Mercury leak in Gallardo

**happyboy** · #1 10-17-2009, 03:18 PM

I live in Southern CA and the temp of 100 plus degrees, did not go well with the 2004 Gallardo, rear view mirror yesterday. I had mercury leak from the mirror and fall on the climate control area, totally peeling off the rubber surface and the the plastic on the buttons now visible.

Is this a common problem. Secondly does anyone know what the rear view mirror and the climate control front panel face plate would cost. I am thin king an arm and a leg

zeeshan6 · #2 10-17-2009, 04:31 PM

I DO NOT OWN A GALLARDO

but....from what i've heard its not worth it to try and fix best thing to do is replacement. and do it ASAP. if the merc leaks onto the center console it will eat up anything it touches! It has happened to a few owners i know the mirror shouldn't cost more than $300 for the part. best of luck

**happyboy** · #3 10-17-2009, 04:36 PM

its already eaten up the control buttons on the air temp controls so that has to be replaced too, have no idea how easy ro difficult that replacement would be. I do intend to have it repaired asap

**2NA** · #4 10-17-2009, 04:50 PM

???

If you actually had real mercury leak out inside your car you have a serious problem!

Liquid mercury will vaporize in the car interior and the passengers will inhale it, this is EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS to your health.

Cleaning it up thoroughly may be very difficult as it will be everywhere.

lurker80 · #5 10-17-2009, 05:34 PM

just take it to several car washes, take your gas mask off before you turn over the keys so they dont suspect a thing 8)

how much mercury came out?

**rimoore** · #6 10-17-2009, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2NA

???

If you actually had real mercury leak out inside your car you have a serious problem!

Liquid mercury will vaporize in the car interior and the passengers will inhale it, this is EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS to your health.

Cleaning it up thoroughly may be very difficult as it will be everywhere.

I wonder if Lambo is worried about this issue.

96cobrakid · #7 10-17-2009, 09:01 PM

Lick said Mercury
Call Lawyer
Buy Murci SV
Enjoy

lolololol

**BAKY** · #8 10-18-2009, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyboy

I live in Southern CA and the temp of 100 plus degrees, did not go well with the 2004 Gallardo, rear view mirror yesterday. I had mercury leak from the mirror and fall on the climate control area, totally peeling off the rubber surface and the the plastic on the buttons now visible.

Is this a common problem. Secondly does anyone know what the rear view mirror and the climate control front panel face plate would cost. I am thin king an arm and a leg

Why is mercury leaking form the rear view anyway??

**2NA** · #9 10-18-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BAKY

Why is mercury leaking form the rear view anyway??

I did a Google search and discovered that a Michigan company, Magna-Donnelly, supplies these self darkening mirrors to a lot of companies (including Lamborghini and Ferrari). There have had some leaks and apparently the liquid that comes out is a proprietary mix of somewhat hazardous substances that includes liquid mercury.

What were they thinking?

How many other cases are out there (I saw some on other forums)?

Will Magna do anything to help?

Does Lamborghini repair this under warranty?

Is there a lawyer that is already suing them?

Teenferrarifan · #10 10-18-2009, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2NA

I did a Google search and discovered that a Michigan company, Magna-Donnelly, supplies these self darkening mirrors to a lot of companies (including Lamborghini and Ferrari). There have had some leaks and apparently the liquid that comes out is a proprietary mix of somewhat hazardous substances that includes liquid mercury.

What were they thinking?

How many other cases are out there (I saw some on other forums)?

Will Magna do anything to help?

Does Lamborghini repair this under warranty?

Is there a lawyer that is already suing them?

I have seen this happen before, I am not sure if it is the same company or material, but back in the early 90's cadillac's used day/night rearview mirrors and the mirrors would sometimes leak doing damage to EVERYTHING the "gunk" came into contact with....just my two cents
Erik

zeeshan6 · #11 10-18-2009, 12:22 PM

taken from LP http://www.**********.com/forum/inde...opic=43335&hl=

REMOVAL
"It's held on with a strong adhesive, need to get a thin wire between the glass and mount and start sawing along the surface of glass until the adhesive comes free (DO NOT PULL ON IT AWAY FROM GLASS) easy but requires elbow grease."

PART
"Part # 8L0857511 and it should be $168.45 from a dealer according to the Gallardo parts manual...."

**deon.smith** · #12 10-18-2009, 12:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyboy

its already eaten up the control buttons on the air temp controls so that has to be replaced too, have no idea how easy ro difficult that replacement would be. I do intend to have it repaired asap

Try part 8L0857511 from your dealer. Sb be arounf $170.00. I am sure it is an Audi part and you can try your local Audi dealer to match it. The following vehicles has this mirror I think.
A4, A3 8P, Golf 3, Golf 4.

