Folding Wing mirrors

[kwnelson]

Hi all,    I was reading a posting on the forum regarding the wing mirrors being foldable on our "2"s.   Can't locate it now, but it did induce me into trying to fold mine!   Driver side is stiff but movable,  with little improvement when lubricated.   Passenger side eased to death tried to the point when I thought it might shear off,    NBG even after drenching with penetrating oils.     This will have to wait for the day when the door panel can be removed and subsequently the removal of the mirror, when a closer examination of the lower mechanism can be made,  I suspect I will find a spring/dimpled washer type setup,  anyone else been there and could give advice?

[Joesson]

Hi @kwnelson
It was @Carolyn  https://www.mr2roc.org/forum/index.php?topic=64748.0
 That posted about using dental floss  or similar and WD40 or PlusGas to work the joint free. I know I got mine moving some years ago with just a spray of WD. For sure that is at least two sets of mirrors that move, so likely many more should. But, the problem is, that in many cases these mirrors have remained in one position for 14- 21 years. There will be many people who will find that their joints are stiff after sitting around for three months during lockdown so not unexpected that our mirrors are sometimes proving to be stiff!

[Call the midlife!]

When you say door panel, I'm assuming you mean the door card on the inside that carries the speakers etc, not the outer door skin itself?

[panderoo]

I wondered about this with the mirrors, my felt totally stuck when I tried to love them.

Might have a bash with the WD40.

Would be useful to be able to fold them.

[m1tch]

They are foldable, its just at this point a lot of them don't anymore!

[Topdownman]

Having a mirror lying around (from a Ding Day auction some years ago!) I thought I would see if it moved. No, so I removed the 2 studs from the bottom



Then the 3 screws under the cover



Then this was exposed with no further disasembly obvious from the bottom



I had been spraying all areas with GT85 spray (this leaves teflon behind and penetrates too) and the mirror will now turn by hand and there is a very definite click in the open and folded positions.

Bottom line is that there seems to be no advantage in removing the mirror from the door to try to free it up.

The joy of working from home!

 

[Call the midlife!]

You can pull the actual mirror glass off the mount and access the top of the pivot assembly if you don't want to remove the unit from the door.

[Gaz mr-s]

Topdown's looks very clean in comparison to my non-turner....serious rust on it.

[panderoo]

so just give it a liberal spraying and go for a fold ?

[scm2004red]

Seeing this has encouraged me to attack mine, wondered why I couldn't get the driver side mirror to give a decent view. Passenger side now responds after dosing with Wd40 and 3 in 1, can't feel any locking detent though, driver side can now be moved such that the mirror mount overlaps the base exactly needs a firm hand, and the mirror adjustment now gives me a decent view.

Useful post.

[kwnelson]

5 Brownie points to Call the midlife.  This will enable access to lubricate the centre spindle directly or by drilling a hole through which the oil can be applied, the hole to be sealed on completion

[kwnelson]

scm2004red, Have you not found the electric mirror adjusting switch to the right of steering wheel on the dash?

[scm2004red]

Yes, it's pretty obvious!

I couldn't understand why the electric mirror adjustment wouldn't go out far enough for me to get a clear rearward view, and the mirror housing didn't want to move, it was probably OK for the previous lady owner who sat up to the wheel. Me, being taller and sitting right back, found it a pain, now all is becoming clear.

Have to say that the Jap small details like this are not good, my 35 year old Porsche 924 mirrors still work perfectly and fold back as necessary.