Member Since: 19 Jul 2015
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 940
Installing heated side view mirrors to a Defender.
So I realize that this must have been covered already however I thought I'd post my experience as it really is a simple and useful mod. Here in Ottawa it is minus 25C today and it was zero with freezing rain yeterday. As my 110 lives outside and the missus has her Rangie in the garage this is a worthwile upgrade.
I recently decided to install some heater elements to my Defender side view mirrors. I found some perfectly sized universal heater pads on fleabay for about $12.00 shipped for two. They came in about week all the way from Poland.
The elements are self adhesive and the price is a fraction of the cost most others specifically designed for the regular Defender side mirrors.
First you'll have to remove the upper door hinge bolts from the front door. Depending on the year and model you will also have to remove the door card from the door to get at the nuts.
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Once the upper hinge is undone you can remove the mirror from the hinge. Now you can disassemble the mirror itself. Start by removing the outer rubber strip and take out the glass mirror.
Next undo the bottom securing screw which locks the mirror head to the arm on the swivel ball. Inside the mirror you can now slide out the upper plastic plate which covers the swivel ball on the arm. Now remove the two metal pieces used to secure the head to the arm. These are usually corroded as they are powder coated and are constantly exposed. Now is the time to clean these, repaint and use a stainless screw in place of the original.
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Once disassembled you will need to start drilling some holes in the arm. First remove the plastic bottom cap and drill a 6mm hole on the outer side edge as indicated in the picture. This is where the wire will come out of the bottom of the mirror arm.
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The first hole to be drilled on the arm is a 6mm hole down the centre of the swivel ball. Drill all the way through. As this will be where the wires are run into the mirror head.
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Next is the hole required to feed the wire through the main body of the arm where the mirror arm pivots. See picture.
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Another 6mm hole must to be drilled in the plastic cover plate which sits inside the mirror head.
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Now run the wires through the arm holes you've just drilled. I used forceps to pull it through.
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Once you've got the wires through you can now peel the heater element adhesive covering off and paste it to back side of the glass.
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At the end of the wires protruding into the mirror head crimp on your spade connectors.
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Attach the heater element to the wires. Reassemble mirror head to the arm and put the glass in place. Notice how you have to run the wire through the plastic cover plate then slide it into position over the swivel ball.
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Be sure to refit the rubber seal which hold the glass in place properly. There is a small ridge on the back side of the rubber seal, this faces the body of the mirror head, the smooth side towards the glass.
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When you put in the bottom plastic cap be sure to align the hole you drilled earlier towards the hinge. As in the picture.
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The mirror is now reassembled. Tighten the swivel ball clamp screw (now repainted).
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You will need to drill a hole in the door between the two hinge bolts. You will also need to secure the wire to the hinge with a suitable wire loop.
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Run the wire through the door as you bring the hinge closer to mate with the door skin. Insert the hinge shims and secure the bolts and tighten the nuts.
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The wire can now be run along the door stay and up the bulkhead behind the dash for final wiring hook up to the switch. I used the rear defroster to activate the mirror heaters.
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I hope that some of you find this quick tutorial useful. I have found numerous and detailed posts very useful over the past several months. Just trying to give back. Thanks everyone.
Cheers2010 Range Rover MkIII Autobiography Super Charged (Idris)
2003 Range Rover Mk III (Desmond FitzWilliam)
2000 Defender 110 CSW TD5 (CTX)
1992 Range Rover Classic (Lizzy)
1972 Series III 300 Tdi (Stanwood)
1967 MGB GT
Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin to slit throats.
H. L. Mencken (1880 - 1956)
12th Jan 2016 9:12pm
WhiskyJackR
Member Since: 25 Nov 2014
Location: Lizard
Posts: 159
For sure a worthwhile mod. Thanks for posting along with pics and details. I have been thinking about doing this although it usually only hits me when I can't see through the mirrors Any farther South and I'll need to trade the Defender in for a Landing Craft
12th Jan 2016 9:58pm
Mash
Member Since: 09 Feb 2015
Location: Guernsey
Posts: 1674
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Any farther South and I'll need to trade the Defender in for a Landing Craft 
12th Jan 2016 9:58pm
