Pretty White

If you want to neatly paint the mirrors off the car or if you need to remove a broken mirror housing:

HERE IS THE MIRROR ON THE CAR. IMAGINE IT IS STOCK BLACK:

TURN THE MIRROR TWARDS THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR:

NOW YOU HAVE TO PRY THE MIRROR OFF. DO NOT PRY IT DOWNWARDS
LIKE THIS

PRY IT UPWARDS LIKE THIS. USE DELICATE FORCE, DO NOT GORILLA IT OFF OR IT MAY BREAK: IT MAY SEEM LIKE IT WILL NOT COME OFF, THAT IS BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE HAS ADHESIVE PUTTY BEHIND IT TO KEEP IT STABLE (PASSENGERS SIDE DOES NOT)(There are two slots under the mirror for a flathead screwdriver so it can be gently pryed off if needed):



NOW YOU WANT TO PRY THIS COVER OFF. IT HAS THREE CLIPS THAT HOLD IT THAT HAS TO BE PRYED UP:


USE A SMALL SCREWDRIVER IF YOU NEED TO

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Pretty White

YOU CAN SEE THE PIECE HOW IT COMES OUT. TAKE IT OUT TOP FIRST AND THE BOTTOM WILL MOST LIKELY JUST POP OUT. IF NOT PRY THE TABS BACK THAT HOLD THE BOTTOM ONES.

HERE IS THE COVER OFF THE MIRROR:


THE BOTTOM TABS THAT NEED TO BE PRYED IF NEEDED TO WHILE IN THE MIRROR HOUSING:


NOW YOU WANT TO REMOVE THE THREE SCREWS THAT HOLD THE COVER ONTO THE MIRROR BASE:



HERE YOU ARE ALMOST READY TO TAKE THE MIRROR OFF. PLACE THE SCREWS SOMEWHERE SAFE AS THEY ARE SMALL AND EASY TO LOSE.

Pretty White

NOW SLIDE THE MIRROR OFF. YOU MAY NEED TO WIDEN THE OPENING TO GET IT TO SLIP OFF EASIER. JUST DO SO WITH YOUR FINGERS:


WALLA, THE MIRROR IS OFF. LOOKS NASTY HUH? THATS IT:


HERE IS THE MIRROR OFF THE CAR. YOU SEE THE THREE SCREW HOLES THAT HOLD IT:

Pretty White

NOW INSTALL IS BASICALLY THE OPPOSITE OF TAKING IT OFF. SLIDE IT BACK ON:



SCREW IT BACK IN IF YOU DID NOT LOSE THE SCREWS:


LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE MIRROR AND YOU WILL SEE WHY I TOLD YOU TO PRY IT DOWNWARDS. THE CLIPS ON THE TOP HOLD IT IN, THE BOTTOMS CLIP THE MIRROR ON:




TOP CLIP THAT MIRROR BACK SLIDES BEHIND, UP AND IN. THEN PUSH THE BOTTOM BACK ON THE "U" CLIP

Pretty White

YOU ARE ALOMST THERE, MIRROR MINUS THE BACK COVER ASSEMBLED:


SLIDE THE COVER BACK ON AND IN:



HERE IS THE COMPLETE MIRROR ASSEMBLED AGAIN:

Pretty White

When I come back in I will show you a way to hook it up so it can be painted. Also painting tips can be found here:
http://www.sr20forum.com/showthread....ght=Duplicolor

Pretty White

Get a wire hangar, white peferabluy because they are thinner and easier to bend and break by hand:


BEND HANGAR UP AND DOWN TILL IT BREAKS IN TWO,. BE CAREFUL AS THE HANGAR GETS HOT DOING THIS:


NOW BEND THE HANGAR:



NOW TWIST THE HANGAR INTO A SMALL CLOSED LOOP/KNOT (THIS IS WHY I SAY USE A WHITE HANGAR, IT CAN BE DONE WITH THE FINGERS)


USE ONE OF THE SMALL SCREWS AND SCREW THE HANGAR TO THE MIRROR:


NOW THE MIRROR IS READY TO BA PAINTED, JUST OUTSIDE YOUR HOUSE/APARTMENT, NOT INSIDE....


