'98 E300TD Driver's-side Side Rear View Mirror
 

The mirror can be folded back alongside the car body, as it is springloaded back into position. When I folded it back today, there was a sickening "snap" and the spring came loose inside. I removed to mirror ASSY from the car by removing the 3 holding screws and disconnecting the 2 electrical connectors (I wanted to remove the exterior glass, in an attempt to extirpate the so-called self-dimming feature which had miserably failed; and now I do have what appears to be a clear usable mirror) but now I don't know how to reconnect the spring within the "guts of the mirror ASSY... I can see where the spring attaches to the fixed-to-the-car (via the screws) part of the Assy, but not where it attaches inside the tunnel... I will be thankful for any help...

'98 E300 LH Side Mirror
 

OK, I asked and I got no help. What's up??? The XWZ&%&X spring is loose, inside the "tunnel".... Forget the "so called" self dimming feature... I just want a driver's side working mirror!!! Hasn't anyone EVER fixed this type mirror???? Please!!!

Its unlikely that the spring just popped out. Unfortunately its more likely that one of the mounting points to which the spring attaches snapped and broke, and is now gone. That's why you can't figure out where to attach the spring. If you look carefully you will see the part that broke.

I had a similar problem with my mirror, I bumped against it accidentally, , and instead of it folding out of the way, I heard a snap and the housing broke. The spring came flying out. Bought a new mirror.

'98 E300 LH Side Mirror
 

Thank you for describing your experience. In fact, my "indy" mech had the same suggestion. But I decided to try once more, as I had come across a shop in North Seattle (European Motors Corp., 16017 Aurora Ave N) that works on Mercedes exclusively (they also sell used Mercedes, which they service & fix-up before selling). Anyway, when I presented the mirror to the young fellow there, he told me they see a lot of them... then proceeded to open it up by removing the housing from the frame and exposing the interiors. The spring had popped out. After attaching the mirror frame back on my car using the 3 attaching screws, he repositioned the spring using what appeared as a locally designed shop tool in the shape of a long shanked hook, and the mirror now works great (minus the self-dimming feature). Took him less than 15 minutes...
FYI, the housing slides back over the frame and snaps into position...