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Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 1:43 pm
by dunstan
Has anyone ever found a replacement for the plastic trim that goes around the side mirrors?
trim.jpg
I want to take my mirrors apart to have them powder coated, but the trim isn't very flexible, and will be ruined on removal. I don't want to proceed unless I can find a way to replace it.

I've spent hours and hours googling away, but no luck so far.

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 2:07 pm
by russmehl
Have you tried softening the trim with heat? Like dump the whole thing in some very hot water?
And, seems to me the mirror heads are still available...

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:15 pm
by dunstan
I haven't, but that's a good idea!
And I didn't realise they were still for sale. That's good to know for if I mess mine up.

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 3:55 pm
by dunstan
russmehl wrote:Have you tried softening the trim with heat? Like dump the whole thing in some very hot water?
Clever man:
IMG_4348.jpg
30s in 180F water softened it to the point where it easily came off without any damage.

Thanks Russ!

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:21 pm
by Ruby
That brought back a rough memory of biting down on a boil and bite hockey mouthguard with loose and broken front teeth. Didn't want to miss any hockey and needed something to seal off the exposed nerves. :D

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:31 pm
by dunstan
Yikes!
We used to soak out boil and bite mouth guards in orange squash so they always had a nice taste. That was only... 23 years ago :shock:

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:48 pm
by russmehl
Remember to soften it on the way back together... the glass doesn't want to be stressed!

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 5:08 pm
by dunstan
Will do!

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Tue Mar 26, 2013 10:54 am
by stevec
Yes, new mirrors are still available. They come in primer grey, so you need to remove that seal to paint them (properly). On new mirrors it is pretty easy to remove; not so much on older mirrors that have been sitting out in the elements!

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:31 pm
by dunstan
Just to say that I disassembled, powder coated, and then reassembled these just fine by following your advice. To take them off I put the whole thing in hot water, which softened the plastic. To reassemble them I put the plastic trim under a hair dryer until it softened up enough. Thanks for the tips.

Re: Replacement for plastic mirror trim

Posted: Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:02 pm
by Myers
Old Russ to the rescue again