Removal of Rear View Mirror?

How do you remove the rear view mirror from the windhield, completely. The body shop put it too low on the windshield after the windshield was replaced. I hit my head on it and now you can see the white backing (it's half above and half below the tint line) and it looks bad.

I would take it back to the body shop, but they F-ed me pretty good..don't want to deal with them anymore.

Thanks for your help.

 

YIKES...I have very little patience. Then what should I use to reglue it?

 

so the mirror is a 2 parter? 1) the base glued to the window and 2) the mirror?

 

Another thing...my mirror has a small "A" sticker (black "A" on clear sticker) in the lower left corner..what's that?

 

Just spoke with T Rutlands. It appears that mine is a 1 piece mirror as I see the silver backing (likely glued). Rutlands said if it was the Porsche base, it would be black. He cautioned me about removing it, as I am screwed if I break the windshield. BUT IT LOOKS BAD!!

 

Dr. T...kinda long story...Due to road debris hitting another car, the debris and car parts hit my 308 causing $9400 in damage...high estimate, but it's a factory authorized body shop and insurance covered it. I had other things I wanted taken care of while it was in the shop, unrelated to the "accident". They quoted me $1000 to do that stuff. 1 week later, they said the car was done except for the windshield...they were trying to locate one with the help of the local dealer. I asked how much I owed out of pocket...they said I owed nothing as they worked the unrelated damage into the original quote of $9400. I wrote it down and thanked them thinkin they were the best thing since sliced bread for saving me $1k. Then, 7 months later, they still could not find me a windshield (which had a price on the estimate of $1400). So, I got tired of waiting for them, the dealer and FNA to find me a windshield and I did some research and found one for $798 + $90 shipping. Instead of purchasing it myself, I called the body shop and asked them to handle it, thinking that would be easier. I had arranged for the car to be towed to my mechanic once completed as it sat for now 8 months. Once competed, the body shop was waiting for the tow company and an employee of the shop backed into my car causing additional damage, which required another week of body/paint work. Then I get a call from the shop saying I owe them $1000 for the original unrelated damage. I told them that I was told I owe nothing as it was covered ... they said they never told me that. They also still charged $1400 for the windshield although I found it for them for $800. THey said they are entitled to a 20% mark up on parts. I argued that if I bought the windhsield I would have saved $600, but I thought it easier if they ordered it and had it shipped directly to them. They did not care and wanted $1k...so, they lied to me, charged me extra $$ they said they wouldn't, backed into and damaged my car, couldn't find a window, I had to find the glass for which they charged an extra $600. Once I got the car, there were scratches in the new paint, over spray on the fender jams and undercarriage. I complained and was told: "go buy some compound and wax and take out the scratches and buy black spray paint to cover the overspray". They just got over $10,000 and wanted me to fix their mistakes. I even had the car towed to my house for $130 by them so I wouldn't have to make the 2 hour round trip to get the car. I said I insisted that they fix the problems, and ended up driving the 2 hours for them to do it.

Then, I accidentally dropped my motorcycle into my car (bike immediately went for sale). I called the same shop for an estimate...$1000 minimum. Some F-Chatters directed me to another guy who did it for $350 and did an amazing job. But he pointed out the crappy job the other guys did for $10k. He would have done it for $3000-4000 and done a better job.

Now, I notice the mirror is placed too low. So, that is how they screwed me. I am sure I left out some details. Sorry to vent her on this thread (wait, I created this thread...I can vent) .

Thanks for all the tips. I am also going to cosult with auto glass companies...maybe they can do it for me as I have no patience...but then again, they may not be as careful...maybe I'll leave it alone as a reminder of how pissed I am at the body shop.

 

Thanks Doc...everything is a lesson. For example, "Authorized" does not necessarily mean "Best"...in this case it meant "Most expensive with sh#$y results". But through F-Chat I found a great body/paint guy...a little far but worth it. I have no plans on ever selling the car and although I love to show it, I don't want to sacrifice driving pleasure. If you drive it, things happen, i.e. small stone chips, dings etc. I love driving my 308 and and don't want it to turn into a garage queen that only looks good.

 

CGPERRY...I had just gotten of the phone with the window guy who installed the glass and mirror when I read your post. He said not to touch it because of the same reason...I will likely break the glass off in a mirror base sized chunk. He said using a razor blade or heating it will NOT work. Instead of appologizing for putting it too low, he said I did not know what I was talking about because he measured it. So I told him he measured it wrong...he told me to F-off. I told him "thanks for screwing up" and he hung up. His name is Frank and he owns his own company in the Ft. Lauderdale area...maybe Miami. 1st Class European Authorized Coachworks (or whatever their name is) in Pompano Beach uses this guy for all their Ferrari work...so, be careful if you use them.

Bottom line is I have to live with it. If anyone has a front view of their Ferrari I would like to see how much of the mirror base is visible. I know I could not see it on the original glass and I never noticed it on any other 308...now I notice it.

Thanks Perry for the post...I don't have $4000.00 to try to reposition the glass.

 

I am definitely going to do more research on this and I am not taking the glass guy's word on anything. RifleDriver's advice makes sense and I cannot imagine why it would not work...after all it's glue, not cement..right?

 

why do all my posts say 183? I though each post adds to that number.

 

disregard...now its 184...well 185 including this...never mind...it's early in the AM and I haven't had my coffee.

 

My mirror is original , but it appears to be one piece. It is definitely glued onto the windshield. THe 308 QV parts manual also shows the mirror as one piece. I think I may leave it for now...at least until I can get a couple glass guys to look at it.