I've read of folks breaking their mirrors when attempting this mod. I've decided that the exterior chrome line is maybe a little too much chrome. Going from chrome to white. Wish me luck.

Has anyone done this lately? If so any tips would be appreciated.

thanks...Bob

 

Just to follow up. I successfully removed the chrome mirror caps without breaking anything. I did not remove the mirrors. The process is well documented in many other posts...but to recap:

You will need some kind of small, rather stiff, flat instrument (butter knife, chisel etc.) to release the tabs which hold the cap in place. I used a dull chisel. In addition, I suggest a second thin flat object to hold the bottom of the cap open once you have loosened the bottom tabs.

1. Tilt the mirror all the way up. If you have power mirrors do this with the control. There are five plastic tabs which hold the mirror cap onto its' frame. First you will want to loosen the bottom two tabs...

2. Look closely and locate the bottom two tabs (holding a ruler against the metal skin of the door and under the mirror, the inside tab is located about 3" out and the outside tab is about 6" out from the door). Insert the end of the chisel into the opening between mirror and the frame and press upward on the inside tab (toward the top of the mirror). While you are doing this, your other hand/fingers should be applying a pulling force on the bottom of the cap. The cap should release a "little" and move slightly outward. Keep your other hand pulling on the bottom of the cap and move to the outside tab and press it upward. It will release and the cap will move outward a little more, leaving a slight opening between the cap and the frame. Insert the second flat object into that gap...this flat object should be about the same thickness as the opening (1/8" or so) and is intended to keep the tabs from snapping back in place.

3. On to the top. Tilt the mirror all the way down and out. This will expose the inner most tab on the top. Same process. Locate the tab(s), insert the chizel and pry the tab upward...toward the sky... while pulling outward on the cap with your other hand.

4. On my mirrors once I had completely released these three tabs the cap popped off in my hand while I was working on the fourth tab (the top center). In any case, there are three tabs on the top. One in the center and two on either side.

5. Replace the cap by simply snapping them into place.

IMO, this work wasn't quite as easy as some of the posts have suggested and yet it isn't hard either. Work carefully and you won't break anything and it should take no more than 30 minutes.

Note: My Mini doesn't have the auto fold mirrors.

 

Found an error in step #2 involving the direction to pry the bottom two tabs. Should read like this: "Insert the end of the chisel into the opening between mirror and the frame and press downward" on the inside tab (toward the bottom of the mirror)....."Keep your other hand pulling on the bottom of the cap and move to the outside tab and press it downward".

 

I did this last weekend using similar method. I used 2 plastic knives to remove the cap. I located the 2 bottom clips and jammed the left clip with the butt of one of the plastic knives. I then did the same with another knife on the right clip. While holding both of these knives in one hand, I popped the cap off. Make sure to have towel beneath or have someone help catch the cap, I dropped one and it scratched.

 

Yep it's kind of a juggling act. The key is to get those bottom clips to release (and stay released).

I put the white mirror caps on today (replacing the chrome). I think I like the new look but it's going to take some getting used to. I might be doing this juggling act again soon.