Is there an alternative for the HUGE interior mirror?

[littlefeller]

most mirrors have the same size mounting cup, this just pops onto the mount ball, be careful poping it off though as you can actually pull the mount off the screen, if i remember correctly you can turn/twist the mount anticlockwise and it will come off the bit that is attached to the screen (leaving behind just a small round disc)

 

[littlefeller]

So my actual mirror may not have any circuit boards inside? will have a look today.

dont think so, i remember seeing a post on .net, im sure if you look closely at the mount is there not a small like hatch where it looks like you could pop a small screw driver and pop the hatch to get to the circuitry, other wise how can there be a wire going into the mirror itself as it swivels on the ball, unless the wire actually goes into the mirror from the outside, either way take a closer look.
some DO have circuitry inside, M// i think does as it has a liquid Chrystal dimmer function

 

[Dobiwallah]

I love your Zs combination @Dobiwallah
Great colours

Thanks Shelly

 

[Mike Trident]

Ok, no wiring actually enters the mirror (not unless it does so via the ball, not likely!) the wiring only goes into the mount.

So, could you make me a small mirror, please?

All this did actually help me find a home for a small plastic moulding that I found in the ashtray when I bought the car. It is the cover for the wiring in the mirror mount.

 

[littlefeller]

ha how funny, you would have been looking for ages to find where it has come from. i will get onto the mirror as soon as i can fit it in, prob sometime mid week.

 

[Mike Trident]

brilliant! just let me know how much you want.

Your right on the plastic bit, never in a million years would I have found where it came from lol.

 

[madleemark]

i used a mirror out of a nissan micra, my zed is a 97, so no circuit board inside it, the ball fit on the micra mirror is a smaller diameter, so i cut the ball part of the bmw mount off then drilled and tapped an m5 hole into it, drilled and counterbored the micra ball, to suit an m5 cap head screw, so that i could fasten the micra part to the bmw mount, fitted the mount back onto the screen and fitted the very much smaller micra mirror, its a lot better and something that no one notices

 

[littlefeller]

@Mike Trident

 

[Mike Trident]

That's more like it !

 

[Southernboy]

You can use the mirror from any M3 - It's not necessary to use a Z3 M mirror. Just be aware that many of the M3 mirrors are the auto dimming variety, and often they "leak" the chemical which makes them aut-darken. Now this isn't a messy issue, it's just that the refective part gets stained and pretty much usless. However, it's a simple matter to take out the auto dimming mirror, and take it to a mirror / glass cutter and they will cut you a new one from plain mirror, or you can buy a replacement off eBay. Transferring the electronics from your OEM mirror into the M3 mirror can be done easily too, and the fitting is the same as for the Z3.
The Mini mirror is a different shape, but as large as the OEM Z3 mirror, so not much use as a replacement.

 

[Low Rider]

I've just fitted a rear view mirror from the Z3M and love it.

 

[andyglym]

I've just fitted a rear view mirror from the Z3M and love it.

Got a pic mate?

 

[littlefeller]

pics pics pics pics

 

[Low Rider]

Got a pic mate?

 

[andyglym]

View attachment 41740

Nice one mate

 

[Low Rider]

These photos show the 9 wiring colours

 

[Low Rider]

And this is the BMW Mini one I was going to fit but have sold on.

 

[Low Rider]

https://zroadster.org/threads/bmw-mini-rear-view-mirror.14465/

 

[Mike Trident]

Latest update:-

Well I removed my standard mirror & mount from the windscreen (twist to the right), then tried to separate the ball and socket joint. The ball popped from the socket but wouldn't separate, on closer inspection I could see that there are wires entering the mirror through the ball and socket joint. I never suspected that the wiring to the mirror would enter via the ball joint. It's quite a large ball and it has a drilling through the center to allow the wiring to enter the mirror, Jeez!

My plan "B" is to open the mirror case and remove all the electrics and mount them into a plastic electronics box from somewhere like maplins then attach this to the top of the windscreen. This would then leave me free to attach any mirror I like.

The electronic panel in the mirror is the pick up for the remote central locking by the way, I tested it just to confirm that was what it was by pressing the key while it was disconnected (no locking).

I think I will probably take some pictures of what I am doing to post on here, I know we all like pictures!

If no pictures, it never happened LOL

 

[Southernboy]

Opening the mirror up is a nightmare...it has umpteen little clips all the way round holding the two halves together. Might be a consideration retaining the back part of the OEM mirror and the arm which attaches to the clip on the widscreen - you may want to use those parts to marry to a new mirror. As I said previously, any M3 or M5 mirror from the e36 range is exactly the same as the Z3 M mirror, so have a look on eBay for one.