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joetiger 
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2005
Posts: 5078
Location: denver
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 Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: UV Rays and Rearview Mirrors |
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I grabbed my rearview mirror to adjust it a few weeks ago and, after 25 years of exposure, the back disintegrated in my hand:
I found a used one and put it in today, but it also feels a bit brittle on the back....
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Joe T.
'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32
"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron
"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond
Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present
www.josephtrussell.com |
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JunkYarDog
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2007
Posts: 676
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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I found mine to be like this recently. I didn't grab it to move it, I just happened to see it from the outside and notice it's falling apart. Since this has been brought to light, anyone have a source for new ones?
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I have never owned a VW I didn't like, but there have been a few Fords and Chevy's.
85' GL Sunroof
68' Beetle sedan
72' Chevy C10 (LWB Step)
(67' Volvo 122S pending) |
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K58
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006
Posts: 1173
Location: Santa Barbara
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 8:22 am Post subject: |
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parts stores sell the models you glue the mounting tab to the windshield if you want a "new" mirror. Anything wrong with those besides them not being stock?
Of course GoWesty has one for a mere $130....  |
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Dogpilot
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005
Posts: 4205
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:02 am Post subject: |
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That wasn't UV, it was the 'Andromeda Strain'. It appears yours is brown. The brown plastic is really poor quality. It seems that whatever they added to the plastic to color it brown made it unable to stand much UV at all (brown, being in the red side of the spectrum and absorbs most of the UV anyhow). So a trip to the junkyard to score a black one wold be one answer. Or it is finally time for that bluetooth/compass/OAT/rearview camera you have always wanted.
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Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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madspaniard
Samba Member
Joined: August 18, 2008
Posts: 3795
Location: Alameda, CA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 9:06 am Post subject: |
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Look on Ebay. Somebody is selling used black mirrors to replace brittle brown ones
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1991 Westy auto w/ Peloquin TBD
"The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad” - Salvador Dali |
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RCB
Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005
Posts: 4143
Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:00 am Post subject: |
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How is it that you cant get a sunburn/suntan through glass since the UV rays dont penetrate glass...yet its mentioned that UV rays caused the rear view mirror to disintergrate.
Is it possible that the heat alone has caused the plastic to completely dry out ? |
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Dogpilot
Samba Member
Joined: October 03, 2005
Posts: 4205
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:10 am Post subject: |
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Actually you can get a sunburn and cataracts through glass from UV, just takes about 10 times longer. Pilots don't wear sunglasses in the cockpit just to be cool. You can do UV photography with glass lenses, long exposures are required. Quartz lenses work much, butter, but glass will work. Take a stroll though this guy's website:
http://www.naturfotograf.com/uvstart.html
_________________
Geology with a Syncro rocks!
86 Syncro Westy AKA "The Bughunter"
98 Disco I
08 Range Rover SC
08 VW Rabbit S
1951 O-1G |
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seanjenn
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2009
Posts: 722
Location: TAOS
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:48 am Post subject: |
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| K58 wrote: |
parts stores sell the models you glue the mounting tab to the windshield if you want a "new" mirror. Anything wrong with those besides them not being stock?
Of course GoWesty has one for a mere $130.... |
Mine has a glue on FLAPS special, works just fine. No visability issues at all.
The P/O of my van installed it after sawing off the original! And yes, I agree, some people should in fact be clubbed to death at birth. Or at least held by the ankles and smacked against the floor until the job is done. 
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1987 GL Sunroof
2.1 4 spd |
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RCB
Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005
Posts: 4143
Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 10:58 am Post subject: |
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| K58 wrote: |
parts stores sell the models you glue the mounting tab to the windshield if you want a "new" mirror. Anything wrong with those besides them not being stock?
