OK, hell or high water has arrived...
They look wonderful!
Materials:
- Multivex Mirror set
- Soft plastic desk tray
- 60 minute epoxy
- Black silicone waterproof caulking
- Blue painting tape
- Paper plates
- Plastic knife
- Toothpicks
- Two large glasses of water
Tools:
- General trimming snippers
- Permanent marker
- Scissors
- Thin blade flat screwdriver
Instructions (x2 for left/right):
Remove mirror from car
1a. Bend mirror to farthest outward position
1b. Pull back ribbed elastic cover
1c. Carefully pry inside tab to separate mirror from housing
1d. Slowly release rest of mirror from housing using fingers
You'll end up with the mirror in one hand and this left on the car:
Remove mirror from holder
Note: I could
not determine a non-destructive method of removing the stock mirror from it's holder without destroying it.
2a. Take a screwdriver and stab the center of the stock mirror until it cracks.
2b. Repeat until pieces are removable.
2c. You should have just a plastic holder remaining at this point.
Make holder plastic template
3a. Place holder face down on the plastic desk tray.
3b. Make an outline with a permanent marker around the holder.
3c. Cut around the outline with the snippers, leaving about 2mm border.
3d. Test fit/trim/repeat as necessary so the plastic piece will fit ON TOP on the stock retaining clips.
Secure template to holder
4a. Mix epoxy with plastic knife
4b. Set plastic template inside housing
4c. Spread epoxy around the perimeter edge of the template and housing.
4d. In order to make sure the template is level, place a large glass of water on the template.
4e. Insert 8 toothpicks inside the holder side mounting holes in order to ensure the holes are level and clear of epoxy.
4f. Let sit until epoxy sets. I waited overnight.
Here comes the mirror...
5a. Apply a generous bead of black silicone around the same perimeter where the mirror will set.
5b. Mix some more epoxy and stir with the knife.
5c. Apply blue painter tape to the front of the mirror and trim with scissors so it's flush.
5d. Apply a big glob of epoxy on the plastic template where the double-sided tape will NOT be contacting.
5e. Remove (arm!) double-sided tape from the back of the mirror.
5f. Carefully plunk the mirror down inside the squishy bed of epoxy, silicone and sticky tape.
5g. Press and hold every square inch of the mirror to ensure even adhesion.
5h. Let set overnight. Can you tell I did this over two nights when the babies were asleep?
5i. Peel blue painter tape off. Clean mirror with Windex or other favourite cleaner.
Reinstall!
6a. Snap mirror back into housing. The stock protruding mounting clips should be flush with the new mirror.
6b. Pull back the ribbed elastic cover back into place.
6c. Adjust mirror as required
6d. Enjoy!
Elapsed time (not including drying time): 90 minutes per side.
Modified mirror weighs 1oz more than stock mirror per side. Regular Multivex mirror setup weighs 5oz more per side.
I only had a brief opportunity to drive around with them yesterday but they really seem to help a lot more. The only thing I didn't like was when I was reversing back into my garage (use side mirrors for reference). I felt I was being sucked into a black hole or something with the side distortion going in reverse.
Enjoy!