reason: attached pictures
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  #9  
Old 07-15-2007, 07:20 AM
tivoliman's Avatar
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Smile The pictures are fantastic - thanks

I will use the screw driver this afternoon.

Your pictures have shown me where to "lever".

Thanks so much.

The 190E, I have owned for 8 years - I'll pull with more confidence there - the 300E, well it will get beat-up - may take an exacto knife to the plastic. The 300E mirror is the one to be trashed.

Thanks again.

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Thanks for the help
Bill Fisher

'86 560SL (186K) - Now a 'classic' : Registered as an Historic Vehicle
02 E430 in the stable
'14 LS460 (Lexus)
- - - - -
'95 E420 (198K) found a new home
'99 E320 (80K) (gave it's life for me as we hit a bumper)
'95 E420 (231K) Sold to a happy buyer, new to Mercedes
'90 300E (65K) Sold to an Mercedes Lover
'92 190E (215K) - retired to the salvage yard
'93 500SEL (214K) - Moved to another family, still runs like a young pup
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