I broke my mirror trying to remove it this morning to install the Carbon Fiber replacments. I read a couple of post to pull from the botton of the glass because its snapped in place....Well I didn't even pull to hard and it cracked.

I started pulling slowly to see if I could hear the clips popping out. I am now thinking I must have read the thread for the R53 rear views. Now I still have the stock covers on and cracked glass.

Fustrating that such a simple mod can go wrong..OH WELL not the end of the world.

Anyone removed theirs yet and can give me some pointers?

Oh no. That's really too bad, but I'm glad I saw your post. I'm picking my husband up from work in 3 hours and he was going to change my mirror caps per the same instructions (I have a R56).
Anyone who can help then please chime in. I'll also be trying to change out the dash but it seems I can figure that out.

Yes..until someone chimes in that has done it on the R56 I would wait. Its always the simple mods that can get you. Probably wind up spending some good many to get the new mirror as I dought that they sell it alone...

I found this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...or-covers.html
I'm still confused though. One person said you can just pop them off and another person did as you did and used the mirror method.

well when it comes time to tear that one outta there you can see just how its held in! i assume youd have to use it that way till the replacement arrives

I had no problem removing the mirrors from my '08 R56

Exactly how did you do it?

Why are you removing the glass?? If you are just putting mirror covers on, there is no need to remove the glass. If you are trying to remove the covers, just tilt the glass all the way up, then get a flash light and look between the bottom of the glass and plastic trim of the mirror assembly. You will see 2 tabs sticking through at the bottom behind the glass. Gently push down and out on the tabs (or down and towards the front of the vehicle). You should be able to get your fingers between the cover and the assembly now. Then pull the cover away and tilt up at the same time. This will release the remaining tabs. And the new one should just clip right on after that. Hope that helps

I know for the R50/52/53 MINI does have just the glass available. I've never checked for the newer cars but look at RealOEM.com to check.

I attached official BMW instructions for removing an R56 mirror.

I have an R52 cabrio and have removed both mirrors a few times. The method for the R56 appears to be identical and the attachment is the same. I use no tools, just my fingers. I angle the mirror so that I can slip in a couple of fingers and push out from behind the mirror, as close towards the center as I can.

Hey Red Bull, sorry to hear about your mirror. We had a fellow HR MINI member break one on her MINI. She brought it by the shop and it's real easy. Just pop it off, line up the new one and give it a good (safe/soft) whack with the side of your hand. The little pivot point will snap right in. It's real easy. When you see the new one, it'll make sense.

Thank you...much appreciated

Thanks Buddy

I've removed these mirrors at least 10 times. I've broken one.

I'm convinced the thing I did wrong on that one failed attempt was to place my thumb on the face of the mirror while pulling up on the bottom of the mirror with other fingers. The thumb applied pressure to the center of the mirror and is what cracked it.

Just pull up on the bottom and leave the thumb out of it. Shouldn't have any problems.

BTW, the replacement mirrors on the first gen ran about $60, IIRC. Go to Morristown MINI... they have the best OEM prices and have great customer service and fast shipment.

Hi Red Bull,
Just an update for you. My husband and I changed my mirror caps on my 09 MC the other day. It is easy with two people. We did not remove the mirrors at all. I held the mirror cap and my hubby used a couple butter knives to push out the tabs and I pulled the cap off. We didn't break any tabs at all. Use a flashlight to see the tabs behind the mirror.
Hope you find a replacement mirror.

Hello
Yes I also figured out the correct way to remove thme, 5 seconds

Redbull,

I think it's something with the 2009's cause I read each thread carefully on removing side mirrors and some have reported that the R56's seem to work too using the removal technique, however I just feel that something is different with the 09.

I have a 09 and I cracked my mirror (similar to your picture only I have one crack in the middle not two meaning I was more careful then you ).

My solution, if you can really call it that, was to slap on a Multivex Mirror using 3M tape over the cracked one since I was already planning to upgrade my mirrors with Multivex ones. The problem I have now is the Multivex a little smaller than the factory mirrors.

So 2009 owners be warned!!

Now I wonder if you and I are gonna have some bad luck in the future now that we broke us some mirrors...

I suggest that you contact Multivex and ask about getting a replacement. They use templates sent in by customers, and the one they have for R56 may be smaller than it should be. It should help to send them photos showing how much smaller. They may ask you to make and send them a template.

No bad luck buddy.......

interesting, i just installed Multivex mirrors and they were a little smaller than the oem mirrors.

The Multivex was also a bit smaller than OEM on my '06 cabrio (i.e. 1st gen mirror), but not enough that anybody would notice. In this photo the mirror is angled to expose the edge (normally hardly visible). How does yours compare with this?