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)