E46 wing mirror - easy to replace?

Morba · 27 Apr 2011 at 11:25

Drivers side wing mirror has been smacked, not sure if the full unit needs replacing or not, but should it be needed is it easy to do?

Glass broken, casing broken and some other bits of plastic around the glass holder seems broken, so guessing the whole unit will need changing

booyaka · 27 Apr 2011 at 12:07

Check out

http://www.wingmirrorman.co.uk/e46.html

Sounds a daft sight but is very well priced and way cheaper than the dealers. I only had to replace the heated glass part of the mirror when someone smashed it, was a simple job to clip off the existing mirror, attach the 2 wires that travel the current to the mirror to heat it up and clip back into place. (E60)

Not sure how much harder it is for a full casing but worth having a look.

Steve_bullockuk · 27 Apr 2011 at 12:13

My dad has been through this with his e46. Be aware that the mirrors on the Coupe are differen't to the 4/5 doors. Think they are around £180 from BMW.

Morba · 27 Apr 2011 at 12:21

Steve_bullockuk said:
My dad has been through this with his e46. Be aware that the mirrors on the Coupe are differen't to the 4/5 doors. Think they are around £180 from BMW.

Yeah, noticed this on ebay, people being specific about the mirrors being for 'loon / coupe etc. Also noticed how much BMW were charging, no surprise there lol

DM · 27 Apr 2011 at 12:25

Did you manage to beat the mirror breaking offender

Morba · 27 Apr 2011 at 12:26

DM said:
Did you manage to beat the mirror breaking offender

Nope, not this time

DM · 27 Apr 2011 at 12:27

Morba said:
Nope, not this time

Always a feel good moment when you do catch one though isnt it

Morba · 27 Apr 2011 at 12:37

DM said:
Always a feel good moment when you do catch one though isnt it

Too right, last time the person tried to out run me, he was going in the other direction..... in a crappy old fiesta. He then tried to blame it on me! Cheeky barsteward!

mrk · 27 Apr 2011 at 13:25

Salvage yard it up, you'll no doubt get a much better unit for your monies. Even if it's a different colour on the body coloured part you can always get it resprayed cheap at any half decent bodyshop.

Morba · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:13

Yeah, my main concern isn't purchasing the unit, its fitting it. Does it require door panel coming off or is it a quick couple of screws and a plug for the cables?

mrk · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:25

Morba said:
Yeah, my main concern isn't purchasing the unit, its fitting it. Does it require door panel coming off or is it a quick couple of screws and a plug for the cables?

According to e46fanatics door panel removal is needed:
http://www.e46fanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=707098

You have a saloon IIRC?

Just go to a salvage yard and have a good old go on the cars in their yard, if it breaks then nobody is watching you to point fingers I guess

At least you don't have to take your bumper off to replace 2 parking sensors!

Morba · 27 Apr 2011 at 14:34

I dunno, one of the rear ones was displaced and seems to not register everything behind it at the mo (during a car park scrap while on holiday

)

good point about the testing on a donor car hehe