My friend the UPS driver just dropped off a pair of brand new, original BMW E31 sport mirrors with heated glass. I can't wait to get them painted and installed, hopefully in time for Sharkfest.
Mike Barrett
Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
Nice find -- those seem to be hard to come by anymore. Where'd you score a new set?
Cheers, John
Just got a pair of new old stock mirrors for my Oxford too! Mine didn't come with mirror glass however... Can't wait to see your progress!
2006 R53 JCW (British Racing Green) - 1994 E31 840Ci 6spd (AVUS Blue)
2021 F56 JCW (Rebel Green) - 2000 E38 740i Sport (Titanium Silver)
2017 F26 X4 M40i (Carbon Black) - 2007 E91 328iT (Deep Green)
2012 E82 135i M Sport (Marrakesh Brown) - 2015 E84 X1 (Cashmere Silver)
2005 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Kalahari Beige) - 2000 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2000 E38 740i Sport (Oxford Green) - 1999 E36 M3 Coupe (Fern Green)
1995 E31 840Ci Canadian (Oxford Green) - 2000 E36/8 M Coupe (Oxford Green)
2004 E46 330Ci (Oxford Green) - 2001 E36/8 Z3 3.0i Coupe (Oxford Green)
2002 E39 525i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2002 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2001 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2007 E63 M6 (Silver Grey)
1995 E31 840Ci (Oxford Green) - 2006 E86 M Coupe (Sepang Bronze)
2001 E39 530i Sport (Aspen Silver) - 2009 E92 M3 (Space Grey)
2001 E38 740i Sport (Sahara Beige) - 2008 E92 M3 (Melbourne Red)
2000 E38 740i Sport Canadian (Sahara Beige) - 1997 E31 850Ci (Jet Black)
Short version -- eBay.
Long version (and there's always a long version) -- I have a pre-programmed search in eBay that sends me an email everyday with all new listings that include "BMW E31". About a month ago, this set of mirrors popped up. I watched them, figuring that they would go fast, but they didn't. In the meantime, I went to my local dealer and the Parts manager did some researching for me. It seems that there are several hundred of these in stock in Europe (which kind of makes sense, since they are a Euro part), but none showing in stock in the USA. He gave me a price "if he could get them for me", but he couldn't. Apparently BMW NA wouldn't allow random ordering of certain euro parts like these (although there are more than a few of the mirror glass in stock here in the USA, but not the actual mirrors).
I asked my son, who is in the Air Force and stationed in Germany, and who drives a BMW that he has serviced at a German BMW dealer, if he would check on the cost of these parts the next time he went to the dealer. He said he would, but then he got deployed for a month. Meanwhile, these mirrors were still listed on eBay, and my trigger finger was getting itchy. Based on the prices my local dealer quoted, the eBay price wasn't all that bad, so I pulled the trigger. I had some concerns, however. The photo of the parts in the eBay listing had a three year old date, and I didn't see these parts sitting around on anyone's shelf for three years. Also, the seller wouldn't give me the part number of the parts he was selling so I could confirm they weren't the wrong parts (I didn't want to pay full freight and get the M3 mirrors that require modification in order to fit). However, he assured me based upon my VIN, that these would fit my car.
So I bought them. Then I waited. And waited. And got nervous. Although the listing said there was a 10 day handling period before they would ship (??), it actually took more like 20 days, and several email, before I was sent a tracking number. Then more nothing; UPS showed a valid tracking number, but it was another five days before they actually indicated that they had a real package in hand. I was pretty convinced at that point that if I actually got anything, it would be a box of rocks, but lo and behold, two genuine mirror assemblies with glass showed up today. Based upon all the stickers and numbers on the actual parts boxes, I'm convinced of two things -- 1) these are the real deal; and 2) the seller didn't actually have them in hand when I bought them, but managed to get them (maybe even all the way from Germany, if I'm reading the stickers correctly -- thus the apparent reason for the delay in shipping).
But ultimately, I got exactly what I wanted, and for the price I agreed to pay, so it's a fair deal in my mind. The mirrors are unpainted, but appear to be primed, and are all assembled except for the mirror glass which is packaged separately. Tomorrow it's off to the body shop.
Mike Barrett
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According to my parts guy, the mirror assemblies are impossible to get, but several units of the glass is in stock somewhere here in the US. You should be able to order them from your local dealer.
