It may be obvious, but how do I replace the inside rear view mirror on this car? I have the new mirror assembly; just need to know how it goes into the center area of the car. Can someone please give me a short bit of info on this, indicating any pitfalls I might encounter?? Thanks, Ben Carter

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

you have to have a leap of faith and just yank it real hard.

it is spring loaded. wait till you see the gauge of the spring. all in all in only took a couple of minutes to do.

i do have to clarify one thing.... ours is a 1989...so it has no automatic nightime feature...don't know if yours does or no.

the housing around our rear view mirror more or less disentegrated. i got a new one from a member here...

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


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Yes, I can see that heavy spring in the new unit; it is quite impressive. I think my housing is OK, it is the mirror section that is loose as a goose -- as they say. I will give it a good pull and plug in the new one; thanks for the advice. (I don't have the automatic unit fortunately and really don't want it)
Ben Carter

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

good luck...just yank..

you may use a screwdriver to help put it back in.. i can't remember if we did that or were about to do that...

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

Brn, putting the new one in is sometimes difficult. Take you time lining up the edges with the small depressions in the holder where the mirror assembly tips go, then push it up and in.

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87 300e (white/black; amg body kit)
88 300ce (red/cream; amg body kit)
93 300ce cabrio (white/blue/blue top)
93 300ce cabrio (black/grey/black top)
98 ml 320 (totaled @ 137,000 miles)
99 clk320 (black/grey/black top)

Well, I did give my rear view mirror on the 300CE "a good yank"; in fact several good yanks -- and the whole assembly including the base plate came out!! I actually pulled the attaching screws right out of the holes and had to detach the old mirror base with a screwdriver and reinstall the base plate with new screws. I have not attempted the installation yet, but that does appear to be a difficult task, with the very heavy spring tension that must be overcome. In fact, I am going to use a wooden "yoke" to help put heavy pressure on the mirror base to force it into place. I may try it first without that "tool", but think I am going to need extra control and leverage. Stay tuned for the final episode ........ BC

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

I am sorry to hear of your troubles.

We were told to yank and did. I hope I didn't give you bad advice.

I know the whole assembly is supposed to come out... you can't just replace the mirror... you need the who unit as one..

I hope the base plate can just screw back in.

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


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Well, I screwed the base plate back in fine, but happened to pop that strong spring out of the new mirror. After trying all kinds of tools and approaches to get the spring back in, I finally put the spring in my vise and squeezed it down hard. I then was able to reinsert it and then spread it back out with a screwdriver. The mirror installation itself went pretty well; I used a short piece of wood to put good pressure on the base and it popped right into the hole .... job completed! (I think perhaps just pullng the mirror assembly out is a reasonable approach, but in my case it would not let loose and finally brought out the base and all. However it was rectified as discussed and the new mirror is in. I certainly hope I never have to put another one in that car!)

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Ben Harrison Carter
1999 Mercedes ML320 87K
1992 Mercedes 300CE 89K
1995 Corvette 29K -- Sold Dec 09
1989 Mercedes 420SEL 99K -- (Sold 4/08)
1968 Mercedes 230S (106K) (Sold 9/06))
1976 Mercedes 450SEL 130K (Just sold - 06)
1961 Mercedes 220Sb (sold years ago)

congratulations... i was worried for a bit..

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

The trick is patiently and carefully lining up the little pointy ends on the base of the mirror with the indentations on the base plate which is attached to the roof. If both points are lined up precisely, little force is needed. Don't try to muscle it in with a hammer or anything. It'll almost click right in with a bit of upward force.

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'89 300E - 153k miles - California car - Black/Palomino

I've removed and installed plenty of those, I designed some of the mirrors and mounts for Mercedes-Benz.

The removal however, is forward, as if you would hit it with your head in an accident. Pulling it toward you will work usually, but forward is the designed release direction (two screws in the rear of the mount-plate, one in the front).

Do try to avoid hitting and cracking the windshield when removing though.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff