This is one of the most common faults on W140s: self-destructing foldable mirrors. I guess M.B. did not do a good on the design of the folding mechanisn (as it did on most of the rest of the car).

When the side mirrors fail, usuallly the cables are toasted or cracked by the folding action in more places than it is usally visible. It is usually recommended to change the housing, motors (if defective) AND the cables from inside the door all the way to the mirrors.

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A. Rosich
CL 500, 1998
S 500 L, 1998
E 320 T, 1995 [Sadly sold ]