Camaro 4th gen - Door Mirror Glass
Discussion
Hi guys, just clipped mirrors with someone when we passed going down a narrow road, which resulted in the offside door mirror glass cracking and falling off. It's not electrically heated and the one that fell off (probably original) was simply secured with a sticky black pad, but I'm not sure where to source a replacement from.
Usually I buy parts from Rock Auto and they do stock door mirror glasses, but the ones they have are described as being 'sail style', so I guess they are for the US style door mirrors. My Camaro is a Jap import and has the euro style folding mirrors.
Any ideas where to source a repalcement from? Maybe just try and get the closest fit from Halfords?
Usually I buy parts from Rock Auto and they do stock door mirror glasses, but the ones they have are described as being 'sail style', so I guess they are for the US style door mirrors. My Camaro is a Jap import and has the euro style folding mirrors.
Any ideas where to source a repalcement from? Maybe just try and get the closest fit from Halfords?
Sadly there's no Euro GM part that matches and therefore no pattern part that matches either. The only way to get one is to buy the full mirror assembly which comes in primer with the glass ready fitted so you can't even paint the inside of the bowl properly or take the glass out and fit it in your mirror body! I've been through all the local motor factors mirror supplies to find a match and there simply isn't one.
If you want to buy the whole thing they're available from Bauer Millett but as usual the price is astronomical as they seem to think because we drive a Camaro we actually are in the same demographic as the average Vette ZR1 owner for some reason. I wonder how many service/repair parts they actually sell for the Camaros they sold 98-02. Just as an aside... I wanted a set of factory wheel nuts and covers to go with my spare stock wheels. They're less than $15 for the whole set including covers from SLP (original GM part). Bauer Millett wanted £9.XX + VAT per nut = over £200 for a set of wheel nuts and they "might be able to get the nut covers".
The best way I found around the problem with my mirror was to buy a van mirror (3mm convex and tinted glass) which was slightly bigger all round than the Camaro one and then take it to a specialist mirror/glass merchant who cut and ground the new mirror down to my template. Took the car with me and they gradually just ground it down and trial fitted until we got it within 1mm of the back plate frame all the way round. If I didn't show you exactly where its not quite spot on you'd never know it wasn't factory. Cost me £15 for a mirror and I slipped the glass guy a £20 note for helping me out even though he only wanted a fiver! Bit cheaper than the £4xx plus VAT quoted plus painting by the parts dept at B.M.
If you want to buy the whole thing they're available from Bauer Millett but as usual the price is astronomical as they seem to think because we drive a Camaro we actually are in the same demographic as the average Vette ZR1 owner for some reason. I wonder how many service/repair parts they actually sell for the Camaros they sold 98-02. Just as an aside... I wanted a set of factory wheel nuts and covers to go with my spare stock wheels. They're less than $15 for the whole set including covers from SLP (original GM part). Bauer Millett wanted £9.XX + VAT per nut = over £200 for a set of wheel nuts and they "might be able to get the nut covers".
The best way I found around the problem with my mirror was to buy a van mirror (3mm convex and tinted glass) which was slightly bigger all round than the Camaro one and then take it to a specialist mirror/glass merchant who cut and ground the new mirror down to my template. Took the car with me and they gradually just ground it down and trial fitted until we got it within 1mm of the back plate frame all the way round. If I didn't show you exactly where its not quite spot on you'd never know it wasn't factory. Cost me £15 for a mirror and I slipped the glass guy a £20 note for helping me out even though he only wanted a fiver! Bit cheaper than the £4xx plus VAT quoted plus painting by the parts dept at B.M.
STOP!
Halfords will cut you a new mirror from one of the many replacements they do if you give them a template BUT BUT BUT you need a suitable mirror from the OPPOSITE side of the car ie you need a passenger side mirror from the nearside of a RHD car for your offisde or you'll get all the wrong reflective qualities. Ask me how I know....
Halfords will cut you a new mirror from one of the many replacements they do if you give them a template BUT BUT BUT you need a suitable mirror from the OPPOSITE side of the car ie you need a passenger side mirror from the nearside of a RHD car for your offisde or you'll get all the wrong reflective qualities. Ask me how I know....
The amount of "convexness" in the mirror doesn't just depend on which side of the car the mirror is from but the size and shape of the mirror and what the original manafacturer spec'ed depending on the distance of the average driver from the mirror and the field of vision they thought appropriate. The only way to get the field of vision exactly as you'd like is to try a number of different passenger side mirrors by getting someone to hold them in place before you have them cut down. Buy one thats overly convex (drivers side) and you'll see the whole world in it...AND "Objects in the rear view mirror..." etc etc
Wonder why both the large Halfords branches round here didn't offer to cut me one.
Wonder why both the large Halfords branches round here didn't offer to cut me one.
Went back to Halfords intending to buy a larger mirror that could be ground down to size, but before I did that one of the staff checked their computer system and found that a mirror for 98-02 Camaro was listed. Strangely, though, there was no left/right option and I can't quite see how that can be right, but I guess I'll just wait and see what turns up. If it's no good I won't accept it and will return to the previous plan.
yabadaba said:
Went back to Halfords intending to buy a larger mirror that could be ground down to size, but before I did that one of the staff checked their computer system and found that a mirror for 98-02 Camaro was listed. Strangely, though, there was no left/right option and I can't quite see how that can be right, but I guess I'll just wait and see what turns up. If it's no good I won't accept it and will return to the previous plan.
The glass is mirrored on both sides. You just stick which way round you need it.Hi I had a similar problem with my passenger side mirror.
Here's how I fixed it. Made a cardboard template from the drivers side mirror, went to my local Halfords and got a mirror slightly bigger (remember this is the right side mirror).
Masked it with masking tape and draw the shape on it.
Then with a bench grinder carefully ground it to shape (I wont deny it took a little patience and time). Dont have the mirror flat (at 90 degree's) on the grinder table this will crack the mirror, but hold it between your hands as if you are praying. The finished edge will be a bit untidy, but that's not a problem.
You will notice that the camaro mirrors have a plastic edging round the mirror glass.
So with a soldering iron melt away all that edging on the damaged mirror houseing, (this will also help the new mirror to stick properly).
Get a length of black electrical cable and remove the inner wires and sleeves, so now you are left with what is basically a black flexible tube, slowly and patiently with a sharp scalple cut halfway through the tube along it's length.
With tiny amounts of superglue fix it around the mirror holding it in place with tape till it's dry.
Then attach mirror to car...... Job done £15 instead of £200. But like I said take your time with the grinding, don't be tempted to try and snap the glass... Good Luck.
Here's how I fixed it. Made a cardboard template from the drivers side mirror, went to my local Halfords and got a mirror slightly bigger (remember this is the right side mirror).
Masked it with masking tape and draw the shape on it.
Then with a bench grinder carefully ground it to shape (I wont deny it took a little patience and time). Dont have the mirror flat (at 90 degree's) on the grinder table this will crack the mirror, but hold it between your hands as if you are praying. The finished edge will be a bit untidy, but that's not a problem.
You will notice that the camaro mirrors have a plastic edging round the mirror glass.
So with a soldering iron melt away all that edging on the damaged mirror houseing, (this will also help the new mirror to stick properly).
Get a length of black electrical cable and remove the inner wires and sleeves, so now you are left with what is basically a black flexible tube, slowly and patiently with a sharp scalple cut halfway through the tube along it's length.
With tiny amounts of superglue fix it around the mirror holding it in place with tape till it's dry.
Then attach mirror to car...... Job done £15 instead of £200. But like I said take your time with the grinding, don't be tempted to try and snap the glass... Good Luck.
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