SL500 '95 interior rearview mirror "wiggle"

[Gusfazekas]

I could use some advice with this. My interior mirror "wiggles" /vibrates when you drive over less than perfectly smooth roads and its rather annoying when you are looking back into traffic. Can anyone tell me how to disassemble the mirror to find out whats "loose" inside? Nothing rattles. It doesn't look like the front cover of the mirror housing can be easily separated or have it come off without breaking the plastic in the process. It seems to be tight enough where it fastens and connects to the windshield. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks, Steve

[Lee Wireless]

Grab the mirror by the neck and pull toward you. It's held in by a very strong spring. Be careful with the wire feeding the mirror components. My 95 had the same problem. Disassemble the mirror and you will see the broken piece. It's common. Epoxy the broken piece and you're back in business.

[Gusfazekas]

Before I attempt this manuver, clarify this for me. Am I pulling on the "stem" that holds the mirror at the windshield or that part of the plastic that separates the two parts of the mirror housing (that which holds the mirror itself, and not the stem) I am almost afraid to try pulling the stem out for fear I would break the darn thing. Any chance before you pulled yours' out, you had a schematic or picture of its mounting mechanism? I haven't removed the cover over the windshield to see how the mirror is secured, I thought it might be held in place by a large nut or something like that. The "wiggle" appears to be where the stem and the mirror connect, something inside the mirror being "loose".

Thanks for the information, I'm willing to give this a go.

Steve

[Lee Wireless]

You hold the stalk. Until you actully remove it for the first time, you won't understand how it's held in. It's also a bear to reinsert. If you're uncomfortable doing it, take it to the dealer. They'll remove it in a second and then you can disassemble and repair. Let them reinstall it.

[Lee Wireless]

Here's what the spring looks like that holds the mirror in place. This is off of a 107 but same principle. Update: I found this photo of the base on Ebay. You can clearly see the spring. This is from a 95 SL500.

[Gusfazekas]

I'm going to give it a try, I'll let you know what happens. You mentioned that a part inside the mirror housing or where the stalk connects to the windshield "breaks" and needs fixing, what part is it and is it in the mirror or above the stalk? Thanks, Steve

[Gusfazekas]

Lee, I took your advice. I grabbed hold of the mirror and the stalk and pulled it to one side and the mirror "released". I think it important to mention to other folks trying the same manuver that the mirror "release" point is one side or the other. I don't advise pulling front to back.

Once removed from the windshield, and the mirror shell opened, I could not tell what caused the "wiggle". The mirror is held in place by two tension half-springs located in the center of the mirror housing. One of these springs was dislodged and it appeared that the mirror could "pivot/wiggle". I glued the mirror to its backing plate and repositioned the tension spring that had moved. I won't know if I fixed the problem yet because its raining here in Cleveland Ohio and its expected to rain for the next five days off and on. When I verify that all is well, I will post.

When attempting to "open" the mirror shell halves, be very carefull. There are tabs on the inside of the shell to keep it together. I broke a couple of the tabs but the mirror shell was able to be reconnected and did not come apart.

Thanks for the tip and the pictures.

Steve

[Gusfazekas]

Well, I took the SL out for a ride today and the mirror still wiggles, although not quite as much. I am at a loss to determine why. I took the mirror off from the windshield, removed the front mirror shell cover and looked at everything inside, I can not see anything broken or "loose" inside the shell or on the stalk connection.

Any of the Pro's have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Steve