Does anyone know how to completely take apart the rear view mirror? (I have a stock mirror w/o autodimming or homelink... but they all should disassemble the same)

I've removed it from the windshield, disconnected the wires for the keyfob, removed the mirror from it... but now I'm stuck trying to get the **** for the mirror dimmer off - or something? I've also removed the 4 screws holding the connection arm (that connects the actual mirror housing w/ the windshield) but that didn't matter much since the internals for the mirror won't move more than a few cm's. If someone had an exploded view/diagram of the rear view mirror & how to take it apart - that'd be great.

What I'm trying to do... is take the keyfob receiver from the mirror housing, and relocate it to the headliner so that I'll be able to take my rear view mirror off easily & quickly.

I can today pull the mirror off today.. but then I have to take the covering off, disconnect the wires for the keyfob..which means I don't have the ability to lock/unlock the doors w/ the key. By relocating the keyfob receiver to the headliner - I'd be able to simply twist the mirror off when driving The Dragon, or any similarly twisty road where the giant rear view mirror seems to get in the way.

 

If your going to all the trouble of removing the door receiver why don't you just replace the mirror, assuming of course that you want to spend the extra money, with the older model.

What I have considered doing is removing the stock mirror, I'm very tall and the new BIG mirror is a pita, and replace it with the older mirror but I'm unsure what to do with the receiver. I'm concerned that the heat from the roof or contact with the roof would cause failure of the receiver unit.

I have considered moving it to under the dash but I'm unsure of the wiring as far as where it comes from and if it could be moved or rerouted to a new under dash location.

I am planning on doing some track days and the older mirror, if I use one at all, would be better.

There have been posts about this on the Mini2 forums. Here is a link http://www.mini2.com/forum/interior-...ne-diesel.html to them.

See post # 23.

Hope this helps...

 

Ahh - thanks very much for the link. The goal is to move the receiver as cheaply as possible. I don't mind the mirror horribly during normal driving, but during Dragon runs or other twisties - I can't stand it & would like to pull it off quickly/easily. Contact from the roof is a valid concern so I'll probably just wrap it in electrical tape. I'm not sure about the heat.. I doubt it matters, but on the cabrios, I think the mirror attaches in a different position.

 

You can find the exploded diagrams here;

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/

 

I'd guess that mounting the receiver very close to the roof might adversely effect the receiver range - all that metal blocking the signals!
Of course you'd need to protect the circuitry from shorting out - copious duct tape would work for that. There shouldn't be any heat to worry about ...

 

I tried at lunch to pry that **** off but it seems glued on there pretty good ! I completely feel like, any more force & I'll crack the actual outer mirror housing?

Thanks for the link Bilbo - but they don't go into detail of the actual mirror housing & only list the coupe - not the cabrio (not that the actual mirror housing would be different - I think the mounts are the only thing different?)

I can always touch my key to my chin!

 

I finally got it apart last night after much prying. I moved the keyfob receiver into the headliner (took a tiny bit of dremeling to get the quickdisconnect thru the hole but no one can see it) & the keyfob works fine. As for the range, I'm not 100% certain since I haven't had it out in the snow yet & don't plan on starting tonight! I'm going to put the mirror back together tonight.

 

Thanks for chiming in on my similar thread.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...74#post1370574

I was wondering, can you give a description of how to take the mirror apart? I read the MINI2 thread about it, but don't understand quite what they mean on certain parts.

Any help would be much appreciated, as I plan on tinkering with it tonight. Thanks!

Drew

 

I saw your 7:15pm post on your thread - glad you got it apart! The only thing I wasn't able to put back on... was the 'tension ring' (thingy) that keeps the actual plastic mirror housing tight on the metal neck... I put it on w/o it & it seems to be ok, but I suspect over time it'll get more loose.