Help required to dismantle OEM M3 Mirror

[MistaSmiff]

I need to take it apart to get it sprayed properly, does anybody have any details on how to do it carefully? I really don't want to ruin anything.

I can get the glass out [jam lol.

some assistance please.

[BigFas]

getting the glass out is the hardest part :)

Every screw you see now, undo it, that'll take the motor away from the mirror housing

At the plug end, using a very small screwdriver, or a pin removal tool if you have one, make a note of the wires and their locations and then remove them. Thread the cable through the grommet and the light housing, then it's apart.

having said that, any bodyshop should be able to mask the motor and paint in the normal way. That's how my bodyshop does it anyway.

[MistaSmiff]

Fas your a star mate!....however..

I'm concerned also about the bit that fits onto the base plate, surely you need to take that apart to spray it properly ..

..also I don't know whether it's me but I cant even twist the mirrors up into "please don't hit my mirror as you drive past mr bus driver" mode.

[peppernick]

You really do not need to paint the inside of the mirror properly. Like Fas said, just mask the motors and the mirror base off properly (if you get paint in there, you'll jam the mechanism). With regards to folding the mirrors, you really have to give them a hard twist upwards. The won't break, as they would fold first before they snap no matter how hard you push them ;)

[BigFas]

Who's going to see behind the mirror motors? I bet when you dismantle the mirror, you'll see the inside is barely painted, if at all.

[MistaSmiff]

Guys, how do you seperate the mirror from the base plate?, thats the part I want to take apart... [hmm

[Stock323iSaloon]

Guys, how do you seperate the mirror from the base plate?, thats the part I want to take apart... [hmm

may not help but I removed one from a ACS mirror and all I did was to pry them out gently from one side and it just popped off. The mirror has grooves on the back, and the motor unit itself also had grooves to dock with it. there are 2 wires that attach to the back of the mirror (heating) so make sure u remember which wire is which... but if you're talking about the mirror housing (not mirror glass as above), then all u need to do is to remove 3 hex screws.

[MistaSmiff]

Yes, it's the mirror housing i'm referring to..nevermind, i'll figure it out.

[BigFas]

This should help

http://www.e46fanatics.com/howto/howtodetail.php?howto_id=6