Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2003 08:23:29 -0800 From: Joe Gugliemino <jgoogsnopsamteme.charter.net> Subject: Re: Looking for a LH wide-angle mirror
Saabtech wrote: > "Joe Gugliemino" <jgoogsnopsamteme.charter.net> wrote in message > news:3FA2130A.4000800nopsamteme.charter.net... > >>I bought a used 2000 9-3 SE a few months ago. Great car, I'm enjoying it >>a lot. One issue I have is that the drivers side (LH) rearview mirror >>does not angle out far enough to eliminate a blind spot. I've >>temporarily fixed the problem with a $0.99 fish-eye stick-on mirror from >>Wal-Mart. It looks lousy, but it does the job. >> >>I thought about ordering a UK passenger side mirror to replace my >>driver's side mirror. Then I'd have wide-angle mirrors on both doors. I >>went to a dealer (Acton Saab, Acton MA) and asked about getting a >>wide-angle mirror for the driver's side. The parts manager gave me a >>line about how the wide-angle mirrors not the same size/shape and that >>I'd have to order the whole housing assembly and it'd be $5-600 just for >>parts. Then to install it they'd have to take the door apart and it'd be >>a couple hundred more. At that point my $0.99 solution was looking >>pretty good, if a bit ugly. >> >>I dropped an email to saab.com and sent me a 1-line reply saying there's >>no difference in size. I wish they were a little more detailed, but I >>take that to mean that I can pop a wide-angle UK LH mirror into my US LH >>mirror housing. Has anybody else tried this? >> >>If you can swap them, then the next thing I need to do is order the >>part. I found PartsForSaabs on the web, and they have the mirror (Part >>Number 4818050: 9-3 98'-02' & NG900 94'-98' LH door mirror glass (Wide >>Angle)) for $84 + $10 shipping. That's still pretty steep. I'm wondering >>if anybody has a pointer to a less expensive parts supplier. I found a >>link for UK junkyards where I could post my request. I got another $100 >>quote and no other leads. >> >>So I'm wondering if anybody over in the UK might have alternative ways I >>can hunt down a mirror. Maybe I'm being unrealistic, but I'd like to >>keep it under $50, including shipping. Any help you could provide would >>be appreciated. >> >>-- >>- Joe >> >>(To respond directly, remove the 'deleteme' from my address) > > The UK mirror housing is the same shape, but the housing is set at a > different angle so therefore the effect would be the same as trying to look > out of the drivers mirror sitting in the passenger side. As the mirror glass > is not made by anyone else as a pattern part and the UK retail price for a > glass is £50.00, I think you are being a trifull optomistic about getting > one for $50.00. A complete mirror is over £300.00 and good second hand ones > are fetching £100.00.Fitting the mirror on a 93 takes 5 minuets, Regards > Tom. > > The difference in orientation doesn't bother me. My current flat mirror in its housing was only a little off. I believe putting in a wide-angle mirror will get me what I need. As for price, I know the part is expensive new. I'm hoping somebody on the list could put me in touch with a junkyard where a used glass could be had for much less. Using your whole mirror price differences, I should expect to get it for about 1/3 retail, no? Thanks for the quick reply. - Joe -- - Joe (To respond directly, remove the 'deleteme' from my address)
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