Cable operated GTi wing mirror assembly

The drivers side cable adjusted door mirror on my 1983 Campaign is seized solid/rusted at the the point where the cables enter the mirror housing - is beyond fixing and one of the cables is broken.  I have taken the mirror/cables etc off the car and have tried to separate the glass from the housing BUT the glass is held from behind - does anyone know how it is held - can I prise it free????  It wouldn' t matter if the glass broke as I am thinking of getting a replacement assembly from a later cabrio - but the housings are painted body colour not black.  Is it possible to remove the external mirror housing from the glass/cable mechanism to swap them???  Any advice much appreciated!

Appreciate this is an old post, but did you get anywhere with this?

This any help?
Ever want to take the mirror glass out of your flag mirror? | VW Vortex - Volkswagen Forum

Thanks, but that looks like a newer type than mine (83). I've got glass off and I'm now looking at this.



Its definitely different to the later type.

The metal bit (that attaches it to the car) is really scabby but unless I can separate it I don't see how I can paint it as the mirror housing obscures a lot of it!

Sorry, I have the later type.

It must be doable as this was peach coloured when I gave it to my painter:

You can't separate the head of the unit from the base, it is spring loaded pressed on.

Can't isn't a word I use (until I break something!) it went together, it can come apart  
I can see how it would come off the base, chop the star retaining ring and job done. Granted getting it back on would be fun, but those type of retaining rings are common.
Of course, if I cannot separate the cable mechanism from the mirror plate without destroying it then I wouldn't be able to replace the retaining ring.

How on earth have other folk gone about refurbishing the base…?

Surely someone must have done this before - I'm not that 'out-there'.

paceman said

Can't isn't a word I use (until I break something!)

   

As Briano says, you might have problems getting it back together.
Here is my old one:



You can see the extra rings hanging off. The star ring is off, but the mirror is still attached to the base  

Grrr!
Don't suppose you still have that one that I could tinker with do you?

I do, but it's on the car until I get the new one resprayed (legal requirement, I believe). You're welcome to tinker once I get the new one on.

Great stuff. Even better, ask your man how he paints them. Might save all the hassle

Will do.

paceman said

…ask your man how he paints them…

He said it didn't look like it would go back together, so he pained it as one piece. The one I gave him was in good condition so he only had to go back to the primer. Then he masked the mirror and fine line masked the black trim.

Cheers fella!