Hi,
I have a 88 300TE. Went to the junk yard and found a interior rearview mirror from a 400 or 500 series. Figured I could grind a little on it and make it work. Well, it didn't. So I pulled the mount off. So I have the mirror loose in my hand. I would like to mount it on my mount. My mirror is cracked.

So I lubed it up a little and tried to reseat it back on it's mount as a test. I cannot get it back in that socket. Glad I didn't pull mine loose!

Gonna try a hair dryer next to soften up the plastic a little.

Just was wondering if anyone had a trick for this, or had done it?

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<<Les Garten>> 1988 300TE 280,000 Miles

they're like a ball joint, u may want to mount the whole stem with base.
"Or whatever is behind u is not important" quoted from the Gum ball rally.

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Not sure you understand what I'm talking about here. I understand about the ball. I pulled the "ball" out of the back of the mirror. I want to swap the mirror onto the "ball mount" for my car. The ball is a tight freakin' fit. It will pop out, but won't pop in. I'm going to try some heat on the plastic to soften it up, but was wondering if someone had done itand had some tips.

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<<Les Garten>> 1988 300TE 280,000 Miles

I'm a little confused...are you talking about the plastic ball joint that is behind the mirror assembly? The mirrors are pretty easy to swap as assemblies (from where it mounts to the car roof). You just have to yank pretty hard and it'll come off. My rear view mirror was cracked badly and it took all of 2 minutes to swap. It's a little bit of a pain to get the replacement mirror in but that's it.

I don't think you can get over the issue that there's quite a bit of material overlap if you're considering removing material...I'd feel it'd be too much material from the ball and something might crack if you push too hard. Maybe you'll have some luck with heating the plastic.

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1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

I broke my original mirror and my junkyard spare mirror because I applied too much pressure trying to get that ball back into the socket on the back of the mirror. I ended up going to Autozone and buying an aftermarket replacement... incredibly frustrating experience... If you swap a mirror, I recommend removing and installing the mirror assembly as one piece.

Though, that spring that is on the mirror mount is quite a PITA to work with as well...

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

Let me start over.

I have a cracked mirror in my 300TE

I went to the junkyard and found a "close" match, but knew it wasn't exactly the same base. A little wider, not as deep.

So I ground off the sides a little. Could not get it to mate. Ground the pins as well.

So figured I needed to find an exact base match, the Junkyard mirror was free.

So I snapped the mount off the junkyard mirror, ie separated the ball joint. Now I have a pristine mirror in my hand without mount.

The ball snaps right out of it's socket.

So I tried to re-mate it.

I figured if I could do that, I would then snap it back out and put it on my stock mount, the one with the cracked mirror.

However, it does not want to snap back on.

I think judicious use of heat is my only option down this path.

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<<Les Garten>> 1988 300TE 280,000 Miles

If I remember correctly, there is a spring-steel band around the fingers of that socket. Also, we made at least two different ball diameters at that time, be sure that the donor has the same ball size as the reciprient.

Those manual mirrors are "a dime a dozen" also, someone here who is parting a 124 will likely send you one cheap.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Thanx! Not sure about the steel fingers. Whole thing looks like just a black plastic split collar to me.

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<<Les Garten>> 1988 300TE 280,000 Miles

Not steel fingers, a steel band holding the fingers in.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Where are these fingers at? Somewhere that cannot be seen? Cause all I see is a Plastic socket. There are no fingers in the socket. The socket is more like a plastic collet.

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<<Les Garten>> 1988 300TE 280,000 Miles

Okay, different design. Heat the socket with a hair dryer or carefully with a heat gun (to not damage the mirror or case) before installing, might even heat the ball. Best of luck, might work out and might not. I'd remove the speigelfuss (mirror foot) from the headliner first so that you can install from the rear with the mirror laying flat.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff