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R56 Removing mirror caps without breakin' em?

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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 09:44 AM
  #1  
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Removing mirror caps without breakin' em?

I want to install my carbon fiber mirror covers but first i have to uninstall the stock ones... I am kinda scared to break the tabs when uninstalling them, anybody has a trick or a hint to perform this?

Thanks
 
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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 11:19 AM
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There are so many posts on your question, if you do a search. Basicaly it involves tilting the mirror UP and the inserting your fingers underneath and applying EVEN pressure and it will pop out of its sockets.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 11:24 AM
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This freaked me out the first time I did it, too. The thing to do is pop off the mirror. Rotate the mirror all to way out to expose the edge as much as possible. Then remove the mirror by taking the edge and pulling it off using your fingertips. Pulling on the mirror is a little nerve-wracking as it bends a bit before coming off the retention feature, but it does come off fine. Once that is done, you have access to all the mirror cap tabs and can pop them off without breaking them. Popping the mirror back in is pretty simple: just align with the tabs and seat it.

Someone posted that they were able to remove the cap without popping off the mirror, but I'm not sure how they managed.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 11:34 AM
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Originally Posted by OPC
This freaked me out the first time I did it, too. The thing to do is pop off the mirror. Rotate the mirror all to way out to expose the edge as much as possible. Then remove the mirror by taking the edge and pulling it off using your fingertips. Pulling on the mirror is a little nerve-wracking as it bends a bit before coming off the retention feature, but it does come off fine. Once that is done, you have access to all the mirror cap tabs and can pop them off without breaking them. Popping the mirror back in is pretty simple: just align with the tabs and seat it.

Someone posted that they were able to remove the cap without popping off the mirror, but I'm not sure how they managed.

You DO NOT have to remove the mirrors!!!! There are two tabs that you will see if you tilt the mirror up. Push in the taps and pull the cap out and up...thats it. Takes 30 seconds to remove.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 06:56 PM
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Don't take off the mirror. You may crack it. Do it the way Red Bull says. I just did mine a few weeks ago and it is much easier, and safer, than taking off the mirror.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2009 | 07:33 PM
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it's very simple with an r56.

insert flat tip screwdrive under the cap (on the bottom area). pry it out a little to get your fingers under it and PULL. It won't break like the ones for the r53 would.
 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 04:25 AM
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After someone told me I had to remove the mirror this is what happened to mine. Even when I had the replace the mirror I had to pull so hard the mirror cracked even more. It is one of the simplest and fastest mods you can do. But no need to remove the mirror.


 
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Old Jan 29, 2009 | 06:44 AM
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Thanks guys for all the input, i will go Red Bull's way and give it a try tonite. I'll post the result afterwards!
 
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 05:39 AM
  #9  
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the result...

Okay, Red Bull's trick is true, it is doable and not hard to pull off the mirror cover without removing the mirror... I did it, but at the end i was a little too rough pulling to release the last 2 tabs and slightly cracked the mirror

I did not break any of the cover's tabs though. The bad thing that came next is that the carbon covers i have dont match my OEM... I bought those here on the forum from minimonsterthunder and was told they were for an R56 (told me he has an R53 and got those by mistake), Carbotech brand, but there is a small shape difference and one of the tabs is diagonal instead of the OEMs all being horizontal. Now i have to figure for what model they are made so i can resale them..... Pffffffff

 
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 07:54 AM
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Originally Posted by jfchamp
Okay, Red Bull's trick is true, it is doable and not hard to pull off the mirror cover without removing the mirror... I did it, but at the end i was a little too rough pulling to release the last 2 tabs and slightly cracked the mirror

I did not break any of the cover's tabs though. The bad thing that came next is that the carbon covers i have dont match my OEM... I bought those here on the forum from minimonsterthunder and was told they were for an R56 (told me he has an R53 and got those by mistake), Carbotech brand, but there is a small shape difference and one of the tabs is diagonal instead of the OEMs all being horizontal. Now i have to figure for what model they are made so i can resale them..... Pffffffff


Man that sucks.....I had the same problem with my first caps...made the mistake of buying them off of ebay for $130 and they do not even come close to fitting, there smaller and have NO tabs..the guy on ebay who sold them to me is gone so I am stuck.

How did you crack the mirror while taking off the cap? Sorry that happened. I used a small screw driver to push in the tabs and presto they were off..
 
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Old Jan 31, 2009 | 09:22 AM
  #11  
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Here is a description (with pics) under mirror cap replacement. It's about half way down the page along with numerous other info.
 
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Old Feb 2, 2009 | 07:53 AM
  #12  
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infos

Originally Posted by Red Bull
Man that sucks.....I had the same problem with my first caps...made the mistake of buying them off of ebay for $130 and they do not even come close to fitting, there smaller and have NO tabs..the guy on ebay who sold them to me is gone so I am stuck.

How did you crack the mirror while taking off the cap? Sorry that happened. I used a small screw driver to push in the tabs and presto they were off..
The first bottom clips went smooth, i was prying on the exterior of the mirror to have a better look at the upper ones to undo them when the mirror cracked! I now know that the covers i bought are for the folding mirrors option model, not the standard, which i have...
 
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