Date:         Tue, 19 Oct 2010 21:03:42 -0700
Reply-To:     "Michael A. Radtke" <wa7zpu@CISAZ.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Michael A. Radtke" <wa7zpu@CISAZ.COM>
Subject:      Side Mirror Surfaces
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hello,

I finally had to replace my side mirrors on my vanagon and I did so with
convex on both sides.  This has been just great.  (Vanagon content)

I just needed to replace the mirrors (hail) on a different car.  The
right convex mirror was just fine with glass on the reflecting side and
silvering on the back.  However, the flat mirror supplied for the left
would have had the silvering on the reflecting side.  Since that would
have been correct on the right side, I assumed that they just sent the
wrong mirror and I ordered a replacement.

You guessed it.  The replacement mirror was exactly the same.

I contacted the company and they had a story about the Japanese doing it
one way and the USA doing it the other and I should just go ahead and
use the mirror since it was correct.  However, it seems to me that even
if they clear coated the silvered side it would never hold up nearly as
long as if the glass was exposed to the elements.  We Vanagon owners
tend to keep all of our cars a very long time.

So, what's the best knowledge on this?  Is this the way they make
mirrors now?

Thanks,
Mike    '84 GL since new ... Phoenix.