Passenger Door Mirror

[StevenF]

Did MB do away with the passenger door mirror for the 71's or was it an option?

[mbzse]

Always an option; SA502

[66andBlue]

Are there any 230SL owners with cars that were ordered with option code 502?

If so it would be nice to know the exact location of the mirror on the passenger door when installed at the factory.

502   from 01.01.1963  to 31.03.1983    " OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR, ON THE RIGHT"

[doitwright]

Forum discussions on locating Early style (with gooseneck) mirrors on passenger side door have concluded that they are more useful when the mounting holes are located one additional spacing to the rear when compared to the spacing on the drivers side. This does not apply to the later style mirrors.

[pj]

Gentlemen,
I've reviewed every post I can find on this topic (and on Pagodentreff, too) and a new question has come up at the shop where my doors are being prepped. Installing the right side (passenger's) mirror means drilling at least one hole farther back (about 3cm) than the corresponding holes on the left side (driver's). The attached photo is aimed upward, inside my right side door, showing the "test drills" through the reinforcing plate and also showing that part of the door's metal construction has a lip or flange that prevents drilling holes any farther back than that. In Alfred's helpful photo from https://www.pagodentreff.de/diskussionsforum/attachments/230sl-door-mirror-reinforcement-jpg.18510/ it seems to show this lip or flange bent back or cut away. That makes sense, I guess, but...

does that interfere with the operation of the window mechanism in any way?

Thanks!

[66andBlue]

Peter,
the lip does not interfere in any way with the window mechanism and can be cut back.
Looking at your test holes I am not sure whether the mirror will be far enough back so that you can see it completely when sitting in the driver seat. I am not sure where this "1-hole further back" instruction originated, imo it is not enough.
Take the threaded stubs out of the mirror and then have a helper put it flush on the door and check whether it is obstructed. Make sure that you have the outside chrome trim installed to know how far the mirror can be mounted up on the rim.
If you look at the photo in my Pagodentreff post you'll see that I used a second reinforcement plate in my 1966 230SL (now sold). That particular style is NLA and the current ones are thicker. You should reinforce that thin skinned aluminum door.
Here is a photo showing the plate in my 1964 230SL. The lip on these early cars extended even more forward than on later cars and this area is different from yours.