Who has removed their mirror caps before? I know some of you out there have done it.

I would like to know the simplest way to remove a mirror cap without causing any damage to it. I’m not replacing the cap with another, just removing it then reinstalling the same one again so I would like to take it off without scratching or gouging it up a lot. Can that be done without any damage?

 

You can use the flat end of a spoon to depress the tabs that are on the top and bottom of the cover (inserting same between the housing and the mirror glass) but it is actually far easier to pry off the actual mirror which snaps on thus giving you clear access to the tabs and a much reduced chance of snapping anything off. There are a number of threads on this here which are worth reviewing.

 

MOst say it cannot be done with out snapping the cap tabs...in which case...only take them off if you are changing them.....

I have trire to get them off with out snapping the tabs numorous times...and have gotten close but never been successful...and I am pretty handy...grew up workin on very expensive cars...so breaking stuff wasn't an option....not that it is on a Mini in my book just that I have had replacments so far

anyway...that's my .02

 

Brief history of what I’m doing…

About a year and a half ago I broke my passenger side mirror at the pivot point. Everyone who knows my MCS knows and many do, have kidded me about the strapping tape I use to hold the mirror in place. The mirror itself worked fine, it just kind of dangles there without the tape. I was in no rush and being cash short only received the replacement part yesterday to replace the housing.

Thanks ncdave for the tip and next time I’ll do it your way for sure, but never having done one of these before and seeing the screws for the motor might be holding it in from the back I decided to get the cap off before the mirror. The screws are in the front BTW whoever might want to know.

Sorry Tuls about breaking your snaps, but I removed the cap without snapping one. I did put one little scratch in the cap though.

30 maybe 45 min and I have a fixed mirror installed.

Now I just have to pay the $80.00 an hour labor fee to the person who bought the part for me.

 

You're welcome - I'm glad it worked out OK for you in the end.

 

ahhh like I said we were replacing them anyway...heh heh...so I didn't try that hard...especially cause I was told by the dealer it was inpossible...which I know now means it's completely easy...LOL