Mike Barrett
Last edited by mbarrett635; 02-27-2018 at 09:14 AM.
Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
Yes, supposedly even ECS can get the glass... And BTW I have a similar ebay story on mine too, bought them from a private seller in the UK... Little less traumatic/scary than yours, but still daunting sending over that much money and not being 100% sure on the what or when.
2006 R53 JCW (British Racing Green) - 1994 E31 840Ci 6spd (AVUS Blue)
2021 F56 JCW (Rebel Green) - 2000 E38 740i Sport (Titanium Silver)
2017 F26 X4 M40i (Carbon Black) - 2007 E91 328iT (Deep Green)
2012 E82 135i M Sport (Marrakesh Brown) - 2015 E84 X1 (Cashmere Silver)
2005 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Kalahari Beige) - 2000 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2000 E38 740i Sport (Oxford Green) - 1999 E36 M3 Coupe (Fern Green)
1995 E31 840Ci Canadian (Oxford Green) - 2000 E36/8 M Coupe (Oxford Green)
2004 E46 330Ci (Oxford Green) - 2001 E36/8 Z3 3.0i Coupe (Oxford Green)
2002 E39 525i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2002 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2001 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2007 E63 M6 (Silver Grey)
1995 E31 840Ci (Oxford Green) - 2006 E86 M Coupe (Sepang Bronze)
2001 E39 530i Sport (Aspen Silver) - 2009 E92 M3 (Space Grey)
2001 E38 740i Sport (Sahara Beige) - 2008 E92 M3 (Melbourne Red)
2000 E38 740i Sport Canadian (Sahara Beige) - 1997 E31 850Ci (Jet Black)
I have one Euro NOS Glass, Not sure what to ask for it.
My part number is different.
'91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
'91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
'91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
'90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
'94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
'96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
...and a few other non BMW cars
2006 R53 JCW (British Racing Green) - 1994 E31 840Ci 6spd (AVUS Blue)
2021 F56 JCW (Rebel Green) - 2000 E38 740i Sport (Titanium Silver)
2017 F26 X4 M40i (Carbon Black) - 2007 E91 328iT (Deep Green)
2012 E82 135i M Sport (Marrakesh Brown) - 2015 E84 X1 (Cashmere Silver)
2005 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Kalahari Beige) - 2000 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2000 E38 740i Sport (Oxford Green) - 1999 E36 M3 Coupe (Fern Green)
1995 E31 840Ci Canadian (Oxford Green) - 2000 E36/8 M Coupe (Oxford Green)
2004 E46 330Ci (Oxford Green) - 2001 E36/8 Z3 3.0i Coupe (Oxford Green)
2002 E39 525i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2002 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2001 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2007 E63 M6 (Silver Grey)
1995 E31 840Ci (Oxford Green) - 2006 E86 M Coupe (Sepang Bronze)
2001 E39 530i Sport (Aspen Silver) - 2009 E92 M3 (Space Grey)
2001 E38 740i Sport (Sahara Beige) - 2008 E92 M3 (Melbourne Red)
2000 E38 740i Sport Canadian (Sahara Beige) - 1997 E31 850Ci (Jet Black)
Not yet -- I'm taking it to the body shop at the end of March. In addition to the mirrors, I'm having the 'protective' film (that, after 15 years, looks like hell) removed and getting the front end repainted, since the film won't come off without damaging the paint.
Mike Barrett
Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
Understood Mike.... BTW I removed the 17 year old film on my Fern green E36 M3, and although it took days with a heat gun and plastic spatulas, no paint was damaged. A paint correction afterwards made the front end like new. Truly incredible.
- - - Updated - - -
So if it's aspherical, isn't it intended for the passenger side, and would mean your mirror is intended for the left side of a RHD car?
