Author Topic: Pass. side mirror (Read 20985 times)

Ricardo · « **on:** April 08, 2003, 06:12:41 »

I have purchased an early style pass. side mirror for my '67 250sl, but I've heard that it needs to be mounted slightly more toward the rear of the car to be useful. One fellow I met said he couldn't see at all with it, as he mounted it the same distance as the drivers side. Has anyone gone through this? I've tried to get someone to hold it while I look, but the mounting studs prevent you from holding it close to the body. I like the look of two mirrors, but mostly I find it necessary. With the soft top up, I find the visibility poor when making lane changes, especially with cloudy plastic on the soft top. I thought I might add one of those small stick on fisheye mirrors, but if moving it back a cm. or two would help, I would do that.
Richard V

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2003, 07:07:45 »

My passenger-side mirror is mounted fairly high on the door, and from memory (and looking at a photo just now, the car itself is in the garage a few miles away from the PC) it is positioned about the same as the driver's side mirror which is also fairly forward toward the window pillar. I cannot imagine the window pillar or anything else blocking the view even a little bit, I can see perfectly through it. And, yes, I use it all the time and would not like to do without it. Mine has a support plate on the inside of the door, for added strength, and it looks like it was added by a PO sometime along the line, rather than being there from new.

white 1969 280 SL

rwmastel · « **Reply #2 on:** April 08, 2003, 12:53:29 »

quote:
looks like it was added by a PO sometime along the line, rather than being there from new.

Cees, Since your car was a US version that was imported back into The Netherlands and converted back to Euro-spec, your assumption is probably correct. Regardless, your data card will tell you the answer (502: right outside mirror).

Rodd
1966 230SL Euro
1994 E420

n/a · « **Reply #3 on:** April 08, 2003, 14:11:12 »

I added the mirror on our '64, put it in exactly the same spot as the drivers side. It is mostly useless. I guess it is the windshield frame that blocks about half of the glass. Maybe a shorter/taller driver, or if the seat was farther forward or back might change things (remember 4th grade, the angle of incidence is equal to the angle of reflection) nonetheless, the added mirror helps with the hardtop on (very infrequently)...otherwise, it just looks nice.

-Lewis

'64 230 sl 113042-10-001600
67 saab sonett II #43 of 258
99 saab 9-5
00 bmw z-3 2.8

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #4 on:** April 08, 2003, 14:25:30 »

Should I say this? I don't have the data card for my car and I won't try to get it either - I have added non-original items such as chrome (rather than brushed matte steel) windshield wiper arms and a chrome horn ring (instead of matte) just because I think it looks a lot better. Next on my list are automatic seat belts and a CD changer is already installed. The original color of my car is dark blue, but a previous owner (PO) changed that to white - except for the dash, which is its original color. The tires are 205/70/14 rather than original - and I happen to like all those deviations just as they are. Maybe some day I will see the light, or someone will liberate my car from me.
Sorry to get so off-topic; I am in fact positive that it must be fairly easy to position the passenger-side mirror in such a way as to be able to make full use of it.

Mark in KS · « **Reply #5 on:** April 08, 2003, 21:20:10 »

Here is a picture of my '67 230SL with a factory installed right side mirror. I use it. It works fine. It's just about in the exact same place as the left side mirror.

Upon close inspection, this morning, the passenger side mirror is about 1.5 inches further back as compared to the driver side mounting.

fyi

Download Attachment:

right.jpg
67.41 KB

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #6 on:** April 09, 2003, 03:03:47 »

Ricardo,
Is your pass. side mirror convex glass as opposed to the driver side mirror which would be flat glass?

naj

naj
hobel 65 230SL
jalopyno 68 280SL

Ricardo · « **Reply #7 on:** April 09, 2003, 06:20:17 »

Naj
Nope it's flat just like the drivers side, did they make a convex version? I wonder if this is less of a problem if you are taller or at least have a longer back. I'm 5'6",just about need a booster seat anyway.
Has anyone got a factory pass side mirror of the early style, that could be measured to the door jamb?
Richard V

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #8 on:** April 09, 2003, 06:33:01 »

Richard
Yes they do make a convex lens for this mirror.
The 230sl at the museum in Stuttgart had both mirrors the same distance from the jamb.
I have the mirrors but have not fitted them yet.
naj

naj
hobel 65 230SL
jalopyno 68 280SL

Ricardo · « **Reply #9 on:** April 09, 2003, 11:36:05 »

Naj
Thats interesting....convex would definitely help, do you know if it is available as a replacement glass. The new MB mirror I bought, isn't easily returnable.
I wonder why some people have found they don't work? I noticed a car up on ebay that had both early style mirrors and it looked like the pass. side was a little further from the windshield post and maybe a bit more towards the rear, but it could have been the photo....hmmm
Richard

LFrank · « **Reply #10 on:** April 09, 2003, 12:30:05 »

Naj - I'd love to know where to get the convex mirror and right hand assembly for my 230; I'd purchased a right hand mirror on US eBay, not realizing that the later 280 would not fit a 230 (anybody want it?).
Regards -

LFrank
Washington DC
65 230 sl
DB334/Hellblau

peterruehl · « **Reply #11 on:** April 09, 2003, 19:01:13 »

Hello all,
my car came originally with two mirrors ('66 euro) and 23 years ago when I refitted some chrome, I also replaced the mirrors. The front whole for the right side is exactely where the back whole is on the left side. So the right mirror is about 4 cm further back. It would be useless if furhter up front.

