Door distorted at mirror mount
Discussion
Posted this on MX5OC forum but rather quiet in the bodywork section.
Bought a replacement mirror for my car as the electric mirror was pinched/knocked off and a tatty manual fitted instead. Never really fitted flush though.
The new one won't fit flush with the bodywork either, it seems that the metalwork of the door around the mounting points has been distorted somehow - presumably when the mirror was knocked off or pinched.
Question is, how easy is it going to be to fix it? Ideally I'd like to sort it myself - not sure how easily I could push it out from inside - maybe I could use mole grips attached to the bolts in the mounting holes...?
If not, I guess I could use a Dent Devils or similar franchise...
Thoughts?
Bought a replacement mirror for my car as the electric mirror was pinched/knocked off and a tatty manual fitted instead. Never really fitted flush though.
The new one won't fit flush with the bodywork either, it seems that the metalwork of the door around the mounting points has been distorted somehow - presumably when the mirror was knocked off or pinched.
Question is, how easy is it going to be to fix it? Ideally I'd like to sort it myself - not sure how easily I could push it out from inside - maybe I could use mole grips attached to the bolts in the mounting holes...?
If not, I guess I could use a Dent Devils or similar franchise...
Thoughts?
It's not unusual. I'd never noticed it before until I bought a new door for mine. Many of the doors I looked at had the same problem.
I suspect (if it's to a similar extent to that I have seen) that it's because screwing the mirror onto the door pulls the base tight to the metal but the mirror base isn't as curved as the door so it pulls it into a flat 'dent'.
Incidentally, which size hole did you find under your mirror? A nice 2.5cmish diameter one or a piddly little one probably not even 1cm in diameter?
I suspect (if it's to a similar extent to that I have seen) that it's because screwing the mirror onto the door pulls the base tight to the metal but the mirror base isn't as curved as the door so it pulls it into a flat 'dent'.
Incidentally, which size hole did you find under your mirror? A nice 2.5cmish diameter one or a piddly little one probably not even 1cm in diameter?
Edited by Wigeon Incognito on Wednesday 15th October 19:26
If you have the tiny 1cm hole, your door isn't currently fit for an electric mirror.
I guess you haven't screwed the electric mirror down yet?
What you'll find is that on the base is a plastic protrusion, that is supposed to nestle in the larger 2.5cmish hole on an electric mirror equipped car door.
Yours will seem like it will screw down, but then you'll find it won't fit properly as the base can't fit in the tiny hole (another way the dent may have been created). I'd suspect the car has had a replacement door at some point and this is why it currently has a manual mirror fitted to suit the hole.
You'll have to make the hole larger to suit an electric mirror, not hard using a hole cutter suitable for metal and a steady hand. Then ensure the edges are properly rust proofed and painted afterwards.
I guess you haven't screwed the electric mirror down yet?
What you'll find is that on the base is a plastic protrusion, that is supposed to nestle in the larger 2.5cmish hole on an electric mirror equipped car door.
Yours will seem like it will screw down, but then you'll find it won't fit properly as the base can't fit in the tiny hole (another way the dent may have been created). I'd suspect the car has had a replacement door at some point and this is why it currently has a manual mirror fitted to suit the hole.
You'll have to make the hole larger to suit an electric mirror, not hard using a hole cutter suitable for metal and a steady hand. Then ensure the edges are properly rust proofed and painted afterwards.
Edited by Wigeon Incognito on Wednesday 15th October 19:26
Thanks for the responses. Interesting about the hole size. The replacement mirror has a circular lip on the bottom that does fit into the 1" hole, so I don't think that's the problem. I'll take off the passenger mirror and check it when I have a mo.
Have uploaded some pics here
http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r80/nicecupofte...
It's not easy to see, but above the hole it seems to have got flattened slightly, whilst you can see that the metal seems to have been pulled out around the mounting holes. The angle of the curve seems to be completely wrong as you can see in the 3rd photo the mirror is a long way from being flush (as the old mirror is in the 1st picture)
Have uploaded some pics here
http://s141.photobucket.com/albums/r80/nicecupofte...
It's not easy to see, but above the hole it seems to have got flattened slightly, whilst you can see that the metal seems to have been pulled out around the mounting holes. The angle of the curve seems to be completely wrong as you can see in the 3rd photo the mirror is a long way from being flush (as the old mirror is in the 1st picture)
NiceCupOfTea said:
Thanks for the responses. Interesting about the hole size. The replacement mirror has a circular lip on the bottom that does fit into the 1" hole, so I don't think that's the problem.
Yes, sorry about that. I wrote it when I was at work but have just got home and had another look.The hole sizes would have been far more accurate if I'd said cm rather than inches. I was working from (incorrect) memory earlier.
That dent is a lot worse than others I've seen on the doors.
Edit: I've edited my previous posts for accuracy should anybody else use this thread as reference.
Edited by Wigeon Incognito on Wednesday 15th October 19:27
It's definitely a Mk1 mirror.MX-5 Lazza said:
miniman said:
I'm with Lazza.
I'm not. I was wrong. It's just in that third picture it looked more angular than the Mk1 mirror, I guess because it's been turned 90 degrees.
Any thoughts? I have fired off an email with picture to Dent Devils but I have a horrible feeling if they say they can do anything I will be looking at £100 to sort it. A new door would be cheaper
TBH I think it's beyond what I could sort myself Wouldn't know where to start...If you take the window glass out, as you have an electric mirror equipped car that bit of the door is accessible (there's a cutout in the metal on the other side). Maybe it would be a good idea to have a go at improving it yourself.
Taking the window glass out couldn't be simpler.
Remove the door card, lower the window and you'll see two plastic 'stops' at the top of the door that are supposed to stop the glass raising too high - take them off. Then, raise the window to about the half way position and you'll see 3 screws in plastic stoppers holding the glass to the mechanism - unscrew and the then the glass will slide right out of the top. The whole process will probably take 15 minutes.
Taking the window glass out couldn't be simpler.
Remove the door card, lower the window and you'll see two plastic 'stops' at the top of the door that are supposed to stop the glass raising too high - take them off. Then, raise the window to about the half way position and you'll see 3 screws in plastic stoppers holding the glass to the mechanism - unscrew and the then the glass will slide right out of the top. The whole process will probably take 15 minutes.
Edited by Wigeon Incognito on Thursday 16th October 10:05
Gassing Station | Mazda MX5/Roadster/Miata | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff