Author |
Topic: That d*mn*d mirror! (Read 599 times) |
|
mikesmount
Newbie
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 12
|
 |
That d*mn*d mirror!
« on: Jun 29th, 2007, 4:11pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
When I got my Scorp, the automatic dipping mirror had been leaking, so - being the sort of idiot who likes wll the gizmos to be present and working - I lashed out money on a new one from ebay.
Last summer, when it was new, I remembered to cover the mirror with foil when parked, but thios year I forgot. Two days ago, went to the car and found the mirror seemed "rippled".
As soon as I started up, the alien blood started dripping ....
So, my advice is: don't bother with a replacement, or if you do, get a manual mirror. If y our posh mirror has not leaked yet, it will!  
How come this never happens to BMWs?
|
|
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
DazRSK
Junior Member
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 95
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #1 on: Jun 29th, 2007, 5:25pm » |
Quote Modify
|
These mirrors do have a habit of upsetting everybody, don't they.
I actually had no problem with the mirror itself - but caused myself massive grief with the windscreen instead.
I was changing over Scorpio from the 2.3 to the TD version last year. When I bought the TD, I noticed that the mirror was a sort of half tinted half clear - of course, as dusk / darkness fell, the thing didn't dim at all with lights behind. The one in the 2.3 that I was about to sell was working perfectly.
So wouldn't it be a great idea to remove the broken one out of the TD, pull it apart and clean it all up, then swap them over. I then have a perfect mirror in the TD that I was going to continue to drive and I'm selling the 2.3 with - OK not a working mirror, but still a perfect looking one.
Mmmmm - on pulling the 2.3's mirror off the screen - yes you've guessed it - windscreen cracked. Needed to get an MOT on the car before I sold it as well - what an idiot. Cost me 60 notes for the windscreen and wished I had just left the whole idea alone.
These god d**n mirrors.
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #2 on: Jun 30th, 2007, 9:21am » |
Quote Modify
|
Mike, please explain about the foil thing around the mirror...this sounds interesting. Presumably the foil reflects the heat generated by the hot sunlight comming through the windscreen?
I have not heard of this one before.
Mind you, in this weather that we are suffering of late I dont think that it is a problem at this time...
I could be wrong.
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Scorpio_Mike
Senior Member
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
Posts: 2359
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #4 on: Jun 30th, 2007, 12:44pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Here's an idea : you know that foil covered foam you can get to stick behind radiators which is supposed to reflect heat back into a room ? Get a small bit of that and some black Velcro - stick it on to the back of the mirror and easily remove when not required. Simple ?
|
|
IP Logged |
Star sign is Scorpio !
Sierra XR4i's are great...especially when fitted with 4WD 
|
|
|
mikesmount
Newbie
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 12
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #5 on: Jun 30th, 2007, 3:13pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Not so simple really. If this mirror works the same as the BMW version, then it compares the light ahead with the light behind, and dims accordingly ... so when you cover the back with foil it will go black on you in daylight. I discovered this when I covered my BMW mirror on the "shutting the stable door" principle,
I did not notice this effect last year, but then I was covering it in a white translucent plastic bag ... a fact I failed to mention earlier for the sake of brevity!
Yes, my precautionary move is intended to reflect the direct sunlight. I think it would have worked. I don't think this is necessary with the Beemer. They don't have this habitual problem, afaik. I have had the beemer several years longer than the scorp, and am still on the original mirror.
I had a look at the Mondeao site to see if they had the same problem, but I could not find any reference to it there, Does anyone know?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Scorpio_Mike
Senior Member
Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 V6 & 2.8 Sierra XR4i 4x4
Posts: 2359
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #6 on: Jun 30th, 2007, 4:25pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I meant to make a mirror cover which could be quickly fitted and removed when the car is parked, not for when it is being driven as well. Sorry if I didn't make that clear. Since most cars spend a good portion of each day parked and not in use it would at least provide some protection ? When the car is in use you have the A/C on which keeps the interior and mirror cooler anyway.
|
|
IP Logged |
Star sign is Scorpio !
Sierra XR4i's are great...especially when fitted with 4WD
|
|
|
ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #7 on: Jun 30th, 2007, 6:07pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I can see a little mod comming into mind here 
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
mikesmount
Newbie
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 12
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #8 on: Jun 30th, 2007, 6:08pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Sorry Mike!
I realised that after I had posted! Very good idea!
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
ferretmobile
Full Member
2.3 saloon S reg & all the toys. mmmm toys
Posts: 343
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #10 on: Jun 30th, 2007, 6:24pm » |
Quote Modify
|
When the weather gets really hot......................
Well I am sure some of you may remember the summers that were hot,
I went to my local poundsaver and got me a foil reflector thingy that sits on the inside of the windscreen. Its held in place by suckerpads and is made to clip around the mirror. It keeps the car cooler and therefore protects the mirror.
To quote Peter Butterworth in carry on camping...a pahnd!
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
cathouse
Junior Member
2.9 ultima saloon 12v 1995
Posts: 100
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #11 on: Jul 12th, 2007, 9:44pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Hi
If I can put in a word here, I had my Scorp for three years before some idiot wrote it off ( while it was parked but don't get me started on that  ) It went through three hot summers without anything happening to the mirror and then one day I left it parked overnight in my carport with the front sticking out ( I usually parked nose in ).
there was a frost that night and the windscreen was well iced up.
a week later the mirror went yucky.
so it's possibly not just sun but extremes of temperature that cause it.
just a thought.
chers
Roy
|
|
IP Logged |
one day I may think of something to write here.
|
|
|
Big_Green_Tank
Full Member
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 151
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #12 on: Jul 16th, 2007, 4:37pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I used to like the mirror on my Granada Scorpio, it had little lever at the bottom that flipped to dip the mirror at night could still see everything and no "Alien Blood" in sight.
Keep it simple should be the motto.
But why is that all the other fancy cars don't have this problem?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
TiberiuS
Senior Member
Ex. 1996 2.3 Ultima - RIP P789 KHJ
Posts: 2257
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #13 on: Jul 16th, 2007, 6:47pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Ok guys, here's my take.
Most cars use Donnelly mirrors (Ford, Jag, Volvo, BMW and Merc for sure), some models of mirror seem more prone to failure than others. The mirror used in the 1998-on XJ8 is the same as in the Scorpio, look on the owners forums and they fail quite often. The older type which I have in the X300 seems to be more reliable (squarer, has a slider on the bottom edge to adjust the dim sensitivity rather than the button, same fitting as the Scorpio). There's quite a few X300s appearing on the parts market now, you might be able to get hold of a mirror cheap.
The one in my Scorp never worked from day one, never bothered me to be honest, although it was quite dim...luckily for me it never leaked .
|
|
IP Logged |
Bruce - '07 Jaguar XKR coupe, '95 Jaguar XJ Sport 4.0, '82 Ford Capri 2.0 Ghia, '15 Honda Civic (sloooooww..)
|
|
|
mikesmount
Newbie
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 12
|
|
Re: That d*mn*d mirror!
« Reply #14 on: Jul 16th, 2007, 9:38pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Well ... as well as the Scorpio I have an ancient BMW 5 series (530i) which also has a self dimming mirror. It has never given the slightest indication of giving up the ghost to be away with the fairies .... and I have had it four years, As far as I know, it is the original fittment, which makes it some fourteen years old. So why not Ford?
Does the mondeo have the same failure rate?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Login
Reply
Send Topic
Print
Remove
