Aussieveedubbers · Tech Talk

Side mirrors

https://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/threads/101979/side-mirrors

KaptainCu ·

Hi guys, simple question-
Replacing the drivers side mirror (easy)
But passenger.... There's not one currently fitted so I'm about to remove the interior trim and drill through the chassis to install it...
Just looking for guidance that this is the correct method (can't think of any other way)
So.... That's all I got....

Bizarre ·

what year car have you got?
Beetle I presume?

I would try and not have to drill into the body

psimitar ·

Yea, if it's the later style mirrors that screw into the door then normally the captive nut exists in the door frame but there is no hole in the outer skin. so this means that with some measuring you can drill a hole in the skin.

If an early beetle then either Albert mirrors as part of the front wing trim or screw thread hinge pin for hinge pin mirrors.

So yea, what ya got?

KaptainCu ·

Ha gold!
No idea! I just bought the same kind as the old crappy drivers side- it had a fixed bit inside the door panel that it screwed into- so just gotta line-of-sight and drill I reakon-
Thx guys...
Here we go...

Joel ·

psimitar wrote:Yea, if it's the later style mirrors that screw into the door then normally the captive nut exists in the door frame but there is no hole in the outer skin. so this means that with some measuring you can drill a hole in the skin.
Where have you seen that? here or UK?

I've got 3 passanger doors in the shed off 68-71 Beetles and none of them them have the threaded insert in the iiner door skin for the mirror.

I've got a couple of 72 onwards doors which do but they have the hole in the outer skin with a plastic blanking plug in them which is normal for 72 onwards bugs.

It wouldnt surprise me if RHD cars made in German factory were like it with the threaded insert there as they were making far more LHD cars than RHD but I know from my parts stash aussie made ones aren't.

psimitar ·

Joel wrote:
psimitar wrote:Yea, if it's the later style mirrors that screw into the door then normally the captive nut exists in the door frame but there is no hole in the outer skin. so this means that with some measuring you can drill a hole in the skin.
Where have you seen that? here or UK?

I've got 3 passanger doors in the shed off 68-71 Beetles and none of them them have the threaded insert in the iiner door skin for the mirror.

I've got a couple of 72 onwards doors which do but they have the hole in the outer skin with a plastic blanking plug in them which is normal for 72 onwards bugs.

It wouldnt surprise me if RHD cars made in German factory were like it with the threaded insert there as they were making far more LHD cars than RHD but I know from my parts stash aussie made ones aren't.
Yea, from the uk forum i've heard of many people being able to do this or screw it into a nut you hold on other side of panel.

You're probably right about the german made ones but thought they went back to german kit format by the late 60's here? and no longer pressing the panels themselves?

KaptainCu ·

Mines a 73- no plastic plug - but fixed nut inside...

psimitar ·

KaptainCu wrote:Mines a 73- no plastic plug - but fixed nut inside...
Then.................. You are a winner 🙂

Measure carefully and centre punch for the hole. Masking tape helps the drill not slip. but make sure you have a drill bit or holesaw that is HSS or better still tungsten carbide tipped for making a nice neat hole in the door.

Look at Ebay if ya can wait as I got a few tungsten carbide tipped holesaws for about $12 each inc post. Go thru steel like butter 😀