Change mirror caps

ukblade · 03-20-2016, 12:34 PM

Help please,
Most of the videos I've seen show you have to pop mirror glass out to change the covers.
Is there another way as my middle name seems to be "Sods Law" and I just know I'll crack a glass or something.
Cheers in advance for any advice

P.S I've bought replacement caps that clip into original mounts.

AlfaM · 03-20-2016, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukblade

Help please,
Most of the videos I've seen show you have to pop mirror glass out to change the covers.
Is there another way as my middle name seems to be "Sods Law" and I just know I'll crack a glass or something.
Cheers in advance for any advice

P.S I've bought replacement caps that clip into original mounts.

If they are clip on ones then you dont need to remove the glass. Just get your nails under one of the bottom corners and the orginial caps pop off.

WeaverBeaver · 03-20-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random75

If they are clip on ones then you dont need to remove the glass. Just get your nails under one of the bottom corners and the orginial caps pop off.

That's incredibly hard to do and makes you feel like you'll rip a nail off. What I found much easier is to start from outer edge and wedge a credit card or similar underneath the edge. Once in you can slide it up and around to pull more of the cover out and then it's easy to get your fingers in and pull. You don't need to pull too hard, just gently apply more and more pressure until it pops right off. Hope that helps.

teaston · 03-20-2016, 03:29 PM

I tried very hard to just pull the caps off but was unable to get them off!

I popped the glass out with a plastic trim tool, but be extremely careful if you have the folding auto dimming mirrors as the glass is two thin layers and is very easy to break, believe me as I did it!! Pop the glass from the top, not the outer edge as I did!

AlfaM · 03-20-2016, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeaverBeaver

That's incredibly hard to do and makes you feel like you'll rip a nail off. What I found much easier is to start from outer edge and wedge a credit card or similar underneath the edge. Once in you can slide it up and around to pull more of the cover out and then it's easy to get your fingers in and pull. You don't need to pull too hard, just gently apply more and more pressure until it pops right off. Hope that helps.

Nah, mine shot off...both of them.

Pull it up from the bottom right pointy corner shown on this picture..

teaston · 03-20-2016, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random75

Nah, mine shot off...both of them.

Pull it up from the bottom right pointy corner shown on this picture..

Really, and none of the clips snapped off?

AlfaM · 03-20-2016, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Really, and none of the clips snapped off?

Nope, I was amazed how easy they came off. It was about -2 degC so that might have helped.

teaston · 03-20-2016, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random75

Nope, I was amazed how easy they came off. It was about -2 degC so that might have helped.

Cool, I will try again next time, I'm shit scared of breaking another mirroe glass now!

WeaverBeaver · 03-20-2016, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Cool, I will try again next time, I'm shit scared of breaking another mirroe glass now!

Not sure in your case but I've tried this method on 2 separate cars and just doesn't work for me, much easier and less risky to use the method I suggested as that way you definitely won't break any clips IMO

roshambo · 03-20-2016, 04:04 PM

I have folding mirrors and it was a doddle. Wasn't even that delicate with it

I used a flat head screwdriver wrapped in a microfibre and it popped out easily. Removing the caps was easy thereafter. I'm not the most DIY capable guy so being able to do that and change grilles (via bumper removal) makes these a doddle for everyone else!

ajfoggy · 03-20-2016, 04:09 PM

I have done it on a few cars now and only snapped the middle of the 3 clips on one mirror.

probably a 90% success rate.

Just got fingers under and pulled off.

creepy coupe · 03-21-2016, 03:42 AM

I use a trim tool. They are easier to get off if you start from the outer edge just above the indicator lens.

ukblade · 03-21-2016, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Random75

Nah, mine shot off...both of them.

Pull it up from the bottom right pointy corner shown on this picture..

When I first tried I was pulling it forwards towards front of car, are you saying I should be pulling it upwards, no wonder I couldn't move it!

03-20-2016, 12:34 PM	#1
ukblade Second Lieutenant 92 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 435d xdrive Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Milton Keynes iTrader: (0)	Change mirror caps Help please, Most of the videos I've seen show you have to pop mirror glass out to change the covers. Is there another way as my middle name seems to be "Sods Law" and I just know I'll crack a glass or something. Cheers in advance for any advice P.S I've bought replacement caps that clip into original mounts. __________________ 2015 F32 435d xDrive MSport, Stripes!! + some goodies
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03-20-2016, 03:29 PM	#4
teaston Banned 10995 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	I tried very hard to just pull the caps off but was unable to get them off! I popped the glass out with a plastic trim tool, but be extremely careful if you have the folding auto dimming mirrors as the glass is two thin layers and is very easy to break, believe me as I did it!! Pop the glass from the top, not the outer edge as I did!
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03-20-2016, 04:04 PM	#10
roshambo Captain 230 Rep 964 Posts Drives: F36 435i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (0)	I have folding mirrors and it was a doddle. Wasn't even that delicate with it I used a flat head screwdriver wrapped in a microfibre and it popped out easily. Removing the caps was easy thereafter. I'm not the most DIY capable guy so being able to do that and change grilles (via bumper removal) makes these a doddle for everyone else! __________________ F36 435i M Sport
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03-20-2016, 04:09 PM	#11
ajfoggy Brigadier General 1517 Rep 3,560 Posts Drives: C63s - S205 - Brilliant Blue Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Warrington iTrader: (0)	I have done it on a few cars now and only snapped the middle of the 3 clips on one mirror. probably a 90% success rate. Just got fingers under and pulled off.
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03-21-2016, 03:42 AM	#12
creepy coupe Lieutenant General 1867 Rep 13,043 Posts Drives: BMW M340I G20 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2015 BMW 435d [0.00] 2009 335i [0.00]	I use a trim tool. They are easier to get off if you start from the outer edge just above the indicator lens. __________________ -------------------------------------------------------------- Current car.M240i. Previous.MINI JCW. E92 325i. 435d M235i.M135i. 635d Coupe, E92 M3 manual, E92 M3 DCT Competition Pack. E92 335i, Porsche Cayman S Gen2, 135i Coupe. E92 320d, MK5 R32. MK5 Golf GTi,MK5 Golf GT-TDI,E46 318Ci.
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