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johnnyd

Member Since: 13 Apr 2013
Location: Chippenham
Posts: 1006

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

Mirror arm replacement or whole unit ?

Morning all

Both my wing mirrors look like this

Click image to enlarge

Is it Ok to just replace the arm like so...

https://www.famousfour.co.uk/new_parts/ff_part?part=9141

Or is it better to replace the whole unit?

JD 2008 TDCi 2.4 XS CSW

17th Sep 2018 9:10am

VVS210

Member Since: 12 Nov 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 953

Have a look at the screws holding the mirror to the arm - if the arm is that corroded then I'd guess the screws & clamp are also properly corroded, mine were. Just get a pair of take off arms with mirrors, cost me about £15 each & the benefit is nice dark black mirror backs not faded grey ones too

17th Sep 2018 9:14am

camelman

Member Since: 27 Feb 2013
Location: Peak District
Posts: 3383

The whole assembly (mirror and arm) is only £11.29 new from paddocks.
https://www.paddockspares.com/mtc5217-door...-type.html

17th Sep 2018 9:20am

Laurie

Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey

If you do any towing get Wolf replacements.

17th Sep 2018 10:44am

Vogler

Member Since: 02 Nov 2014
Location: Brussels
Posts: 309

Keep the original mirrors if you can or install the same ones as you currently have. I think the geometry of the different makes is different. A couple of months ago I replaced the original Britax mirrors by a Britpart set that I got with a box of parts. Should have known better: the very same evening I was convinced that I had plenty of space behind the 110 when parking, but nevertheless I heard some very unexpected and expensive sounds behind me. I must have seriously misjuged the distance to the car behind me.

Also, the BP mirrors were continuously flapping in the wind when driving on the motorway, very annoying.

Regards,

Joris

17th Sep 2018 1:06pm

zsd-puma

Member Since: 09 Aug 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 2720

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black

Laurie wrote:
If you do any towing get Wolf replacements.

Or just hinge the standard ones forward like it says in the handbook, fitting the long ones makes them more prone to getting hit.

17th Sep 2018 2:26pm

JOW240725

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7908

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

If you have very deep pockets you could go swanky and get the Defender Upgrades heated and puddle light arms

James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers

17th Sep 2018 2:47pm

Paul55

Member Since: 03 Feb 2009
Location: Somewhere in my head!
Posts: 511

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Santorini Black

^^^^^ very deep pockets indeed,

Cogito ergo sum

17th Sep 2018 3:13pm

lohr500

Member Since: 14 Sep 2014
Location: Skipton
Posts: 1321

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black

If I can give any advice, it would be to stay clear of the lower cost replacement arms and fit the OE versions. (I think the original arm was made by Britax as well as the mirror).

I fitted a pair of cheap arms only a year or so ago and already the paint has started to flake off in the usual places.
Also the spring assembly that holds the arm in place is much weaker than the LR original and I also think the ball end is a slightly smaller diameter.

As a result, unless the clamps on the mirrors are tightened to within a fraction of shearing, the mirrors start to move at speed.
And at tick over, both mirrors now tend to vibrate, which I put down to the weaker spring in the arm.

In my experience with the cheap arms it is definitely a case of getting what you pay for.

That being said, the paint on the originals doesn't seem to stay in place for too long either

17th Sep 2018 5:25pm

v8steve

Member Since: 18 Apr 2011
Location: dumfries scotland
Posts: 195

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Rimini Red

go ome not many pounds over aftermarket.
and most important they dont flap about at speed. 110 xs s/wagon
s3 swb soft top

17th Sep 2018 6:17pm

zsd-puma

Member Since: 09 Aug 2016
Location: Kent
Posts: 2720

Quote:
I think the original arm was made by Britax as well as the mirror

Yep, whole thing is made by Britax.

17th Sep 2018 8:05pm

Jimmy B

Member Since: 11 Nov 2017
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 51

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey

The cheap ones always end up looking at the ground no matter how much you tighten them up

17th Sep 2018 8:21pm

johnnyd

Member Since: 13 Apr 2013
Location: Chippenham
Posts: 1006

Time to reflect on my purchase I feel.......

JD 2008 TDCi 2.4 XS CSW

17th Sep 2018 8:29pm

williamthedog

Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

v8steve wrote:
go ome not many pounds over aftermarket.
and most important they dont flap about at speed.

Mirrors flapping about at speed.... Come on we are talking about Defenders here aren't we?

17th Sep 2018 8:35pm

MR_JAMES

Member Since: 10 Oct 2013
Location: ESSEX
Posts: 248

2011 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Stornoway Grey

you can get a cheap one for now and paint strip/rub down the original ones then repaint for when the cheap ones corrode. 1953 80"
1987 mini city e
2011 90"

18th Sep 2018 7:10pm

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