hii everyone iv had a bit of an incident in the past day. a person crashed into my wing mirror... long story short i have to get it fixed myself

now i dont want to go through the insurance caus ill lose my no claims bonus. i have found a replacement glass but can anyone tell me how i can pull off the red shell?

this is really causing a lot of problems and i dont want to try and pull it off because i might break it :( thanks for all the help i really need it

thank you all for the help, the image of the damage is below, i just wanted to know how to pull off the red outer shell without taking out the electrics or the inner workings of the mirror, iv gotten the mirror off but im lost from there on.

thank you all for your help! i dont know where id be without this site!

Edited 26 March, 201115 yr by TheJalster

Image link not working.

DB.

hii everyone iv had a bit of an incident in the past day. a person crashed into my wing mirror... long story short i have to get it fixed myself

now i dont want to go through the insurance caus ill lose my no claims bonus. i have found a replacement glass but can anyone tell me how i can pull off the red shell?

this is really causing a lot of problems and i dont want to try and pull it off because i might break it :( thanks for all the help i really need it

thank you all for the help, the image of the damage is below, i just wanted to know how to pull off the red outer shell without taking out the electrics or the inner workings of the mirror, iv gotten the mirror off but im lost from there on.

thank you all for your help! i dont know where id be without this site!

Are you just replacing the glass? If so, you do not need to take the shell off. You just break out the old glass carefully and push the new on.

Are you just replacing the glass? If so, you do not need to take the shell off. You just break out the old glass carefully and push the new on.

I will need to take the plastic body colour part off for spraying, so how do you take the body colour part off the wing mirror please?

Thanks...

I will need to take the plastic body colour part off for spraying, so how do you take the body colour part off the wing mirror please?

Thanks...

As per Haynes:-

Fold the mirror assembly forwards and position the glass vertical to ease removal of the housing.

Remove the small plastic plug in the bottom of the mirror assembly(if there is one there, don't undo the 2 screws-not Haynes) and insert a screwdriver. Carefully push the screwdriver forwards to release the securing clip, pulling the cover upwards over the mirror glass to remove.

As per Haynes:-

Fold the mirror assembly forwards and position the glass vertical to ease removal of the housing.

Remove the small plastic plug in the bottom of the mirror assembly(if there is one there, don't undo the 2 screws-not Haynes) and insert a screwdriver. Carefully push the screwdriver forwards to release the securing clip, pulling the cover upwards over the mirror glass to remove.

Thanks Peter, one more thing do you have any tips on the spraying? I've never done it before, but I'm quick to learn.

I'm assuming it's just a case of:

Removing/masking the part in question

Sanding down (Wet or Dry? What grit?)

Spraying a primer (how many coats are best?)

Spraying the colour (how many coats are best?)

Spraying the clear coat/lacquer (how many coats are best?)

If I've missed any steps or got something wrong please put me right.

Do you have any tips and advice for getting a good finish? Such as distance to hold the can etc.

Would be grateful for advice from anyone who knows how to spray!

Many thanks...

As above, can someone please provide some advice on spray painting? Thank you.

The mirror cover doesn't just clip out and pop off. You need to remove the mirror glass as there are two torx fittings behind the glass that screw into the plastic cover. If you don't do it this way you will just snap it off all together.

Regarding this mirror, I have now removed the plastic trim (thanks ricardo for tip on undoing screws), sanded the plastic trim with rough grit, then smoothed it with fine grit wet/dry sandpaper. Then I primed the part building up several thin layers. Then I used wet sandpaper to smooth the finish of the primed surface, the problem is the primer then ran and smudged even though it had fully dried for about 48 hours. Should I have sanded the primer with dry sanding only?

My question also applies for how to sand the colour after applying all the coats and also how to sand the lacquer after applying those coats.

I was led to believe that I should be wet sanding for a better finish, but what (if any) layers are best for wet sanding? It's no good wet sanding if it's actually going to ruin each surface. Or should I be sanding at all?

Can anyone with experience on spraying provide any tips please? Many thanks!!

just prime it then paint it then lacquer it job done dont sand any thing you have painted or primed one more thing make sure you use plastic primer or it will flake off in six months

I wouldn't wet sand anything either and I wouldn't sand the primer coat.

I'd just lightly sand between colour coats to give a nice thick and smooth colour base.

Shouldn't sand the lacquer either as you'll just end up with scuff marks all over it.