I am a new owner and still figuring out things. I need to replace the rear view mirror and have already purchased the replacement. My quandry is how to remove the old mirror and install the new one. I've taken as much of the overhead light panel apart as I'm comfortable with at this time, but still don't see how it releases the mirror. Anyone out there done this and can help me out?? Thanks!

If you want I can email you some pics of the mirror mounting assembly and instructions that came with the factory replacement mirror for my C230 (98), but did you buy the mirror from the dealer? I am surprised yours didn't have removal and installation instructions. Also, AFTER I paid for and installed the new mirror, I found out how to fix the problem with the old one - a 15 minute fix as it turns out, and I could have saved the price of the mirror if I had just fixed the old one, which now sits in my garage! What was wrong with the old one on your car?

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John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

I purchased a salvaged mirror from another 98 C280. The old mirror won't stay in one position, keeps jiggling. If you think the pictures will help me out, please send them to wolfcookie@excite.com. Thanks!

That is what happened to mine! I scanned the instructions, and made a drawing showing the simple fix to the internal 'v' spring that will repair your old one, and attached them below:

Pic 1 mirror assembly, showing spring loaded pin/clamp that secures mirror to roof
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PIC 2, INSTRUCTION SHEET (note that when installing or removing mirror it helps to have a multiply folded terry towel between windshield and mirror in case mirror slips during reinstallation
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PIC 3, INSTRUCTION SHEET
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PIC 4, drawing of inside of mirror on C230: The 2 'V' springs can fatigue and allow the ball joint to flop around in the socket. With the mirror out of the car and on a flat surface, the front face of the mirror can be CAREFULLY pried appart, exposing all the internals. Bending the 'V' springs to excert more force on the joint fixes the problem (thanks to repair instructions provided by member MbenzNL!)
.

__________________
John

2003 Firemist Red/grey leather SL 500
2015 Palladium Silver/black mbtex GLK 350
1987 Smoke Silver/burgundy mbtex 300E Sportline (SOLD)

Click to see 87 300E

Thanks! Appreciate the help.

Excellent post, thanks for the images, a real help. Thanks again.

The interior rear view mirror on the '98 C280 was floppy. I dug up this thread and removed the interior light cluster. You remove the interior light cluster because the mirror wiring connects to the light cluster.

With the mirror out and on the table I pried the two pieces of black plastic mirror surround apart using a small straight screwdriver. The snap closures at the top are the hardest to get apart, so start with the bottom. Be gentle, be firm.

Once apart, the two flat springs fell out AND two black plastic bits about 4 mm in size. Turns out these bits were spring retaining clips had broken off the mirror surround. There was no way to glue them back in.

The mirror surround is ABS plastic. I used some clear sealer (one could use any fast drying glue, or superglue) to stick the mirror to the black plastic surround, and the adjustment assembly to the mirror, and discarded the flat springs and broken little bits.

Hints… when I stuck the mirror to the smaller piece of surround, I put the sealer around the ends of the mirror where there were no electrical connections. I put some silicone dielectric grease on the mating surface of the larger black plastic mirror surround so I didn’t glue the surround together forever. Let it all cure, snap back together (remember the top snaps are troublesome) and VOILA no more floppy mirror.

HTH!