Replacing side mirror caps

[Land Stalker]

I picked up these on eBay. Will somebody who's successfully used something like this explain how they work?

I was researching how to pop off the existing caps, and apparently they are held on with tabs (as I assumed they'd be). These things have no tabs, just tape.

My first thought was that maybe they are some cheesy thing you fit over the original caps, secured with tape. But they are too small for that, they are clearly designed to replace the OEM caps... but how, with no tabs?

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[TXlandcrusher]

How do you know that these have no tabs? They only show photos of the outside of the mirror cover, not the inside. The tabs would be on the inside. My guess would be that this product does in fact have tabs.

FYI, disassembling a mirror on the 200 series is a PITA in my opinion. There are basically no good videos out there. I’m pretty sure that the mirror covers can’t just be popped off - you need to partially disassemble the mirror in order to remove/replace the covers. Not something I would do unless I really had to.

 

[terrapin]

This video might help. I used it to repair the retractor on my mirror a few years ago. It shows how to disassemble the mirror.

 

[Land Stalker]

How do you know that these have no tabs? They only show photos of the outside of the mirror cover, not the inside. The tabs would be on the inside. My guess would be that this product does in fact have tabs.

FYI, disassembling a mirror on the 200 series is a PITA in my opinion. There are basically no good videos out there. I’m pretty sure that the mirror covers can’t just be popped off - you need to partially disassemble the mirror in order to remove/replace the covers. Not something I would do unless I really had to.

The no tabs I can confirm because I received them this morning. No tabs, just adhesive strips.

Before I bought them, when I was just going of the pics, I assumed tabs like you did. Bit of surprise when I opened the packaging...

Yeah, I've heard it's a pain, and read a few cryptic posts about having to pop out the glass and then release the cap tabs from inside the housing, but was hoping that wasn't true. Your point about no good videos is strongly seconded... I've found nada. Hopefully somebody who's actually done this operation will weigh in on this post.

 

[GrouchyTech]

The no tabs I can confirm because I received them this morning. No tabs, just adhesive strips.

Before I bought them, when I was just going of the pics, I assumed tabs like you did. Bit of surprise when I opened the packaging...

Yeah, I've heard it's a pain, and read a few cryptic posts about having to pop out the glass and then release the cap tabs from inside the housing, but was hoping that wasn't true. Your point about no good videos is strongly seconded... I've found nada. Hopefully somebody who's actually done this operation will weigh in on this post.

The caps you got look like they fit over the factory painted caps and attach with the adhesive tape. The original caps will have tabs all the way around to attach it to the mirror housing.

Hopefully they don’t expect you to remove the original caps and then just tape these things on in their place…right?

 

[Land Stalker]

The caps you got look like they fit over the factory painted caps and attach with the adhesive tape. The original caps will have tabs all the way around to attach it to the mirror housing.

Well, when I saw it had no tabs, just adhesive strip, that was my second thought. But they are the exact same size as the OEM caps, so they don't fit over them. They are sized as a replacement... but with no practical way to attach to the mirror assemblage.

I think these were never actually tested by whoever manufactures them... Some factory owner in China probably got their hands on an OEM mirror cap, said "Yeah, I can copy this, but getting the tabs right will be tough... @#$% it, I'm sure if I just line all the edges with 3M tape, it will stick to some part of the assemblage and work..."

 

[GrouchyTech]

I’m convinced they are intended to fit over the stock painted caps.

If you look very carefully at the photos you can see the white of the original painted caps peaking out around the edge closest to the door.

 

[Land Stalker]

No disrespect intended, but I feel compelled to point out that this is like the 3rd time I'm mentioning that I actually have the item in hand.

It physically does not fit over the OEM cap because it is the exact same size as the OEM cap. It cannot replace the OEM cap because it does not have tabs.

 

[sdnative]

No disrespect and I know you have them in hand, but is it possible you received a different product than what is in the listing, it's not made correctly, or you are not installing it correctly? I am with the others that these seem to intended to be installed over the top of the existing mirrors.

The cover looks larger than the mirror in the first picture, and in the second picture you can see the edge of the cover and a bit of white from the mirror below.

 

[slipkid13]

You mean the instructions in the item description were not helpful? Shocking!

Method Of Installation:

• Step 1 Please clean the area and eliminates the substance before mounting this product.
• Step 2 To check the installation area according to the vehicle with this product first and then release the back of tape paper is removed
• Step 3 Products are equipped on the vehicle with exactly and use a clean cloth to press evenly is attached.
• Step 4 Products within 24 hours after installed, please avoid washing your car and touching the water.

 

[AZLX570]

The no tabs I can confirm because I received them this morning. No tabs, just adhesive strips.

Before I bought them, when I was just going of the pics, I assumed tabs like you did. Bit of surprise when I opened the packaging...

Yeah, I've heard it's a pain, and read a few cryptic posts about having to pop out the glass and then release the cap tabs from inside the housing, but was hoping that wasn't true. Your point about no good videos is strongly seconded... I've found nada. Hopefully somebody who's actually done this operation will weigh in on this post.

It is a pain but not that bad. In order to access the (on my 2013 LX) turn signal that I replaced is I had to pop out the glass (fairly easy if you're gentle) with a plastic pry bar. On my LX the mirror glass is heated so it came with a plug attached. Once the glass is off you can see the entire housing from the inside. The cap is held in by clips which are very delicate. I actually broke one and had to super glue it back on afterwards. I would anticipate doing the same as I was pretty gentle on everything.

Just go slowly. I did all this with the mirror still on the vehicle.

 

[Land Stalker]

This is incredibly frustrating. I'd reached out to the seller before I posted here... no reply, but now there are a bunch of new photos on the listing (including one clearly showing adhesive), and mounting instructions have been added to the description. When I purchased the part there were only three pics (attached below) of different angles (no rear/internal angle), and nothing showing it on the truck.

1. If I had known it was a stick-on piece, I wouldn't have bought it.
2. Even if I had wanted a stick-on piece, I'd still be out of luck, because again, what I got was a part the exact same size as the factory mirror cap, that very obviously didn't fit over it. That part in those new on-the-truck pics is different than what I received.

Edit: I've since boxed them back up and dropped them off this AM, but looking at that adhesive tape pic closely, I am even more convinced this is a different part entirely. Firstly, I am unable to tell if that is meant to show the backside of the part itself, or the factory mirror with adhesive tape placed on it. Either way, it's wrong... firstly, the part I received was matte black throughout, not glossy grey on the back side. So if that pic is the back side, it's different. And if that's supposed to be the factory mirror caps with the adhesive tape placed on them prior to mounting the parts, that doesn't work either, as the adhesive tape was not loose in the box, but already stuck on the part... so you couldn't position the tape on the factory caps prior to fitting any parts.