Hi all, easy question here. My '69 Bug only has a drivers side external mirror, the lack of a passenger side one is driving me crazy! Of course finding one should be easy (dunno if I could find the same style tho, I spose I'll see what the wreckers have), the question is whether I can fit it without huge problems!

Do I need to fit a special socket, etc into the door? Can I just drill a large hole and screw a mirror in? I'd rather not buy those ugly aftermarket ones with 3 or 4 self tappers in them. Would like to do this over the next few days, anyone else done this? Thanks....

Bump.

I am interested in this also.

get some funky chrome ones that replace the top door pin ......only hassle is getting the pin out

I have read the posts about trying to get the pin out, not real keen on that! I don't see myself as a mechanic and certainly some of the experienced people here had hassles - pass! Would rather look at something different if anyone has ideas.

It's not actually mechanically hard, it's just that they get stuck after time. Better and much easier than driling new holes in the door.

This can be simple or hard - a 69 is a bit on the cusp.

On 70's there is a plastic plug about 20 - 25mm in diameter. Under this is a thread already. Simple matter of popping the plug and screwing in a LHS mirror.

I have "heard" that ALL doors have this thread, just the RHD cars can have a blank panel over the threaded hole.

All this also only applies to later beetles. As i said - not too sure where a 69 sits.

what does the mirror on the right look like???
A 6" x 4" rectangle the screws into the door???

It also depends if you have stock windows or one piece.

Those funky euro mirrors dont work too well when the quarter vent windows are still there

I think I know where Phantom is coming from.

The 12V or later Beetles have a big thread in the door frame on the RH door that the mirror screws into.

The passenger door has no hole or thread.

So has anyone worked out a way to put one on in a similar manner as the RH mirror.

The hinge pin mirrors are ok, but it would mean either two different mirrors or a hole left in the rh door if both were replaced as hinge pin type.

I would think that you (Phantom) and I may have to get a nut thread bit out of another or a rusty door and somehow hold that behind the door outer skin while screwing the outer mirror on?

It would be easy before the car is painted as you could weld it in.

I have just taken a pic of my mirror, quality isn't good as you will see but you get the idea, also the passenger door with no plug, etc for a mirror. Like the idea of getting an old rusty door but loathe to try it to see of it works! Are the doors not thick enough to make a thread in?

Ours is a 4/70 and it looks exactly like that Phantom.

I would not think the metal will hold the thread on it's own.

I am thinking now of using a nut from another door and welding a thin metal rod to it and holding it up behind the hole (which I will have to drill). Just remember if the mirror is screwed out the nut and rod will drop, unless a few drops of goo are used to hold it there, which will dry when the mirror is screwed on.

This is how some towbars are mounted to chassis rails on cars which do not have any mount points.

Hi

I think the captive nut only came standard on both doors in 1972. I fitted the nut to an early door once on my old rally car, have a good look at your drivers door nut, you should be able to reproduce that, making sure the nut sunken in like the factory did it so that the grommet fits properly.

1302Steve

I bought a 2nd hand door with the nut already in it and had it resprayed the same colour as the rest of the car.

When you get the mirrors make sure you get the same type as 2 different ones fit. One has a smooth back (chrome face that the wind hits) and the other has a slight bump where the arm from the door meets the back of the mirror.

Yogie
:vader

OK, if I was going to get in there with a nut to put inside the door, how would I do it? Pull off the door trim inside and stick my hand up the front? Is there clearance with the window? If this is a case of pulling many things to bits just to attempt it, I'd start looking at commercial 'bolt-on' jobs, saw a few today. I would hate doing this.

Of course, on the other side, I did a ring-around today of the local wreckers and haven't had much luck finding any beetles at all, let alone a mirror, so I might end up replacing both with shop stock anyway. Grrrrr...

Weld a thin rod to the nut and you should be able to get up to the required position.

Phantom,I might have a left hand mirror for you.