George Des · « **Reply #12 on:** April 09, 2003, 19:21:54 »

This is an interesting string. Can someone who has both old style mirrors mounted and who can see through to both of them provide some measurements so others can successfully mount their own. I'm in the middle of a total resto and have two "clean" doors and two brand new old style mirros that will need mounting. I've dreaded trying to figure out exactly where they should go out of fear I won't get it quite right. I got my right side mirror through Van Diijk. Thanks

George Des

n/a · « **Reply #13 on:** April 09, 2003, 20:16:20 »

Hey Guess What,
I'm a day late...
I drilled the holes for my new mirrors yesterday. The doors are off the car and I set up the passenger door the same as the drivers.The good thing is (I guess) is that there's no clear coat on them yet! Sombody hurry up and make up my mind.
We do it right cuz we do it twice!!!
Slugger 66

Ricardo · « **Reply #14 on:** April 13, 2003, 08:02:45 »

Thanks to everyone who had input on this. There seems to be some drivers who are either tall enough or have long necks or....Anyway Peters answer is the one I was looking for, thanks Peter. I'd like to extend my sympathies to Slugger; I'm sure it would make interesting reading if we all told our little secret mistakes, but hey it's all about the learning curve, once you know these things cold, half the fun goes out of it. Theres an old saying about carpentry that goes something like this: You can tell a good carpenter by how well he recovers from his mistakes.
Richard V

DavidAPease · « **Reply #15 on:** April 13, 2003, 12:23:24 »

I'd like to repeat a question asked earlier: Are convex mirror glasses that fit the 230SL really available? (This also makes me wonder whether I could just buy any convex mirror replacement glass and have a glass cutter shape it to fit?)

-David Pease
'66 French 230SL

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #16 on:** April 15, 2003, 02:57:02 »

I think I've opened a can of worms here!

The right hand mirror complete that I have is part # 110 810 0816.

I thought I'd seen a convex mirror for the 230 but cannot find the part #. The part # for the flat glass is 180 811 0166.

Looking thru the parts book, originally there were different part #s for left hand drive and right hand drive cars and can only imagine that the stalks were differently shaped?? About 6 different part numbers in all!!
naj
:?: :evil: [

!]

naj
hobel 65 230SL
jalopyno 68 280SL

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #17 on:** April 15, 2003, 03:20:55 »

Just to add that none of the early part #s are available now.

Yesterday, I saw there is a reinforcement plate under the door skin where the mirrors mount, so there is only a small area where the holes can be drilled. I was also told that the correct measurement is one inch from the door edge and one inch from the window trim.
naj

naj
hobel 65 230SL
jalopyno 68 280SL

George Des · « **Reply #18 on:** April 15, 2003, 04:39:12 »

Guys,

If I could kindly ask again. Could someone who has these mirrors mounted properly and can see through them provide the rest with some details i.e the measurements for the holes so we can all be safe. Thanks--Geworge Des

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2003, 05:17:23 »

George - if you can be a little bit patient, I can take the measurements next time I see my car (it's in a garage 20 minutes from my home) which should be later this week. I can see perfectly through both - it's a 280 SL so the shape will be different from the earlier models (230 SL until?).

Cees Klumper · « **Reply #20 on:** April 16, 2003, 16:58:50 »

I measured the mirrors on my 280 SL today. Both are positioned identical, and as follows: from the chrome strip running alongside the top of the door, the distance to the foot of the mirror (actually to the plastic gasket between the chrome foot and the paint) is exactly one centimeter. Then, from the front edge of the door, the distance to the top right hand corner of the (plastic gasket below the) foot of the mirror is only a half a centimeter. In other words: the mirrors are positioned quite close to the corner of the doors ... I can see perfectly through both.

n/a · « **Reply #21 on:** April 17, 2003, 05:32:33 »

LFrank,
I am intertsed in your right side mirror. It sounds as though it is the correct style for the later models, ie: it post is straight and angled back over the base.
Please send me an e-mail, if you are still interested in selling it.

Regards,
Stan

Naj ✝︎ · « **Reply #22 on:** April 17, 2003, 07:29:35 »

Mark,
Since you have the correct 230sl mirrors, could you take two measurements and post them:
Edge of door to mirror gasket,
Edge of chrome trim for door glass to mirror gasket.
please do this for both driver and passenger side.
many thanks
naj

naj
hobel 65 230SL
jalopyno 68 280SL

George Des · « **Reply #23 on:** July 17, 2004, 15:50:26 »

I come back to this topic because it appears it never was resolved regarding the location of the old gooseneck style mirrors as used on the 230 and 250sl's. Understand that the right side mirror needs to be located further back than the left side mirror in order to be useful and I can buy the right side front hole being in the same location as the left's rearmost hole. The big question, though, is what is the correct location of the driver's side mirror (left). Again, I'm asking about the gooseneck mirror and not the later style mirror. Based on review of the earlier posts, I think many of us still have these same questions

George Des

hauser · « **Reply #24 on:** July 17, 2004, 16:25:44 »

I have looked over these posts and no has used this in their calculation. The persons height. The seat position for someone 6 feet plus vs that of a 5 foot 6 inch or less. This will change the angle of view from driver to mirror.

1969 280sl 5 spd 1999 ML320 Gainesville,Fl.

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Author Topic: Pass. side mirror (Read 20985 times)

Ricardo

n/a

Mark in KS

Ricardo

Ricardo

LFrank

peterruehl

George Des

n/a

Ricardo

George Des

n/a

George Des

hauser