1998 XK8 Convertible Rear View Mirror

[kenransley]

My rear view mirror, electro self dipping etc, is cracked and, as usual, the liquid inside is halfway down the glass. I have seen horror stories and dire warnings about removing this, as I have located, through back numbers of the JEC magazine, a firm in USA, who can repair it for a not unreasonable amount. Has anyone got any thoughts or tips that can pass on, on the safest and best way to revoe the morror?

[MarkX]

Last year I had that experience with my '98 XK8 Convertible, luckily I caught it before the fluid exited the mirror assembly into the car.

I'd open the windows of the car before starting the job to help ventilate the working area, second cover the dash area and gear change plinth area with towels to avoid any fluid falling onto it.

If fluid has fallen from the mirror onto the dash area then I'd clean it with damp good quality kitchen roll as a priority. Put some soft washing up gloves on or something similar to protect your hands - I think nitrile gloves may be a little thin. Whilst I don't know the exact make up of the gunge my approach was to use a reasonable quantity of water with a very small amount of detergent for cleaning up the spill area which seems to have a diluting effect.

Removing the mirror is a case of remove the over head light console - from memory I think it's secured by moulded clip into the unit. Just use a trim tool to help. There's also a black plastic moulding that mounts to the back of the mirror that requires carefully releasing. I can't recall if you take this off first but when you look at the job it will be one or the other and is fairly logical. With overhead console released detach the cables.

You can then slide the mirror down off its mount. This does require a little bit of pressure but it's important to apply the pressure so you are sliding the mirror along the windscreen, thus avoiding breaking the windscreen. A tiny bit of left to right and back again movement helped but still in the same plane as the windscreen. I have to say it was a nervous moment!

Next inspect the released mirror. If the fluid has been leaking for a while it attacks the ABS plastic which means opening the two halves of the mirror is a challenge as the lower part of the plastic case becomes fused together. Once fluid has messed with the external plastic imho a convincing repair is then very difficult to achieve - I decided to replace the entire unit. The good news is that the replacement I got from Jaguar Classic Parts had a manufactured in 2019 label on it - so many years after the problem was solved so should have the newer type of glass assembly.

I did look at the US repair option - reviews seemed favourable - but, given the mirror's external appearance and by the time I'd worked out costs, shipping charges as well as factoring in the Jaguar Classic Parts 20% off offer (they do run discounts from time to time) I figured that a new unit was my preferred route. I have to say reassembly was a lot easier.

I hope this info helps, I may have the old one kicking around the garage somewhere - if so I'll share a photo of the bracket that connects to the mount.



I hope this helps. Any question please let me know.

Mark

[MarkX]

[Lucky]

I swapped the rear view mirror on my Discovery 2 and it was a very similar setup. I remember squirting some WD40 or spray grease into the bracket as best I could which helped it slide off.

[kenransley]

Thanks for your replies. I will try and summon enough nerve to try to remove it!!

[Lucky]

Study the pictures to work out exactly which way you are sliding the mirror and you will find it isn't as bad as you think. Good luck.