I bought a pair of mirrors today.. They are original stainless ones in very good condition except for the plastic lip around the mirror is perished.. They were about a quarter the price of new Mex chrome ones.. I was thinking of carefully chipping it away and running a bead of silicon around to seal them up..

If anyone has better ways to refurbish them, I'd be pleased to hear it..
Rob

A few tips in the art of silicon application.. (for those that know sweet f#%k all.. Like me)

1: Seriously think about whether the job needs doing
2: If yes, seriously think about getting someone to do it..

If you want to press ahead regardless then...
3: Dont use too much
4: Have plenty of rags around
5: Ditto acetone or turps
6: Don't use silicon in direct hot sunlight.. It gets sticky very quickly
7: You will have to smooth it.. What are you going to use (fingers don't count)
8: Make sure all surfaces are clean (they won't be for long but at least start with the right intentions)
9: Frequently contemplate where you are up to.. It is never too late to stop..
10: Finally if the job looks half decent, then give yourself a beer..
11: If you've screwed it up, go back to point 1..

[Edited on 12-4-2004 by StenGuns]

did ya think of jus taking them to glazera(or what ever their called) and jus telling them what you want?

Absolutely.. I'm flicking through the yellow pages as we speak..
Anyone in SYD know who reconditions wing mirrors?
R

By wing mirrors do you mean splitty mirrors? From the pic I can't tell if that's the splitty mirror shape but if it is then I have the same problemo - the plastic/rubber surrounds are perished pretty bad.. can't you just get new ones (rubbers, not mirrors)??

Not sure.. I was going to clean away the plastic trim/seal and redo in silicon.. Not quite that easy as the old trim forms the mirror into the housing and acts to secure it.. Without the trim (or the base of it) your mirror wouldn't be in for long..

So I suppose if you can buy it that would be great but I've only ever seen the complete mirror..

I don't think it will be hard to find someone to seat the mirror in properly.. if i had 2-3 hous to play, I would have another go..
I'll let you know if I find someone..

For me it's definately worthwhile as the original stainless look far better than the repro chrome..

By the way it's a late bus mirror..

[Edited on 12-4-2004 by StenGuns]

Hi. I bought a new mirror recently. "Kingmirror" brand, whatever that is.
When I went to fit it I found that it has far less thread, about half, than the original, to screw into the door. Shock, horror. I figure I might use the base of the old one and the new top half, together.
Like the new muffler, I had fitted. Looked underneath and found it stamped "Made in China". It sometimes bangs against the body somewhere - the torque reaction on start up - and one of the flange gaskets has gone within a month.
Like the mechanic said,' there's a lot of rubbish out there'. But why to they supply and fit it? And without advising that they are fitting a sub-standard product onto an above-standard vehicle?