Z3 Roadster vs Mazda MX5 Door Mirrors !! Do they interchange ?
- Thread starter Tec
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
Don't know about MX5 mirrors fitting, probably possible but a lot of carving in 3d, I once tried a Mini (BMW type) and decided against it. Would these be any use, not knowing why you want to change them, but it's normally the bit that these replace. Got one on mine, and it's been there for a few years now without falling to bits.
For BMW Z3 E36 Outside Wing Door Mirror Spindle Repair Fix LHD Passenger Side | eBay
For BMW Z3 E36 Outside Wing Door Mirror Spindle Repair Fix LHD Passenger Side BMW Z3 E36 Outside Wing Door Mirror Spindle Repair Fix LHD Passenger N S. It is a very common fault with Z3 models for the wing mirror base to corrode and spoil the appearance of the mirror.
www.ebay.co.uk
Cheers My passenger side is broken on the spindle so I am looking for a replacement . Second hand ones seem to ask £100 + so have been looking at cheaper options . Second hand ones often need to be painted the right colour! Mine are black ,so new replacements would look ok ,if they fit ok, and are only £38 for a pair. Money is tight . I had seen that on ebay but £110,, ,just trying to save a few quid..
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
The X8R replacement part gets rid of the weak bit that corrodes and eventually breaks, and also replaces the base that bolts to the car, getting rid of another nasty bit. Pricey yes, but in my view worth it. Needs painting, but everything fits back in like it was made to do the job.
If you do try the MX5 mirrors, we will need to know. With pictures and everything.
If you do try the MX5 mirrors, we will need to know. With pictures and everything.
Z3 Seized door mirror - cost effective fix
With the driver’s side door mirror well and truly seized solid, it was time to strip it down and get it fixed. The removal and strip down is well documented, and pretty straightforward, and from research most owners either live with the seized stem and just repaint the corroded base, or replace...
zroadster.org
I’ve been looking at them too.
The slope of the door is different, not by much, some epoxy and filler would fix that since they’re going to need painted.
The problem would be the fixings, highly unlikely the spacing is the same. Either mod the mirror or the door.
I have also looked at Old Skool Astrali mirrors (see eBay), I do think they don’t look quite right, especially the bullet type.
Corroded wing mirror fix
As a lurker on here I felt obliged to post a fix as this forum and its content has helped me considerably in buying (She paid me back ((Just this month)) and maintaining my other halfs Z3. Was on the way back from my folks and whilst on the long 270 degree sliproad to join the dual-carriage...
zroadster.org
Yes, but doesn’t apply once the spindle has seized, then the arm breaks.
Once the arm breaks, my and the op’s problem, it’s either the plastic mirror above or something else entirely.
When the spindle seizes it’s all electrolytic corrosion, the spindle can’t be removed without destroying it.
I have removed three spindles, the base of the mirror is electrolytically ‘welded’ to the mount. If you twist it, it shatters, you can’t lever it, it shatters. I’ve tried diesel, three different penetrating fluids, including in a pressure chamber, heat, chilling, micro blasting, ultrasonic cleaning, I still can’t get a base back off. If I could, I could solder a mirror back together, but I can’t.
I’ve just bought a cheap Mx 5 mirror off the ‘bay, I’ll post the results.
Hi Iain. I've been looking at the photos on ebay and it looks as though the bolt holes are central on the MX. The Zed are off set, i will look at the week-end to see if the plate inside the door on the Z can move , or i can get a central fixing. hope it fits ... wait to hear the result.
The Mx mirror has been posted today. I have assorted mirror bases to compare to. I’m interested to see how the spindle operates on the Mazda mirror.
Mirror arrived.
This is from a MK2, 2004.
The Mk1 fit to the top of the door, so I suspect they may have a better curvature on the base, couldn’t find one for the £15 this cost.
Base is clearly different, nothing like the same slope.
Bolt spacing is only 5mm different and the MX is wider, which is perfect to modify, especially since one hole is M8.
The spindle is a far superior design. Getting it apart is surprising easy once you know how. I didn’t and cut the casing off.
