Side Mirror Popped Off

bacampbe · 02-23-2016, 07:52 PM

Another driver let his door get loose in the crazy wind today, and whacked my wife's 328i. It left a pretty good scratch, and also popped the passenger-side mirror off of it's mount.

It almost looks like it could be snapped back into place. Is that likely true, and if so is there a trick to it? My initial attempt failed, but I did not apply much force for fear of breaking it further.

BM57 · 02-23-2016, 09:07 PM

I'm not sure but maybe these pics might help you:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_8561

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_8562

bacampbe · 02-23-2016, 10:32 PM

Ah. It looks like the socket in part number 1 sheared in two.

Is this the sort of thing the normal BMW service department would handle, or is it a body shop issue? Does anyone have ideas how to secure the loose mirror for transport, to avoid further damage?

BM57 · 02-23-2016, 10:34 PM

I'm not certain but I would guess that the BMW service department should not have trouble dealing with it.

RoundelM3 · 02-24-2016, 08:37 AM

Or you could look up what's required at realoem dot com, order the needed part from getbmwparts dot com and repair it yourself; otherwise, either your insurance takes a hit or it comes out of your pocket unless the guy who broke it is willing to pay for the damage.

bacampbe · 02-24-2016, 08:52 AM

Does anyone have thoughts on how to secure the mirror for transport? It looks like it would flop around from the wind as it is now, and possibly do additional damage.

F30lolz · 02-24-2016, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacampbe

Does anyone have thoughts on how to secure the mirror for transport? It looks like it would flop around from the wind as it is now, and possibly do additional damage.

Rubber bands.

Edit: for a temp fix.

bacampbe · 02-24-2016, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30lolz

Rubber bands.

Edit: for a temp fix.

That's an interesting idea, but I don't find a good way to wrap the bands to secure the mirror. The mirror housing is loose at the swivel, and held on by cables. The shape of the mirror doesn't give me good leverage or anchor points for rubber bands.

I'm considering duct tape, but am afraid of what that would do to the finish. I might be able to do it without getting tape on a painted surface, but it would be tricky.

pjohns21 · 02-24-2016, 10:20 AM

If your dealership is nice, you could order it from parts on your own. When you pick it up, ask your trusted SA if they can put it on for you. This shows that you're paying for the part on your own and not driving in there stating that it just happened spontaneously as you were driving and you expect it to be replaced under warranty. People do this. Cite a potential "manufacture's defect" with the original part(s) if they ask too many questions or immediately try to quote you a price for labor. It also helps if you're there having the vehicle worked on/serviced/checked for other reasons too. A biker or car wacked mine off parked on the street and it snapped back into place, even with the actual mirror piece hanging by a wire when I found it.

F30lolz · 02-24-2016, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacampbe

That's an interesting idea, but I don't find a good way to wrap the bands to secure the mirror. The mirror housing is loose at the swivel, and held on by cables. The shape of the mirror doesn't give me good leverage or anchor points for rubber bands.

I'm considering duct tape, but am afraid of what that would do to the finish. I might be able to do it without getting tape on a painted surface, but it would be tricky.

I let my father borrow my X1 a few years ago and he hit a trash can and the passenger side mirror came off as well. He was able to retrieve it so I used clear tape. Didn't harm the paint and I was about to have it fixed but traded it in.

bacampbe · 02-24-2016, 11:11 AM

How would one go about just removing the mirror? I don't find any exposed screws. There's an access cover on the bottom of the bracket, but it's not obvious to me how one removes that.

x986 · 02-24-2016, 02:19 PM

Masking tape. It is designed to stick and release with no residue. FWIW, that can be in the neighborhood of $1500. I hope she got "accident" details.

bacampbe · 02-24-2016, 02:31 PM

She did get details, and has a claim in with the other party's insurance. We will see what they say.

WHL102 · 02-24-2016, 07:27 PM

Use painter's masking tape or you could try using some plastic wrap if you have it in the kitchen. Just go around it diagonally a few times and then take a bunch of it at the end, bunch it like string, and then knot it around the thin part of the mirror. You can put whatever tape you have at home over it for good measure.

BM57 · 02-24-2016, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bacampbe

How would one go about just removing the mirror? I don't find any exposed screws. There's an access cover on the bottom of the bracket, but it's not obvious to me how one removes that.

Maybe these links might help you:

http://bd8ba3c866c8cbc330ab-7b26c6f3...62211904KT.pdf

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=708155

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuAbyb2RvTo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8btR3JnYIJY

bacampbe · 03-15-2016, 05:22 PM

We just got the car back from the body shop, and it looks great, and everything in the mirror seemed to work.

But after we got it home it started displaying a "Camera System" alert in yellow on the dash whenever the top-down camera view is active. The camera works just fine. This is complicated by the fact that the alert only displays when the camera display is active. If I switch back to the iDrive display to look up details for the alert, the alert clears. If I re-activate the top-down camera, it comes back.

Is there anything simple and obvious that would explain this, and maybe save us a trip back to the shop?

