Side Mirror Adjustments

220629

Well-known member
Side Mirror Adjustments

It would seem that the side mirrors would be pretty straight-forward. There are actually some fine adjustments which, assuming things were properly adjusted at delivery, may never be needed. My 2006 tube arm type mirror wasn't holding position. The resulting repairs made me aware of the adjustments.

Refer to the pictures in the post below for the tubular arm style and molded plastic mirror options.

I personally like the looks of my 2004 molded mirror, but I have found that the tube arm style mirrors give better views as compared to the molded arm passenger mirrors where the top optional mirror is partially blocked by the closer fixed position to the A pillar.

Everyone should already be aware of the ability to manually (or electrically) adjust the large mirror plates proper. The upper smaller sized optional "Closer Than They Appear" mirrors are mounted to a ball and socket adjuster. That allows some fine adjustment.

Both mirror types have a coarse arm pivot adjustment which allows the mirror to be folded back against the van body. It also has some ability to let the mirror assembly move if struck at slower speeds. The coarse adjustment on both my 2004 molded mirrors, and my 2006 arm mirrors have basically 2 usable coarse stop/detent positions.

Mirror shown in normal out position.

CoarseOut.jpg

Mirror shown folded in against the body.

CoarseIn.jpg

If you push on the mirror assembly and it doesn't clunk to a set position, but just slides to another position you may have a loose or worn fine adjustment. Refer to the next post for repair.

So number one on both style mirrors is the coarse clunk adjustment.

Number two on both mirrors is a main pivot long Torx T-40 bolt accessible from underneath. That bolt locks a toothed/serrated fine adjustment on the top section of the pivot.

Looking up at either style arm will reveal the Torx pivot bolt.

PivotBolt.jpg

That's it for the molded mirrors.

The tubular arm style mirrors have another fine adjustment located at the attachment point of the larger molded mirror to the tube frame. After the plastic cover is removed you will find that adjustment is locked by two Allen head machine screws (5 or 7 mm Allen?).

LargeAttachment.jpg

The Allen screw bracket black plastic cover is available from Europarts. Same part both sides.

So no big news above, but I figured it was worth sharing.

vic
 
Last edited:

220629

Well-known member
From Cheap Tricks

As time has passed the Brushtone Gray paint brush marks have turned less noticeable. I think that it's probably a combination of the paint flowing and finish dulling a bit. Even the larger rust patches which I was never really able to keep from returning have been held at bay by the thick film of brush paint.

A friend of mine commented the other day that that my van now has a real military look to it. I wonder if they sell magnetic iron crosses? :tongue:


Steel Tube Mirror Arm Rotating/Slipping?


The driver side metal tube mirror arm on my 2006 would not hold proper position. It would mostly stay where I wanted, but at highway speed or in higher wind it would slip just out of place. The passenger side folds and clunks like my 2004 plastic housing mirrors do.

What I found.

There is a long Torx T-40 head bolt accessible from the bottom that acts as the pivot point. When I removed that bolt it revealed that a serrated gear tooth engagement at that top had been worn smooth. The lower teeth were fine. The upper matching aluminum teeth were worn smooth.

My solution.

In my collection I found a toothed type lock washer.

tooth-lock-washer-250x250.jpg

I slipped it in to bear against the worn smooth teeth. It works great.

Added: I believe what I used had a 3/8" I.D. x 5/8" O.D. It may have been 5/16" I.D. x 1/2" O.D. They are cheap enough that having a couple of each size for trial would be worthwhile.

I positioned the mirror and snugged the bolt. The mirror now maintains position. It will slip a bit in the event of the mirror arm bumping something, but it will not function to allow the mirror to be swung in and out regularly as designed OEM. Regular use would certainly cause too much wear on the surfaces.

vic

Added:
The tooth washer fix does return the OEM mirror swing coarse click stop function. I didn't tighten the pivot bolt completely because I thought that I'd need to leave some slip for the arm to move if hit by something. With different thoughts this morning, I tightened the pivot bolt down properly. That locked the fine adjustment assembly to the OEM positioner so that the OEM coarse click stop position detents again work. All is back to normal function now.

