W211 Dim/bronzed driver's mirror

[dan1w]

So I'm a Merc owner again after an 8 year hiatus and back on this forum after my Saab 9-5 started giving me a bit of grief.

Put a deposit down today on an 05 E220 estate, I told myself I wouldn't buy one unless the SBC had been replaced but after only being able to find one with a new SBC with 177k and no history and having to tow a caravan I was so impressed with the factory tow bar amongst other things that once I bartered a decent price to keep a bit of cash in reserve I couldn't help myself.

Apart from needing a service, the one thing I have to sort is the driver's mirror which is hazey, bronzed and dim in daylight (both cars I test drove had this) . A bit of searching hints this is a failed auto dimming feature, I'm just wondering what exactly has failed and what's the best repair short of buying a whole new complete mirror?

Can I remove the glass and replace it to keep the ability to demist in winter?

Also, apologies if this should be in a different thread but I have the old (I think Nokia) phone adapter in the arm rest, I want bluetooth but the modules are expensive and I'm not sure they work with many phones. Is there much benefit in buying this rather than ripping out the Parrot from my Saab and using that?

Any advice much appreciated,

Dan

 

[dan1w]

Oh yeah, and anybody able to run off a full spec list of my car? KS05 YZY.

Cheers

 

[gramey]

After Mercedes quoted me £340.00 for a replacement glass on my R129, not the mirror just the glass, and £45.00 for plain mirror without a heating element I followed this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiDiMg481HM

Due to the weather being mild I haven't had a chance to test if the demist works but as all I've done is remove the photo chromatic liquid crystals I see no reason why it shouldn't still demist. I cut through the glue on the beading with a sharp Stanley knife and having cleaned out the crystals mixed some Araldite and glued it back together.

 

[Alps]

replacement mirror glass needed , try and source a used one as a new one wont be cheap.

 

[dan1w]

Thanks I'll have a look at that when I get home. Think I'll need new glass though as it looks tainted and cloudy but I'll see once I have it off

Picked up the car today and as usual found a few new problems I hadn't noticed on the test drive. Put the mirrors in and only one came back out and also the driver's sun visor is really stiff and kind of wobbly when you pull it down which seems weird.

Fuel economy shocked me to, about 36mg on the trip on the A roads on the drive back, was expecting more but hopefully not indicative of a problem.

Felt bad for my poor Saab sat useless on the drive when I got back, with its cheapo GM parts it probably would cost me less to have put that right.

 

[dan1w]

Anyone tried one of these? Not bothered about auto dimming, (A99) MERCEDES BENZ C & E CLASS W203 & W211 DRIVER SIDE HEATED DOOR MIRROR GLASS | eBay

 

[mattc]

Is your thermostat letting the engine get up to temp? Should be a bar or 2 above the 80 mark.

 

[gramey]

Anyone tried one of these? Not bothered about auto dimming, (A99) MERCEDES BENZ C & E CLASS W203 & W211 DRIVER SIDE HEATED DOOR MIRROR GLASS | eBay

If you have the auto diming mirror it will have a different connector on the back rather than just two spade terminals, at least mine did. When I removed mine and cleaned out the crystals it just left a very faint line across the mirror, like a tide mark, which you don't even notice from the drivers seat.

 

[dan1w]

Is your thermostat letting the engine get up to temp? Should be a bar or 2 above the 80 mark.

Hmmm, I did look at it on the way back and think it was about 80, I remembering expecting it to be half way and it being below that anyway. Now you're going to tell me the thermostat costs 50 grand from Mercedes and you have to sacrifice a child and cut the roof off to change it.

 

[dan1w]

If you have the auto diming mirror it will have a different connector on the back rather than just two spade terminals, at least mine did. When I removed mine and cleaned out the crystals it just left a very faint line across the mirror, like a tide mark, which you don't even notice from the drivers seat.

Cheers, I'll give that a go first then.

 

[a111r]

After Mercedes quoted me £340.00 for a replacement glass on my R129, not the mirror just the glass, and £45.00 for plain mirror without a heating element I followed this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiDiMg481HM

Due to the weather being mild I haven't had a chance to test if the demist works but as all I've done is remove the photo chromatic liquid crystals I see no reason why it shouldn't still demist. I cut through the glue on the beading with a sharp Stanley knife and having cleaned out the crystals mixed some Araldite and glued it back together.

I did the same but my DIY seal was not great, thus it mists up a bit.

Alternatively, if one wants OEM heated but not bothered about the auto dimming, just order one from MB for a LHD ...saving about £300.

 

[Major774]

Loads on eBay, I usually get them between £55-£65 genuine used. I even bought a spare one for back up.

 

[dan1w]

Loads on eBay, I usually get them between £55-£65 genuine used. I even bought a spare one for back up.

Cheers, but cheapest I can see is £98 for a scuffed up one (silver) that is non dimming, or do you mean just for the glass?

 

[AMGeed]

^ Just the glass I'd imagine. Not much point collecting complete wing mirror assemblies

 

[dan1w]

^ Just the glass I'd imagine. Not much point collecting complete wing mirror assemblies

Can't see any with just the glass on there.

I gave the car its first proper drive today and monitored the engine temp. After 30 mins on the motorway at about 60 engine temp was around 60 degrees.

Only after an hour when I got into some traffic on suburban roads did it hit 2 bars above 80. Does this sound like a faulty thermostat or do these actually take ages to warm up?

 

[dan1w]

Mirror repair didn't go well as you can see from the pic below. The seal was stuck on there really well.

Bought an aftermarket heated glass off eBay, a bit fiddlier than the OEM one to click in but looks exactly the same as the n/s mirror. No soldering required and cost £13.

 

[HB]

Mirror repair didn't go well as you can see from the pic below. The seal was stuck on there really well.

Bought an aftermarket heated glass off eBay, a bit fiddlier than the OEM one to click in but looks exactly the same as the n/s mirror. No soldering required and cost £13.

I did the same thing for my 211 from ebay. no probs with it at all. Beats £230 FROM THE STEALER !

 

[Major774]

It's just for the glass, I have just had a look and there aren't many about now.

If you can live without the feature then happy motoring.

 

[Major774]

MERCEDES E CLASS W211 E240 V6 '03 RIGHT O/S ELECTRIC FOLDING WING MIRROR BLACK | eBay

This is the cheapest working OEM glass I can find.