I hope these tips help someone spruce up their Classic/NX2000/G20.

I do not know if this method can be used on a B14.

Oh, BTW, the right side is almost the same, but you may have ot take the mirror motor out. If I get the chance I will post that technique, but if you can do this side, you can figure out that side. I think you have to remove the middle screw and take the mirror base off and unplug it and take it out. maybe "you" don't have to and just do the same for the right as for the left.

paNX2K&SE-R

Great job on the writeup Ian. Wouldn't it just be easier to just remove the door panel and mirror in the conventional way though? It only takes like 5 minutes to take it off.

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03.5 G35 Sport 6MT
07 Forester XT Sport 5MT
94 Miata GT28RS powered
93 LS1 240SX Family Project

Pretty White

Not to me. Cause if you take the door panel off, you still have to disconnect the mirrors 3 screws on the door, disconnect the electrical harness and then disassemble the mirror if you wanted to paint it.
Taking off the doorpanel is two jobs instead of one. And not everyone knows how to take a doorpanel off. This is mirror removal 101. I have been meaning to post this for months, but never had the time. Well, here it is.
This way, you can also have a mirror on the car while you drive and have the housing off while you paint and wait for it to dry. This way makes it easier to paint neatly.

The mirror clips back on the base w/o the cover on it.

blairellis

Hmm, I wonder if theres a paint thats close to the s13 Green on my car...Ive been meaning to paint mine since mine has a big chip off the plastic clearcoat or something.

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STRATTON

ian thanks ! i was looking at the mirrors thinking how the hell can i take them off to paint without doing it from the inside. so know that i know how to do it when it gets warmer ill paint the covers. great writeups lately bro...

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im back.......

Pretty White

Just make sure you check the duplicolor thread I posted. It helps with painting techniques.

Toolapcfan

Excellent write up. Don't most people also paint the bracket that mounts to the door?

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- Rob

Wicked White '08 EVO GSR "Jaws"

Pretty White

You can, but that will leave behind the mirror black. This is also for those that have broken mirror covers. If you get say a Sentra E mirror without Electric you can still use your old base.

This is to me the most proven way to remove the side mirror cover(s) and still have the mirror base to clip the mirror on while driving. No downtime.

STRATTON

yah i checked thouse out too. im really good at spray painting. **** hit up a few misc. pieces on the interior of the nx when it gets warmer out too. nothing to ricey just to bring it all together.

Diesel

not much good without images

Pretty White

Pics fixed. Any better?
If you believe that it is then ignore this technique.
I guarentee you I could get both side mirror covers off in 5 miuutes while you are still fondling with the door panel screws on one door.

classicaddict

those are the best tips i have seen for painting in one place. your dead right about the oven trick i do that with everything i paint (as long as it will fit) it not only alows it to dry rock hard but also the finish is much better because it "melts" flat and you dont get any of that orang peal effect.


both are outstanding write ups

edit: i may have somthing to add to the paint tips though, if its chilly out side always put the spray can in a bucket of warm water because when paint is cold it wont settle right and you will get SUPER ORANGE PEEL

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Car and Driver predicted the future accurately when they wrote that "poems will be written about this engine [and] ballads will be sung." <talking about the FWD sr20.

STRATTON

agian great right up ian, my lazy ass will hopefully do this on the weekend

budgetNX

great write up!!

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My first lover - 1991 NX2000: Rattle Can Army green n' black. (10:1 De+t Avn. setup. open dp. hypercoil springs. FSTB. RSTB. harness bar.) Made it into Project Car tuner mag!

Current lover - 1990 240sx Coupe: Rattle Can Almond white. (Tein coilovers, 16x8/9 Autostrada Modena's. 17x7 axxis drift spares. 6pt autopower roll bar. SS brake lines. Nismo 2way. Corbeau Forza. NRG camlock)