The top serrated teeth are for fine adjustment to the coarse click stops. I suspect that the pivot bolt was loose which allowed the teeth to wear. My passenger side mirror pivot bolt was a bit loose. I tightened that side to prevent problems.

The click stop feature happens when the inside large cylinder pivot rotates. If your mirror arm swings and the click stop positioning cylinder doesn't move then my tooth washer fix may work for you too.

The fix works for both style OEM mirrors.

MirrorTubeArm.jpg

MoldedMirror.jpg

Fed Ex style mirror vs plastic mount

T1NFedExMirror.jpg
 
Last edited:

220629

Well-known member
The small mirrors proper are available separately... at least for NCV3 models.

Thanks goes to Seber. :thumbup:

vic

Rustdogbrown caught an error for T1N. :thumbup:
The link appears to detail a convex mirror for a 2007 and newer sprinter. Am I misreading something?
The above are likely for NCV3 models. Verify before purchase.

Added:
I brush painted my rusting mirror tube arms with Rustoleum flat black paint. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the paint flowed out before drying. You need to look very closely to realize that they were brush painted.

Added2:
I have a used intact N. American driver side (left) top mirror housing in my parts stash. It is available for sale. It is missing the mirror proper.
 
Last edited:
The small mirrors proper are available separately.

Thanks goes to Seber. :thumbup:



vic

Added:
I brush painted my rusting mirror tube arms with Rustoleum flat black paint. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the paint flowed out before drying. You need to look very closely to realize that they were brush painted.

Added2:
I have a used intact N. American driver side (left) top mirror housing in my parts stash. It is available for sale. It is missing the mirror proper.
The link appears to detail a convex mirror for a 2007 and newer sprinter. Am I misreading something?
 

220629

Well-known member
The link appears to detail a convex mirror for a 2007 and newer sprinter. Am I misreading something?
You are probably correct.

The post was in the T1N section. I didn't research it.

The NCV3 models were available 2006 in Europe. North America lagged by one year.

The "2006 - " would hint to NCV3 Euro models.

Thanks for the heads up. :thumbup:

vic
 

Gulf SV

Kevin Burns
Glad to see this thread revived. My project is a bit different. I have the parabolics installed from the factory on my 06. I want to move them from their top location to below the main mirrors. The old truck driver in me cannot get use to them mounted above. The problem I face is finding a good description for removing the flat mirror to make removing the parabolics easier.

So, can anyone provide a good description or copy the instructions that came with ordering the parabolics separately; I understand they are excellent.

TIA,
Kevin
 

220629

Well-known member
There is a procedure at the end of this 2007 NCV3 pdf. Perhaps someone can verify whether the T1N mirror remove in a similar manner.

View attachment 2007-Dodge Sprinter - Service-Manual-Body-Exterior-Side-View-Mirror-Remove-Replace.pdf

vic

Added:

A modified T1N mirror removal procedure per Cheyenne. :thumbup: (I have not tried it. The published manual method didn't work for me.)

Push the top of the mirror glass fully in so the bottom edge sticks out.
Press the bottom edge directly up to release the tabs.
Now tilt the mirror so the top is out and slide the mirror glass all the way out.

*****


T1NmirrorRemoval.jpg
 
Last edited:

autostaretx

Erratic Member
The instructions for mirror removal were recently (within a month or two) posted in another thread.
If/when i (re-)find the extract from the service manual (here: http://diysprinter.co.uk/reference/2006-VA-SM.pdf ) i'll attach it as an image in this note. Done.

Bascially, it's knowing how to tilt the mirror with the motors, and then careful lift-and-push to extract it

The "factory" parabolics actually came as separate pieces with the Sprinter (i saw them pre-delivery), and were attached at the dealership (who broke one of the flat mirror's attachment fingers... discovered when the flat mirror fell out a month later)

Found it (for the next lurker...)