02-23-2016, 07:52 PM	#1
bacampbe Lieutenant 348 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2024 Z4 M40i PB Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Side Mirror Popped Off Another driver let his door get loose in the crazy wind today, and whacked my wife's 328i. It left a pretty good scratch, and also popped the passenger-side mirror off of it's mount. It almost looks like it could be snapped back into place. Is that likely true, and if so is there a trick to it? My initial attempt failed, but I did not apply much force for fear of breaking it further.
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02-23-2016, 09:07 PM	#2
BM57 Private First Class 85 Rep 188 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 320i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: British Columbia, Canada iTrader: (0)	I'm not sure but maybe these pics might help you: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_8561 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=51_8562 __________________ 2012 BMW 320i Alpine White (300) Premium Package (ZAR) Lighting Package (ZAU) Navigation Package (ZAV) Rear Park Distance Control (507) Automatic (205)
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02-23-2016, 10:32 PM	#3
bacampbe Lieutenant 348 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2024 Z4 M40i PB Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Ah. It looks like the socket in part number 1 sheared in two. Is this the sort of thing the normal BMW service department would handle, or is it a body shop issue? Does anyone have ideas how to secure the loose mirror for transport, to avoid further damage? Last edited by bacampbe; 02-23-2016 at 10:43 PM..
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02-23-2016, 10:34 PM	#4
BM57 Private First Class 85 Rep 188 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 320i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: British Columbia, Canada iTrader: (0)	I'm not certain but I would guess that the BMW service department should not have trouble dealing with it. __________________ 2012 BMW 320i Alpine White (300) Premium Package (ZAR) Lighting Package (ZAU) Navigation Package (ZAV) Rear Park Distance Control (507) Automatic (205)
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02-24-2016, 08:37 AM	#5
RoundelM3 Major General 1837 Rep 6,990 Posts Drives: 15 F80 M3, 22 G01 X3 30i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Clayton, NC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2022 BMW X3 [9.83] 2015 BMW M3 [6.50]	Or you could look up what's required at realoem dot com, order the needed part from getbmwparts dot com and repair it yourself; otherwise, either your insurance takes a hit or it comes out of your pocket unless the guy who broke it is willing to pay for the damage. __________________ 2015 F80 ///M3 Sedan 7DCT Tanzanite, 2022 X3 sDrive30i 8AT Brooklyn Grey
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02-24-2016, 08:52 AM	#6
bacampbe Lieutenant 348 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2024 Z4 M40i PB Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	Does anyone have thoughts on how to secure the mirror for transport? It looks like it would flop around from the wind as it is now, and possibly do additional damage.
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02-24-2016, 10:20 AM	#9
pjohns21 Private First Class 29 Rep 195 Posts Drives: 2016 EB-II/CR 228i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Chicago, IL iTrader: (0)	If your dealership is nice, you could order it from parts on your own. When you pick it up, ask your trusted SA if they can put it on for you. This shows that you're paying for the part on your own and not driving in there stating that it just happened spontaneously as you were driving and you expect it to be replaced under warranty. People do this. Cite a potential "manufacture's defect" with the original part(s) if they ask too many questions or immediately try to quote you a price for labor. It also helps if you're there having the vehicle worked on/serviced/checked for other reasons too. A biker or car wacked mine off parked on the street and it snapped back into place, even with the actual mirror piece hanging by a wire when I found it. Last edited by pjohns21; 02-24-2016 at 10:35 AM..
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02-24-2016, 11:11 AM	#11
bacampbe Lieutenant 348 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2024 Z4 M40i PB Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	How would one go about just removing the mirror? I don't find any exposed screws. There's an access cover on the bottom of the bracket, but it's not obvious to me how one removes that.
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02-24-2016, 02:19 PM	#12
x986 First Lieutenant 96 Rep 378 Posts Drives: '16 340, ex e92 335, ex e46 M3 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 1996 Ferrari F355 [0.00] 2014 Porsche Cayman S [0.00] 2020 M340i [0.00]	Masking tape. It is designed to stick and release with no residue. FWIW, that can be in the neighborhood of $1500. I hope she got "accident" details.
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02-24-2016, 02:31 PM	#13
bacampbe Lieutenant 348 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2024 Z4 M40i PB Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	She did get details, and has a claim in with the other party's insurance. We will see what they say.
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02-24-2016, 07:27 PM	#14
WHL102 First Lieutenant 125 Rep 391 Posts Drives: '16 GTI S, DSG, 4-Door Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Northern NJ iTrader: (0)	Use painter's masking tape or you could try using some plastic wrap if you have it in the kitchen. Just go around it diagonally a few times and then take a bunch of it at the end, bunch it like string, and then knot it around the thin part of the mirror. You can put whatever tape you have at home over it for good measure.
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03-15-2016, 05:22 PM	#16
bacampbe Lieutenant 348 Rep 530 Posts Drives: 2024 Z4 M40i PB Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Dallas, TX iTrader: (0)	We just got the car back from the body shop, and it looks great, and everything in the mirror seemed to work. But after we got it home it started displaying a "Camera System" alert in yellow on the dash whenever the top-down camera view is active. The camera works just fine. This is complicated by the fact that the alert only displays when the camera display is active. If I switch back to the iDrive display to look up details for the alert, the alert clears. If I re-activate the top-down camera, it comes back. Is there anything simple and obvious that would explain this, and maybe save us a trip back to the shop?
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