The spindle spring must be compressed, there’s a clip at the top holding it in. You can’t see it with the casing in place.
To compress it, 13mm deep socket on the base of the spindle. M8 bolt through the M8 side, M6 the other. Set the jaws on a vice so the bolts pass through, nut on the bottom of the bolt and tighten.
Spindle will pop up and you can slide the clip off.
I’m not at all sure exactly how I’ll modify the base yet for the correct profile but the MX route is what will happen to mine.
This incidentally is what the broken spindle base looks like. All the white is electrolytic corrosion, it’s extremely strong and literally ‘welds’ the two parts together. I haven’t yet come across a method of getting the ‘ring’ off the base without damaging it.
This is from a MK2, 2004.
The Mk1 fit to the top of the door, so I suspect they may have a better curvature on the base, couldn’t find one for the £15 this cost.
Base is clearly different, nothing like the same slope.
Bolt spacing is only 5mm different and the MX is wider, which is perfect to modify, especially since one hole is M8.
The spindle is a far superior design. Getting it apart is surprising easy once you know how. I didn’t and cut the casing off.
The spindle spring must be compressed, there’s a clip at the top holding it in. You can’t see it with the casing in place.
To compress it, 13mm deep socket on the base of the spindle. M8 bolt through the M8 side, M6 the other. Set the jaws on a vice so the bolts pass through, nut on the bottom of the bolt and tighten.
Spindle will pop up and you can slide the clip off.
I’m not at all sure exactly how I’ll modify the base yet for the correct profile but the MX route is what will happen to mine.
This incidentally is what the broken spindle base looks like. All the white is electrolytic corrosion, it’s extremely strong and literally ‘welds’ the two parts together. I haven’t yet come across a method of getting the ‘ring’ off the base without damaging it.
My fix and the other one fixes exactly this broken part. Maybe we havent written the how to's well enough. But that is exactly the same part that failed in mine. And I fixed it for £2.
, the aluminum metal section, is yours complete as in that pic, or is it the base that has snapped off of that part (top red arrow)?
Hi just to make sure we are talking about the same part. In this pic from https://zroadster.org/threads/z3-seized-door-mirror-cost-effective-fix.49157/I’ve been looking at them too.
The slope of the door is different, not by much, some epoxy and filler would fix that since they’re going to need painted.
The problem would be the fixings, highly unlikely the spacing is the same. Either mod the mirror or the door.
I have also looked at Old Skool Astrali mirrors (see eBay), I do think they don’t look quite right, especially the bullet type.
Corroded wing mirror fix
As a lurker on here I felt obliged to post a fix as this forum and its content has helped me considerably in buying (She paid me back ((Just this month)) and maintaining my other halfs Z3. Was on the way back from my folks and whilst on the long 270 degree sliproad to join the dual-carriage...
Yes, but doesn’t apply once the spindle has seized, then the arm breaks.
Once the arm breaks, my and the op’s problem, it’s either the plastic mirror above or something else entirely.
When the spindle seizes it’s all electrolytic corrosion, the spindle can’t be removed without destroying it.
I have removed three spindles, the base of the mirror is electrolytically ‘welded’ to the mount. If you twist it, it shatters, you can’t lever it, it shatters. I’ve tried diesel, three different penetrating fluids, including in a pressure chamber, heat, chilling, micro blasting, ultrasonic cleaning, I still can’t get a base back off. If I could, I could solder a mirror back together, but I can’t.
, the aluminum metal section, is yours complete as in that pic, or is it the base that has snapped off of that part (top red arrow)?
The base, it was all explained in the above posts.
Once the base with the spindle has fused to the mount, the arm snaps, then it’s fubar’d.
Once the base with the spindle has fused to the mount, the arm snaps, then it’s fubar’d.
If you'd explained it so I understood it then I wouldn't ask. The last part in post #10 says broken spindle base, then in your last post you say the arm snaps. As there are no decent exploded diagrams to share I was just trying to understand.
Fuggit.
Fuggit.