2006 R53 JCW (British Racing Green) - 1994 E31 840Ci 6spd (AVUS Blue)
2021 F56 JCW (Rebel Green) - 2000 E38 740i Sport (Titanium Silver)
2017 F26 X4 M40i (Carbon Black) - 2007 E91 328iT (Deep Green)
2012 E82 135i M Sport (Marrakesh Brown) - 2015 E84 X1 (Cashmere Silver)
2005 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Kalahari Beige) - 2000 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2000 E38 740i Sport (Oxford Green) - 1999 E36 M3 Coupe (Fern Green)
1995 E31 840Ci Canadian (Oxford Green) - 2000 E36/8 M Coupe (Oxford Green)
2004 E46 330Ci (Oxford Green) - 2001 E36/8 Z3 3.0i Coupe (Oxford Green)
2002 E39 525i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2002 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2001 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2007 E63 M6 (Silver Grey)
1995 E31 840Ci (Oxford Green) - 2006 E86 M Coupe (Sepang Bronze)
2001 E39 530i Sport (Aspen Silver) - 2009 E92 M3 (Space Grey)
2001 E38 740i Sport (Sahara Beige) - 2008 E92 M3 (Melbourne Red)
2000 E38 740i Sport Canadian (Sahara Beige) - 1997 E31 850Ci (Jet Black)
'91 Dinan 860 Stage III (new 6L engine)
'91 Dinan 850 TT stage III (brand new engine) 21st Century Tech meets 18th Century Dinan...
'91 850i 6sp (mint) (sold)
'90 Dinan 750iL TT stage III (Guido - The Beast)
'94 850 CSi The Detroit Auto Show car (restored to factory perfect) (sold)
'96 850Ci, The George Carlin car
''73 3.0 csi, '08 535i, '03 X5 4.6is
...and a few other non BMW cars
Nothing ever goes as quickly as I want it to, but I finally got my car back today with the new mirrors installed (and a fair bit of other work, which was what took so long). I'm REALLY happy . . .
https://mbarrett635.smugmug.com/Othe...Gv/i-8t2Lb6t/A
https://mbarrett635.smugmug.com/Othe...Gv/i-HwLVXm6/A
https://mbarrett635.smugmug.com/Othe...Gv/i-FCVNWwK/A
You can compare these to my signature pic to get a good idea of the difference. Now I'm ready for Sharkfest.
Mike Barrett
Last edited by mbarrett635; 04-20-2018 at 05:38 PM.
Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
Did you install them yourself? I sure hope so, since the two pairs I got from BMW directly the holes were not threaded. Thank god there is an e31 member locally that is a master machisniest that tapped and threaded it for me.
BTW, I am not the type that puts a screw in there and forcing it in. I believe if we are paying the kind of money BMW is asking for these pets these days, they should come threaded like how the originals came.
Last edited by alex840; 04-20-2018 at 09:53 PM.
Did you have to buy the new gaskets Mike?
2006 R53 JCW (British Racing Green) - 1994 E31 840Ci 6spd (AVUS Blue)
2021 F56 JCW (Rebel Green) - 2000 E38 740i Sport (Titanium Silver)
2017 F26 X4 M40i (Carbon Black) - 2007 E91 328iT (Deep Green)
2012 E82 135i M Sport (Marrakesh Brown) - 2015 E84 X1 (Cashmere Silver)
2005 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Kalahari Beige) - 2000 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2000 E38 740i Sport (Oxford Green) - 1999 E36 M3 Coupe (Fern Green)
1995 E31 840Ci Canadian (Oxford Green) - 2000 E36/8 M Coupe (Oxford Green)
2004 E46 330Ci (Oxford Green) - 2001 E36/8 Z3 3.0i Coupe (Oxford Green)
2002 E39 525i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2002 E36/7 M Roadster (Oxford Green)
2001 E53 X5 3.0i Sport (Oxford Green) - 2007 E63 M6 (Silver Grey)
1995 E31 840Ci (Oxford Green) - 2006 E86 M Coupe (Sepang Bronze)
2001 E39 530i Sport (Aspen Silver) - 2009 E92 M3 (Space Grey)
2001 E38 740i Sport (Sahara Beige) - 2008 E92 M3 (Melbourne Red)
2000 E38 740i Sport Canadian (Sahara Beige) - 1997 E31 850Ci (Jet Black)
No. I believe the gaskets are NLA everywhere, but in any event, they reused my original ones.
Mike Barrett
Mike Barrett
94 850CSi, Hellrot over silbergrau dunkel/silbergrau hell
96 850Ci, Oxfordgrun over silbergrau hell
Looks good.
GREAT story Mike. I'll look forward to seeing your car in just a couple of days. The E31's look SO much better with the Euro mirrors.
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