The passenger side mirror on my '98 E300 (W210) was flopping in the wind after I came a little too close to the oversized trash can in the garage last week and bumped it as I was pulling in. The spring snapped off of a hook which is molded into the pot metal frame and from what I understand this is VERY common and VERY expensive as it usually requires a whole new mirror assembly. Not to shy away from a challege I took on the task of coming up with a repair for this. I decided to document this process, unfortunately I did not take photos but will do my best to describe it in enough detail that those who are mechanically inclined will be able to do it as well.

First you need to pop the mirror-glass off of the adjuster platform. I started at the bottom and pulled up and it popped off, then the wires unplug for the heating element and you can set the mirror-glass aside.

I proceeded to disassemble the entire mirror assembly to get the metal frame out of the plastic housing (there is a wire bail that holds it in, just pry the ends up and the whole plastic housing slides off). Then you will see the area where the spring used to attach to the metal frame.

On mine the hook was bent back at 90 degrees. I snapped it off trying to straighten it out. It left a nice semi-circular channel in the frame which I was able to make a post assembly to reattach the spring to.

To follow my fix you will need one #8 X 1/2" machine screw, two #8 nuts and 2 #8 flat washers. First, take the machine screw and put the two washers on it and one nut to hold them on. Now, sandwich the semicricular channel with the washers and let the post of the machine screw protrude to the front of the mirror frame (as referenced by the front of the car, but the back of the mirror) and tighten the nut down until it is really tight. This makes the "post".

Then, take the second nut and loosely start it on the end of the machine screw. Now you can hook the spring between the two nuts and tighten the outer nut. I actually found it easier to remount the frame on the car, attach the spring first to the base of the frame (which is screwed to the car) and then stretch it to snap over the new post and then tighten down the outer nut. I tried to flex it back and forth several times and it held fine during all my tests...I think it is even stronger than the original design (what wouldn't be though?).

Once this is done, slip the plastic cover back on and it snaps into position and replace the mirror glass and viola, you are done and saved $400+!

Good luck.

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Marty D.

2013 C300 4Matic
1984 BMW 733i
2013 Lincoln MKz