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deejayen



Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: Inverness
Posts: 56

Scotland 
Wing mirror replacement
I need to replace the wing mirrors on my 2004 TD5. The glass has deteriorated, and the arms are corroded (with 'white fungus').

Can anyone recommend a good replacement? I see mention of long and short arms, but I'm not sure which are orginally fitted, and if they're different on driver and passenger side.

I also see 'unbreakable' mirrors advertised.

Also, are there any replacements which should be avoided?

I might end up towing a small caravan, and had been thinking about those adaptors which allow you to rotate the mirrors so that they're horizontal rather than vertical. I'm not sure if these would be compatible with all mirrors, or if you can buy a complete mirror assembly which includes this feature.

Suggestions and advice would be much appreciated!
Post #850885 19th Aug 2020 11:26am
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Balvaig



Member Since: 19 Feb 2016
Location: Fife
Posts: 730

Scotland 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 Landmark LE Corris Grey
I would stick with original mirrors and arms. From memory I think they are Britax.

Mine have two positions- an inner position for normal driving and an outer position for towing.
I think yours will be the same. Worth trying to see if that meets your needs for towing.

I hope others who have used aftermarket ones will be along with comments soon,
Post #850895 19th Aug 2020 12:22pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17383

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
All the normal mirror arms I have used have been disappointing. The standard arms are Britax, and are short. Long arms were used on TUM and TUL (Wolf) vehicles which had the side-mounted spare, and these arms are great if you tow wide trailers a lot, however they are pricey.

There is a variety of mirror heads which fit the standard or Wolf arms, including unbreakable ones, ones thet flip sideways, and there are options of flat or convex glass.

There are also now very expensive aftermarket options including extensible arms, arms with puddle lights, etc, but I have no experience of these.

I use long (Wolf) arms on both sides with standard convex heads which do what I need admirably.
Post #850897 19th Aug 2020 12:40pm
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90 Dreamer



Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2154

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey
last time I looked for Wolf arms they didn't seem to be available anymore........??

I do have the 90deg rotators on the mirror heads and for most towing that is perfect for 90% of towing (as well as pushing them out into the extended position)
Post #850906 19th Aug 2020 1:31pm
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deejayen



Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: Inverness
Posts: 56

Scotland 
Thaks very much.

I think I'll just go for the standard mirrors, and add the rotating brackets if/when I need them.

I suppose the problem now is finding replacements which are of OEM quality. I see that Paddocks are selling complete assemblies for £11.75 each, but that seems too cheap for good quality!
Post #850916 19th Aug 2020 2:32pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17383

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
If you're looking for OEM quality you are setting the target pretty low ......
Post #850953 19th Aug 2020 4:14pm
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deejayen



Member Since: 18 Sep 2017
Location: Inverness
Posts: 56

Scotland 
That's funny!

I assumed OEM would be high quality! It's hard to believe mine are over 16 years old now, but they have looked ropey for a good few years. I kept expecting my Landy to fail its MOT because of them, but it passed each year until the last MOT, when it was noted as something to address.

Are the Paddock ones decent?
Post #850967 19th Aug 2020 4:31pm
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v8bob



Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: Midlands
Posts: 317

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
I have the military wolf Spafax ones.
These I get on with fine.
They are marketed as unbreakable and come with a choice of convex.
The bit I like is that it is easy to make them stay in place or adjust easily, your choice.
They fit on standard arms but you need a thingy for £10 per mirror to fit them, and mirrors are about £30 a pair.
If you like/want the convex type they are pretty good and a little bigger than standard.
Just search Spafax for all the info.
Post #850988 19th Aug 2020 5:26pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2227

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey
Bob, do you have a link for the thingy to fit them ?
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey
Post #851020 19th Aug 2020 7:46pm
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v8bob



Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: Midlands
Posts: 317

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
It is the VM6 kit
http://www.spafaxmirrors.com/product/accessories/#

It is a plastic cover for the top and a bit for clamping onto the Land Rover arm ball



Click image to enlarge


I was looking for just the plastic bit, because I have one missing, the cheapest I found was...
https://mdagrispares.com/product/adapter-k...struction/

Looking again at the mirrors they are more like £50 a pair, sorry.
Post #851025 19th Aug 2020 8:08pm
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RoddyK05



Member Since: 08 Apr 2015
Location: Inverclyde
Posts: 633

Scotland 2004 Defender 90 Td5 SW Yellow
I had bought longer arm ones in the past that came in a white box Whistle The white box mirror heads wouldn’t fit them so there was obviously a quality issue. Back to my original short arms and new Britax heads, no problems with them since. For towing I bought Milenco grand aero 3 mirrors which were superb and I would never use anything else now if I was towing a caravan or box trailer. I’m not sure what kind of view you get with the 90° turning heads but I doubt they would be as good as proper towing mirrors when it comes to seeing down the sides of a modern wide caravan.
Post #851027 19th Aug 2020 8:09pm
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2227

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey
Thanks Bob, appreciate that.
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey
Post #851028 19th Aug 2020 8:12pm
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v8bob



Member Since: 14 Mar 2018
Location: Midlands
Posts: 317

United Kingdom 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Nato Green
They have heated ones or bright yellow ones as well Embarassed
Post #851029 19th Aug 2020 8:20pm
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RFT



Member Since: 13 Nov 2010
Location: Cheshire
Posts: 678

United Kingdom 2010 Defender 130 Puma 2.4 HCPU Zermatt Silver
https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic10315.html

Mirror Arm Midibrac : BRI-7200.025.A
7180 Universal Fit Spherical Mirror : BRI-7180.320.A

Supplied by http://www.commercialvehicleproducts.co.uk/ 130 Puma HCPU with an Artica 240LR Demountable Camper
Post #851046 20th Aug 2020 12:33am
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Mo Murphy



Member Since: 01 Jun 2008
Location: Letchworth Garden City, Herts
Posts: 2227

United Kingdom 1984 Defender 90 BMW M57 3.0 Diesel HT Auto Pennine Grey
Cheers Bob, now fitted to my mirrors, looks a bit better than the M16 nyloc nuts I was using as spacers ! £7 per side plus the vat and postage.
I didn't even realise they did a fitting kit ! Thumbs Up
Mo The Land Rover 90 - Many are called, few are chosen.

50 Shades of Pennine Grey
Post #851414 22nd Aug 2020 11:24am
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