Ebay Mirrors. Retardely cheap. why?

[McWatters]

Is there something i dont get or are they just pure ****. are they gunna break when i put them on. lol is the mirror part useless? lol what am i missing here

http://cgi.ebay.ca/89-95-BMW-E34-5-SEIRES-POWER-M3-MIRROR-EUROPEAN_W0QQitemZ8033842094QQcategoryZ33649QQrdZ1 QQcmdZViewItem

cheers

J.McWatters

[onewhippedpuppy]

Either pure crap, or a scam. The grammar is horrible, reminds me of the Nigerian scams. "Reduce wind resistant", "Made by ABS". Run away.......

[Qube]

I would hazard a guess that they are not worth your time to install them. You'd probably be better off detailing your car with that time.

"UPS - Ground $16.95"
If you're up to it.

[Traian]

It is extremely cheap to make any non-high-tech labour-intesive part outside of Europe and North America (and a few ohter places obviously), specially in big numbers. Plus, they're charging $25 for shipping on a pair of mirrors - another profit there.

There was a set of clear turn signals (whole assemblies) for the E34 on eBay last week for $0.95 new, with the shipping ~$40. Now they've dropped the price on the shipping to $25, but the lamps are $15. Still a smoking deal.

I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, because even I can't resist buying cheap crap at a 1/10 the price (altho I should), but the price for all this is that someone got paid eight dollars a day to make like a million of these things.

[Dan-ny-m398]

I just bought a set from the same seller, I payed 23$ shipped and I got it in 3 days. I haven't installed them yet but they don't seem that bad and for less than 30$ I think I can take a chance.

[Dan-ny-m398]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/4/web/244000-244999/244870_189_full.jpg

The wires seem kind of weird, I don't konw If I will have to modify anything, but I'll install them this weekend so I will be able to give a better opinion by monday.

[saj3n]

I just bought a set from the same seller, I payed 23$ shipped and I got it in 3 days. I haven't installed them yet but they don't seem that bad and for less than 30$ I think I can take a chance.


I went out and purchased mine from ebay when they were fresh on the market. Paid around $80, however, they are motorized and have blue/amber led turn signals. Still have yet to install.

[KB535i]

Ive been looking at these also. Will you guys who have them be sure to post pics/results/thoughts on these after the install PLEASE. For ALL of us?

[Incantation]

yea they're pretty shitty.. they are only bi-directional.. either up/down or left/right.. and the motors are garbage so they won't work anyway..

however if you paint em to match your car they will look FXCKIN GOOD

but mounting them requires you to (irreversibly) cut out some parts of the rubber housing at the mirror to make them fit flush

having said that, they are WAY better than stock

oh yea.. they also have a cheap plastic anchor bracket which will probably break if you hit it hard

[Jon K]

Pics

[Incantation]

i'll put up a couple pics later today

[Incantation]

for those that requested pics.. here's a couple from far away. i will put up a couple close-ups later today
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_55_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_66_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_67_full.jpg

[Jon K]

I am more interested in close ups of how the adapter plate fits - I don't want it buldging off the car.

[Incantation]

actually here's better ones
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_81_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_82_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_83_full.jpg

[Incantation]

last two. close-ups later
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_84_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_85_full.jpg

[Incantation]

close-ups
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_86_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_87_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_88_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_89_full.jpg

[Incantation]

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_90_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_91_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_92_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/1/web/733000-733999/733738_93_full.jpg

[Incantation]

fitting these things, as i mentioned above, requires irreversible cutting of the rubber mat that lines the housing against the car. if you don't, the top of the mirror will not be flush with the a-pillar and if you look very closely you can see a 1mm gap between mine and the a-pillar.

i took a photo of the anchor bolt because you need onethat will cut nicely into the mirror housing (use a big thread) but don't torque it too much or it might break since it's PLASTIC (wtf) .. guess that's why it's cheap

also you need a big-ass washer on that anchor bolt because the hole is too big for the screw head.

not much else to it. i would have taken the mirror off to show the cutting underneath but .. again that anchor is plastic so the less i screw/unscrew the better.

oh also.. those two wires in the pic.. i have those run under the hood to my side indicators so i have signals. wiring through the grommet would have just taken too much time.. shrug

last thing.. there is also a blue LED .. i didn't bother wiring it. i originally did set it up to run through the ceiling light wiring but blue lights are a heat score

[saj3n]

How many wires were connected with your mirrors? I just pulled mine out of the box they have been in since I purchased, Each mirror has 6 wires. Im guessing the first set of three (Red, White, Black) are for the motor, 2nd set (Balck, White, Blue) are for the LED indicators... Is this how yours are as well? I will definatley have to paint mine, purchased for my 89, which was painted silver, so these came as chrome.

