[agent_orange]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

Man, what a great idea. I put mine on a hydraulic (hand pumped) press and used a shot bag to support the mirror base. A shot bag isn't exactly something people have lying around lol.

It'd be pretty cool if you could post the name of the part you found on AliExpress. That way others can search for it and find it easier.

Thanks, your comprehensive post was great too.

If you search on AliExpress for "BMW mirror hinge" or "BMW 233640010" you will find both the stainless ones and the OEM-style cast zinc alloy ones.
I bought from seller 'AR-Home Life Store' and the quality was excellent.
Wasn't sure whether the QR code visible in the photo was going to be useful or not.

[postreader]

First of all, thanks to bradleyland for the detailed instructions and agent_orange for the tip on how to compress the spring using a threaded rod.

Quick question for agent_orange, I see that you used a flange nut at the top of the threaded rod. How about the bottom? What did you use down there. Another flange nut? If so, how did you manage to get it in between the metal and plastic?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Originally Posted by agent_orange

Giving back to this thread that helped me.

Had the passenger's (left side, RHD country) mirror post fail a few weeks ago.
Didn't know about this issue before finding this thread despite owing F25s since 2018, and was sure that I must have hit something or that somebody had messed with my car.

Bought a pair of the stainless mirror posts from AliExpress, since having a spare on hand for the driver's side now means the original will never fail. (Murphy's law)

Taking the mirror off the car and apart was fairly straightforward.
Getting the post installed against the spring pressure was a pain.
Tried compressing the spring with a vice and using first cable ties and then steel wire to hold it compressed, but that didn't work as the cable ties or wire either got in the way or didn't hold.
Was thinking of how to compress it in place like some here did, but the other side is plastic and not parallel to the top of the mirror post.
Then I realised, there is a hole all the way through.
Using some M8 threaded rod and a flanged nut underneath against the cast alloy body made it easy.
The wires came out easily without cutting, just back the small individual connector(s) out of the larger round connector.

[Wayfastwhitey]

This post helped a lot, had to replace the driver side mirror, just waiting on the pass side now. Hardest part for me was the LED for the door release at some point was broken off, so had to rig it to stay tight

[agent_orange]

Originally Posted by postreader

First of all, thanks to bradleyland for the detailed instructions and agent_orange for the tip on how to compress the spring using a threaded rod.

Quick question for agent_orange, I see that you used a flange nut at the top of the threaded rod. How about the bottom? What did you use down there. Another flange nut? If so, how did you manage to get it in between the metal and plastic?

Thanks in advance for your help!

The nut at the bottom was also a flanged nut, but a larger and different one to above, and fed in through the same cavity where the wires run from the round connector to then go through the hollow mirror post. (with wires removed upwards out of the mirror post first)
So feed the nut in from the side until under the hole, and then pick it up and engage with the threaded rod down through the hole from above.
Easier than it sounds.

[postreader]

Thanks, agent_orange, for the response.

I couldn't wait so started experimenting. Unfortunately, the flanged nut that I bought does not have a large enough flange to stop the nut from going into the outer opening so I was not able to compress the spring and turn the hinge. It got the point where I couldn't turn the nut any further.

Fortunately, I had also bought some washers so I used a washer along with the flanged nut at the bottom. So, it was double the challenge to get both the washer and nut onto the threaded rod. But, like you mentioned, it was not as challenging as sounds. Eventually I was able to compress the spring enough to be able to turn the hinge and have it snap into place.

Thanks again for your response. Really appreciate it. Hopefully it will help others in the future since this seems like an issue many people are having / have had / and might eventually have.

Originally Posted by agent_orange

The nut at the bottom was also a flanged nut, but a larger and different one to above, and fed in through the same cavity where the wires run from the round connector to then go through the hollow mirror post. (with wires removed upwards out of the mirror post first)
So feed the nut in from the side until under the hole, and then pick it up and engage with the threaded rod down through the hole from above.
Easier than it sounds.

[Jtbgonesailing]

My hats off to all contributors to this thread. You gentlemen have changed what was to be an expensive diy repair into a minor inconvenience. Job well done! eBay has numerous sellers of the Exterior Mirror hinge Fix X1 E84, X3 F25 And More for BMW 233640010.

[Joutinho]

Guys, this post is great!
No disrespect to previous post above but I've found a recent video, from Jan 2024, demonstrating step by step the how to repair with a different tool and way, way simpler process.
In the video there are links to the tool which costs around USD 9.00 at AliExpress and the hinge can be found at Amazon.
With this jaw puller tool the process of squeezing the spring is a piece of cake, no need of zip ties and other workarounds.
It makes it simple and is straight forward.
Nothing overcomplicated !

Check it out:

Jaw puller tool: https://a.aliexpress.com/_EzghcTB

Mirror hinge pin: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...NWE7ZAZ7&psc=1

I hope it can help further drivers wit the same problem.

Video:

[MADBMWX5MC]

Gotta love YouTube and those who post self help repairs....good find

[ttsakai2000]

I cannot see the video link or any related information in Joutinho's post. Can you possibly provide this valuable info?

Thanks!

[Jayuk]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

I ended up ordering direct through Marcin (via FB Messenger) rather than through eBay. Ordered parts on the 13th; arrived this morning on the 18th. These are definitely going to be the nicest parts on our F25, outside of the engine internals. Stainless steel, CNC machined. They're so pretty, I almost don't want to install them

The holes are for easier installation. You insert a 4mm hex wrench so you can twist them while they're in a press/vice to compress the spring.

View post on imgur.com

(Click for larger image)

Hi
I know this is an old post I'm a new member and my mirror has just broke on my
X1 when I tried To open it .
I don't have FB and was wondering if there is any other way of ordering this
From marcin Without FB as I'm in the uk.

[pungo]

Originally Posted by Jayuk

Hi
I know this is an old post I'm a new member and my mirror has just broke on my
X1 when I tried To open it .
I don't have FB and was wondering if there is any other way of ordering this
From marcin Without FB as I'm in the uk.

The replacement part is all over ebay and amazon so there must be a large market for them.

[Jayuk]

Originally Posted by pungo

The replacement part is all over ebay and amazon so there must be a large market for them.

Thankyou for replying to my post I will have a look, just didn't
Want to buy from China as there's alot selling from China
But will have a good look. Thanks

[renincognito]

This forum has been very helpful. Thanks everyone for posting. I only registered to share this video.

This video below has great views and step-by-step instructions. I have no mechanical experience at all.

I followed this video to fix my passenger side hinge. It has instructions for mirrors on both sides, but are pretty much the same.

I got my hinge from eBay. "BMW F25 X3 mirror hinge" seem to be good keywords to search for.

The only thing I would add to this video is the step compressing the spring. Like many have said before, a threaded rod with nuts and washers to compress it worked very well for me. I got a 3/8in, 1 foot long rod. I would also recommend getting the thinnest washer as a thicker one did not fit in the space in my mirror on the bottom side. These were easily available at local hardware stores and are very cheap.

I tried the clamp thing in the video and I would not recommend even trying it. The previously mentioned stainless steel zip ties did not work for me, especially after the spring is deployed, the tie would be very difficult to remove since they are pressed into rod, and attempting to remove them caused the whole thing to fall apart again.