Date:         Mon, 25 Feb 2002 00:47:19 +0100
Reply-To:     Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Steven Fish <fish@SALZBURG.CO.AT>
Subject:      87 Heated Mirror Glass Replacement Surgery
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Since my last posting was so sucessfull... I have another fun one:

My 1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon has the sweet (and EXPENSIVE) heated power side
mirrors.

Over time, the road salt seems to have crept very sneekily into the crack
between the black plastic mirror backing, and the actual mirror glass,
corroding the reflective material beneath.

The resulting brown edges are not only unsightly, but they are keeping my
Vanagon from passing the 2002 vehicle inspection here.

Since the entire mirror and housing and electronic costs like in the
hundreds... I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with REPLACING
the glass only... and whether you can buy just the glass alone as a VW
part??

It looks like a nasty job, as the glass is attached with a very sticky
adhesive to the heater plate unit.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

RSF

PS.  Some advice for those of you who are in the same boat.  When removing
the glass unit  from the large miror housing, DO NOT press on the inside
edge as they suggest in Bentley's to get the attaching rod to show.  Instead
just slide a flat tool along the OUTSIDE edge, in a downward direction, to
spin the locking ring which holds the glass unit in place.  If you press on
the mirror, and it is cold outside, and you have really bad luck... you will
put about 3 horizontal cracks in the mirror... and then you DEFINATELY will
not pass your inspection!

<º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{   <º)))>{

Robert S. Fish
Salzburg, Austria
1987 Wolfsburg Vanagon 2.1 Weekender
1987 Golf Cabriolet
1991 Golf