[Jon K]

How many wires were connected with your mirrors? I just pulled mine out of the box they have been in since I purchased, Each mirror has 6 wires. Im guessing the first set of three (Red, White, Black) are for the motor, 2nd set (Balck, White, Blue) are for the LED indicators... Is this how yours are as well? I will definatley have to paint mine, purchased for my 89, which was painted silver, so these came as chrome.


Hey jasen let me know when you install these I'd like to see them in person.

[Incantation]

yea it was the same for mine.. 3 for the indicators (blue/orange) and 3 for the motor.. the stock motor controls have 4 wires.. so these are motorized only left and right (or up/down? .. can't remember)

[Jon K]

I ordered a set with no blinkers from ebay - should be here sometime.

[saj3n]

I ordered a set with no blinkers from ebay - should be here sometime.

Hey Jon,

I sure will let you know when i get these installed. Not to sure when ill have time, maybe this sunday if I get a couple hours free. I remember when trying to install on my 89, there was a special tool that was needed, not sure if thats the case on the 95..

[rockyfeller]

I had my eyes on these since they came out and I think asthetically it is a big improvement. Looks great Inc, you know I'm a fan of your mods. Some like to keep things OEM but I like the subtle updates that keep the car looking fresh and different. I remember mentioning before that the OEM mirrors really create some drag. Just listen with the windows down, I get a hissing/whistling from my billboard-like OEM mirrors more than any other car I've owned.

The reason I never went ahead is I don't trust the motor, I wish they were heated, and I wish they were breakaway in design. (I remember finding a German model available somewhere heated/powered/with signals/custom anchor plate at an exuberant price) I feel like a light brush against it in a parking lot will break the whole thing.

[McWatters]

How many oem m5 mirrors are still out there?

cheers

J.McWatters

[BMWDriver]

I think these are interesting : http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4589545547&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

They are heated. There is another model from the same seller for the 1992-1995 e34s. I've learned that they have changed mirrors in manufacture date 09-92 and up e34s.

[Don McAdams]

I think these are interesting : http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4589545547&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

They are heated. There is another model from the same seller for the 1992-1995 e34s. I've learned that they have changed mirrors in manufacture date 09-92 and up e34s.

I have these same mirrors on my Touring ('92 & up ones). Seller was very good, fast ship, etc. For $109 you can't beat them. They are heated, power, etc. Fit is excellent. Plugged right in (92 & up have a different mirror plug)- bolted right on. They have metal bases on them (un-like the plastic cracking ones out there). Just make sure to metal etch prime the base prior to painting otherwise the paint will start to flake off....

After 3 years they have still held up/ look/ function great. (Touch wood)

But most importantly they are fully functional= you can actually use/ see out of them! :D

My .02 centavos-

[Incantation]

hey dude i bought my mirrors from this guy.. back when i got them i had to send money order (did not send to canada) and this guy somehow lost it and then said he was mailing a cheque back (which i never received) .. 2 months later i figured out how to get his contact info and i called the guy giving him bloody hell and he sent the mirrors overnight

looks like he accepts paypal now though

[Incantation]

yea dude the motor is a piece .. it lasted a minute, lol

[rockyfeller]

BMWdriver looks like you found the mirrors I was talking about....I think they maybe available with signals too.....I saw some price somewhere ~$500 long time ago...LOL I feel sorry for anyone who bought them at that price.

Inc you say you bought from kensu too....but it looks like your mirrors are the more generic ones that are non-heated with plastic bases, are they?

[Incantation]

yea i paid 68 shipped i think.. they definitely weren't heated (which is ok because i had the "hot weather package" car that didn't come with heated seats or mirrors) but they were motorized (kinda) and have signals.. which work really nicely