SideMirrors.png

--dick
 
Last edited:

220629

Well-known member

220629

Well-known member
Mirror tubular arms rust.

The steel tube arms on my 2006 were rusting. Around July 2016 I scuffed them up a bit with a
Scotch pad and brush painted the tubes with Rustoleum Flat Black paint. I was actually surprised with how well the brush marks flowed out. The arms still look very much OEM as to finish.

Anyway, close to 18 months later the paint and parts still look good.

FWIW.
vic
 

220629

Well-known member
******

Added:
T1N mirror assembly complete.

******

I noticed that APDTY has replacement mirror glass listed on Amazon.

Note the heated, power, and other differences.

T1N
https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-Replacement-Driver-Side-2003-2006-5103542AA/dp/B00JH2H5UU
https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-Replacement-Passenger-2003-2006-5103757AA/dp/B00JH2GYE8/



NCV3 (906)

https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-Replacement-Driver-Side-2007-2009-68009992AA
https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-Replacement-2007-2009-Sprinter-68010118AA
https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-Replacement-Passenger-Side-2007-2009-68010092AA
https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-Replacement-Driver-Side-Sprinter-68009993AA
https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-67394-Dodge-Sprinter-2009-07/dp/B00JH2H866
https://www.amazon.com/APDTY-67393-Dodge-Sprinter-2009-07/dp/B00JH2GGNC

https://www.amazon.com/CONVEX-Replacement-ADHESIVE-SPRINTER-Passenger/dp/B015JR504Y
https://www.amazon.com/CONVEX-Replacement-Mirror-ADHESIVE-SPRINTER/dp/B015JR4Z9U

https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Freightliner-2006-Current-9068106016-9068106116/dp/B077CCY1DD
https://www.amazon.com/Replacement-Freightliner-2006-Current-9068106016-9068106116/dp/B077CCYD9K

APDTY lists other Sprinter parts too. I have no idea as to quality. Check the reviews.

eg.
T1N Wiper assembly
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00JH2IH6G

vic
 
Last edited:

220629

Well-known member
I heard an odd rattle when I closed the 2006 passenger door. I easily tracked it to a mirror rattle. My top small mirror must have gotten whacked or something. The screws had pulled through the plastic so the mount was loose. My plan was to remove the screws, add a couple washers, and move on. That was the plan.

...

Basically, it's knowing how to tilt the mirror with the motors, and then careful lift-and-push to extract it

...
I just tried that removal method on my 14 year old 2006 passenger main mirror. I moved it back and tried to lever it up. I pulled on the top, pushed on the bottom, and tried to lever it up. I tried other methods and used special words to improve the result. That didn't work either. At one point the mirror did shift up. I thought I was home free. Then things began making stress noises which were worrisome.

I never did remove the mirror. I cleaned the loose top mirror mounts a bit, pushed in some Goop glue, used a bungee cord to hold the top mirror in place, and walked away. It will be just fine. I love Goop glue.

:cheers: vic
 

Cheyenne

UK 2004 T1N 313CDi
I just tried that removal method on my 14 year old 2006 passenger main mirror.
Vic,

I was shown a very slightly different take on the procedure by an MB mechanic...

Push the top of the mirror glass fully in so the bottom edge sticks out.
Press the bottom edge directly up to release the tabs.
Now tilt the mirror so the top is out and slide the mirror glass all the way out.

Keith.
 

bcolins

2004 158" Vista Cruiser
Vic,

I was shown a very slightly different take on the procedure by an MB mechanic...

Push the top of the mirror glass fully in so the bottom edge sticks out.
Press the bottom edge directly up to release the tabs.
Now tilt the mirror so the top is out and slide the mirror glass all the way out.

Keith.
This is the procedure I have seen and successfully used
 

tbuyan

'04 3500 140" low roof cargo w/dually delete
My '04 3500 has the molded plastic mirror mounts, not the tubular mounts. I doubt that makes any difference, but has anyone succeeded in mounting the parabolics to the bottom of the main mirrors?
 

Top Bottom