TheSamba.com :: View topic - Vanagon T25, T3 LT, Truck replacement mirror lens?

Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:09 pm

Had a bit of bad luck on our recent road trip. Someone coming from the opposite direction with a trailer of tornado debris had a branch hanging out the trailer blocking half my lane. I swerved to miss it, but the mirror took the hit and broke the lens. I was able to swap the mirror from the R/S so we could countinue on.

The complete mirrors are more availlable than they were when I bought ours from Germany. I only need the mirror not the entire assembly. Does anyone know of a place to purchase just a mirror not the entire component?

I am going to see if I can get a local mirror company to fabricate something I can glue in the housing, but probably won't be much cheaper than a complete mirror.

Thank you.

Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:35 pm

Is this it?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401715954841

Tue Jun 18, 2024 12:45 pm

elizer wrote: Is this it?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401715954841

I can't tell. The original seems to have the plastic molded over the mirror glass. The description seems to mention a backing plate. Not much $ for a try. Thank you though.

Tue Jun 18, 2024 1:14 pm

I think they come from the UK. Contact the seller first. I found a majority are pretty responsive.

Tue Jun 18, 2024 1:30 pm

Yikes! Glad to hear it wasn't worse.

Tue Jun 18, 2024 3:10 pm

jimf909 wrote: Yikes! Glad to hear it wasn't worse.

Yes I was telling myself it could have been way worse. Just the broken mirror thing. Hopefully the bad luck followed the handyman. Oddly it was just outside Westphalia MO.

Tue Jun 18, 2024 3:42 pm

GW offers a stick on replacement https://gowesty.com/products/glass-fix-kit-for-truck-mirror-convex?variant=41426687459493

Tue Jun 18, 2024 4:03 pm

syncrodoka wrote: GW offers a stick on replacement https://gowesty.com/products/glass-fix-kit-for-truck-mirror-convex?variant=41426687459493

Missed that. I’ve got no glass to attach it to, but maybe I can make a blank out of aluminum to fit the housing and stick the mirror. Thank you.

Wed Jun 19, 2024 3:52 pm

What brand and year of light truck is your mirror from? Toyota, Ford, etc....
Pick and Pull or other wrecker often have trucks, and you can buy a mirror from one of the wrecks. You can do a search of yards using Row 52 website by make, model and year and your location....

https://row52.com/Search

Thu Jun 20, 2024 5:13 am

I purchased these mirrors new from Germany many years ago specific for the Vanagon. I see a lot of sources for them for a quite a bit less and could buy a complete mirror to replace the broken one. Just not 100% sure they are a direct match.

The GW lens seems like the way to go at this point. Just might need to get creative to use it.

Thu Jun 20, 2024 6:12 am

Just be aware when you're looking for replacement parts that there are two different mirror styles. Lots of people call the ones that we put on the vanagon "LT" mirrors, but the one specifically designed for the Volkswagen LT are different than the ones for the Vanagon. The bracket is slightly different and sits at a different angle. I don't know if the actual mirror part is different or not, but it's something to be aware of.

Ed

Thu Jun 20, 2024 10:26 am

Worse case, I buy 2 new complete mirrors that match. I edited the subject for clarity. LT is often used to describe this style mirror, not so much the vehicle it was designed for. I don't recall the German seller, but it was a pain in the butt to get them.

Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:11 pm

I have a pair of German "LT" mirrors I bought used from the classifieds (They shipped from Poland). My pax side lens is cracked. I plan on swapping out both glasses for heated ones.

Not sure if these mirrors were from an LT or a T3. They seem like they fit proper.

Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:35 pm

Pictures would really help

Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:46 pm

Ok - I rotated the mirror heads 180 deg as they stuck out too far. I've seen mirror heads that attach in the center - these are offset.

Thanks

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2505395.jpg

Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:51 pm

Brickwerks has the heated mirror replacements.

https://brickwerks.co.uk/product/mirror-glass-and-housing-t3-lt-truck-style-heated/

AFAIK the mirror portion is the same on all the "truck mirror" types, whether for the the LT or the Vanagon. Only thing different is the tubular bars have a slightly different bend.

I have seen some of the other European venders offer the plain mirrors in the past, take a look around.

Thu Jun 20, 2024 12:55 pm

Corwyn wrote: Pictures would really help

I checked what I already uploaded here. You can't tell much from this angle.

Too far away.

I think at this point short of a local mirror shop willing to help, the GW one seems like it might work linked above. I don't see how they could be swapped out. The plastic housing is molded over the mirror. Maybe a heat gun to soften the plastic to pry the mirror past the fold.

I'll post up pictures when I tackle it for better or worse. I might also take a couple measurements and contact GW to see. [/img]

Thu Jun 20, 2024 1:10 pm

tjet wrote: Ok - I rotated the mirror heads 180 deg as they stuck out too far. I've seen mirror heads that attach in the center - these are offset.

Thanks

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2505395.jpg

Notice the mirror heads and how they attach in the center. It also looks like they are free to rotate.

https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5447/7002492748_dc7b1435fb_b.jpg

Thu Jun 20, 2024 1:45 pm

My mirrors do not rotate. There is an offset molded slot top to bottom. You can install them offset in or out. Mine are offset in.

Going from original mirrors to these was honestly one of the better upgrades. Makes highway driving less stressful and backing much easier.

Thu Jun 20, 2024 2:15 pm

Yeah great upgrade. I also like the hand rest feature on the lower bar.

You can also mound a light to it. KC sells a light mount bracket that clamps on

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1561550.jpg

https://www.kchilites.com/universal-tube-clamp-mounting-brackets.html

It doubles as an adjustable spotlight when you fold the mirror bracket in or out.

I had a light installed in this pic
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/1544887.jpg