Auto dipping exterior mirrors

mannyo · #1 8th December 2013, 03:44 PM

My newly acquired D3 has the auto dipping mirrors (external and internal). The external ones have done the apparently usual thing and have gone gold because the seals have gone.

I am not really interested in the dipping function, and am struggling to find an aftermarket non dipping alternative that don't simply stick over the old ones.

Both mirrors have gone, so looking to replace both, if someone could post a link to some that would give heated functionality at least. I don't require OEM, so ebay or simillar would work fine.

Car is 2004 pre facelift D3.

snapdragon · #2 8th December 2013, 04:32 PM

I saw an S class today with the same problem.
About 20 years ago, I had a non-dipping one on a BMW that smashed.
I bought the stick-on type and with a hot air gun was able to peel the backing plastic and heated elements off the old glass and stick them on the new glass. It was OK - not sure if modern glasses are the same construction. Worth trying on the old one if it's scrap anyway.

M-A8 · #3 8th December 2013, 04:37 PM

I've done a quiet search, but couldn't find any heated ones on ebay or ecp or gsf for pre facelift models.

I found brand new genuine ones heated with auto dim function but they are 200euro for a pair.

You can get some basic ones on ebay uk but it's just a mirror.

You could do some more research and also give GSF a call as they can get more parts than whats on the website and it would be interesting to see how much audi wants for a pair as well

M-A8 · #4 8th December 2013, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snapdragon

I saw an S class today with the same problem.
About 20 years ago, I had a non-dipping one on a BMW that smashed.
I bought the stick-on type and with a hot air gun was able to peel the backing plastic and heated elements off the old glass and stick them on the new glass. It was OK - not sure if modern glasses are the same construction. Worth trying on the old one if it's scrap anyway.

This actually sounds like a good idea, you can't do much damage to be honest, will either work or not.
And this way you could save a lot of money because the basic mirror costs few quid only

ainarssems · #5 9th December 2013, 08:01 AM

I guess you mean auto-dimming not dipping. Auto dipping one is on the passenger side so that it dips when you select reverse.

There are plenty non-dimming heated ones on e-bay with backing plate in variety of versions-clear, blue, flate, convex, wide angle etc. £10 will get you one with separate backing plate that you need to stick together(not on old mirror) and £25 gets you pre-assembled with backing plate. Examples of both below

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-A8-20...item43bc2fba26

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mirror-Gla...item257bb9aa6b

mannyo · #6 9th December 2013, 08:18 AM

Ainar,

Sorry, yes I meant Auto dimming. I keep getting the terminology muddled up.

At least the prices seem reasonable, I don't think I'll bother with another auto dimming one (especially secondhand) as I have no idea how long it will last.

mannyo · #7 9th December 2013, 12:45 PM

Annoyingly there are to be two different mirror shapes, but some are listing both as compatible when they are not.

The ones on mine have almost straight inside edges, rather than an angle halfway along the inside edge. I guess the difference between prefacelift and facelift, yet they all seem to list them as 03-08 rather than -03-05 and 05-08.

limoncello · #8 9th December 2013, 01:25 PM

yes you ned to be careful to get the right one, I managed to get the mirror and the whole housing for an 08 model on ebay for £30 (mines an 05 so didnt fit), sold the mirror for a 100 still have the housing. bought the right one from a8parts. point is if you can wait and keep searching ebay you can pick them up cheap.