TwinTurbo928 · #13 10-18-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2NA

I did a Google search and discovered that a Michigan company, Magna-Donnelly, supplies these self darkening mirrors to a lot of companies (including Lamborghini and Ferrari). There have had some leaks and apparently the liquid that comes out is a proprietary mix of somewhat hazardous substances that includes liquid mercury.

What were they thinking?

My guess would be the chemicals in the mirror are the ones identified in this patent of theirs:

http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-P...y=PN%2F6906842

There appear to be a number of other reports of the mirrors leaking and/or exploding and the resulting chemicals burning various holes in the car.

I can only imagine what happens if you are in a car accident, the mirror breaks and those chemicals go flying all over when people are inside the car. Or if it is a hot day and it explodes while people are in the car.

After reading up on them, I agree: "what the hell were they thinking?"

ken qv · #14 10-18-2009, 02:40 PM

Don't replace it with the same toxic mirror that could leak again.
Throw that pos out and get a look alike mirror. Have console/damaged pieces
replaced quick. Saw one on ebay once that suffered this and it sold "CHEAP"
because of it.

mdoan300 · #15 10-18-2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2NA

I did a Google search and discovered that a Michigan company, Magna-Donnelly, supplies these self darkening mirrors to a lot of companies (including Lamborghini and Ferrari). There have had some leaks and apparently the liquid that comes out is a proprietary mix of somewhat hazardous substances that includes liquid mercury.

What were they thinking?

How many other cases are out there (I saw some on other forums)?

Will Magna do anything to help?

Does Lamborghini repair this under warranty?

Is there a lawyer that is already suing them?

Magna-Donnelly is one of the suppliers of auto-dimming mirrors for BMW and it was a fairly common problem w/ the E46 M3 and E39 M5 equipped w/ the M-oval mirror. When my M3 was out of warranty and it failed, I emailed Magna-Donnelly directly and they gave me a free replacement (I had to ship the old one back). However, I decided to install an auto-dimming square mirror w/ compass and Homelink that was optional on BMWs.

Acura uses (or used) Magna-Donnelly mirrors and there was some sort of lawsuit from an Acura CL owner that got ill.

AFAIK, MD is no longer replacing BMW M-oval mirrors directly and they recommend you use a 3rd party vendor and they charge you $75 for the swap. There's a long thread on m3forum.net about it. Hope this helps.

///Michael

Gentex was another supplier of auto-dimming mirrors for BMW, but I believe their auto-dimming technology is different from Magna-Donnelly's.

TheGasman · #16 10-18-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TwinTurbo928

My guess would be the chemicals in the mirror are the ones identified in this patent of theirs:

I can only imagine what happens if you are in a car accident, the mirror breaks and those chemicals go flying all over when people are inside the car. Or if it is a hot day and it explodes while people are in the car.

After reading up on them, I agree: "what the hell were they thinking?"

Seriously, if there is a wreck and corrosive stuff like that gets in your eye, you're done for. I'm surprised there's no class action suit.

**2NA** · #17 10-18-2009, 08:38 PM

I'm not sure if I understand the gimmick. The old day/night mirror with a button or lever always worked fine for me.

It's a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

**Jack Russell Racing** · #18 10-18-2009, 08:51 PM

YIKES! Mercury isn't something to take casually.

Rear view mirror:
http://www.ricambiamerica.com/produc...ucts_id=319304

Central AC Control:
varies in price, depending on build of your car and heated seats option, etc. See it here, as part #2:
http://www.ricambiamerica.com/parts_...?V=diag&I=6525

(p.s. Yes, we do a lot of Lamborghini parts in addition to Ferrari parts at Ricambi America.)

Shamile · #19 10-18-2009, 10:24 PM

Dear Lamborghinisti,

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2NA

I'm not sure if I understand the gimmick. The old day/night mirror with a button or lever always worked fine for me.

It's a solution to a problem that doesn't exist.

Yeah...I sure do like that old fashioned toggle switch, forward...dimmed....backward...daylight.

Since I live in FL, I have tint on the VT Roadster and the Testarossa anyway. Headlight glare at night isn't a problem.

I just love over complicated crap for the sake of...over complicated crap.

Shamile

Freeze...Miami Vice !

pdisme · #20 10-19-2009, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shamile

I just love over complicated crap for the sake of...over complicated crap.

Like flip flops vs shoes.