Of course GoWesty has one for a mere $130.... |
Maybe the windshield comes attached to the rear view mirror, hence the $130.00. |
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K58
Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2006
Posts: 1173
Location: Santa Barbara
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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| RCB wrote: |
| K58 wrote: |
parts stores sell the models you glue the mounting tab to the windshield if you want a "new" mirror. Anything wrong with those besides them not being stock?
Of course GoWesty has one for a mere $130.... |
Maybe the windshield comes attached to the rear view mirror, hence the $130.00. |
now that make sense!  ....someone should remind GW that we are Vanagon owners....not all have six figure incomes, a home in Santa Barbara, and a Syncro Doka with fresh paint, new wheels, bumpers, lift...etc, etc...
sorry for the rant
back to topic...what was the topic? |
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hippiepilot
Samba Member
Joined: June 18, 2008
Posts: 455
Location: Sarasota, FL
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:02 pm Post subject: |
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I'm scared to adjust mine so I don't...it will soon be a pile of 27 year old plastic... I will be searching the samba classifieds myself...i should reply and drink 
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83 air-cooled Westy
91 Carat (daily driver)
http://www.changeisland.com |
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Jamos
Samba Member
Joined: July 08, 2005
Posts: 762
Location: Lake Tahoe, CA
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| Posted: Sun Feb 21, 2010 7:21 pm Post subject: |
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I posted this at one point, but the PO of my van installed a '90's vintage mirror that has the temp. and compass built in.
It sticks to the windshield, and he ran the wires up through the hole that the stock mirror mounted in.
Besides the part about being fixed to the windshield, I'm very happy with it. Having the temp and direction of travel is a nice upgrade.
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'86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5 |
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edgood1
Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004
Posts: 2049
Location: Plymouth, MA
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 7:43 am Post subject: |
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the beauty of the aftermarket mirrors is that they can be mounted on the glass in a place where they are actually useful on a westy.
i can't see crap out of the stock mirror because the cabinet is in the way.
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1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia |
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r39o
Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 9800
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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| K58 wrote: |
| RCB wrote: |
| K58 wrote: |
parts stores sell the models you glue the mounting tab to the windshield if you want a "new" mirror. Anything wrong with those besides them not being stock?
Of course GoWesty has one for a mere $130.... |
Maybe the windshield comes attached to the rear view mirror, hence the $130.00. |
now that make sense! ....someone should remind GW that we are Vanagon owners....not all have six figure incomes, a home in Santa Barbara, and a Syncro Doka with fresh paint, new wheels, bumpers, lift...etc, etc...
sorry for the rant
back to topic...what was the topic? |
I think we all agree about the GW pricing and their 7-11 type of appeal.
On topic, I noticed this issue long long ago and put a black one from a parts donor in.
My next trick will be to figure out how to lower it so I get a better view out the back window.
What helped some was to raise the back of the van (I have uppity nosed 85) but want something that I can attach to the old ball of the old brown mirror to set a new better mirror with all that fancy junk like a back up camera display etc in it.....wonder what ya gotta do fer dat?
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"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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1621
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2006
Posts: 2174
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:11 pm Post subject: |
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| r39o wrote: |
My next trick will be to figure out how to lower it so I get a better view out the back window.
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Someone posted recently (Hiram6 maybe?) that the arm from a Bay Window Westy will fit, and the arm is longer allowing for improved visibility to the rear - though it does lower the mirror into the forward field of vision. Personally I prefer to see what's in front of me more than what's behind, but it sounds like a great fix for some. The stock mirror position and side mirrors are fine for now.
Does anyone know if the ball/socket size on the Vanagon mirror is compatible with any other vehicles? If so, then it should be simple to pop off the old and replace with a newer version. One with temp./compass would be cool, and then all it requires is a couple wires behind the headliner. Could be a real simple "upgrade."
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'85 Westy |
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r39o
Samba Polizei
Joined: May 18, 2005
Posts: 9800
Location: San Diego
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 1:16 pm Post subject: |
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| 1621 wrote: |
| r39o wrote: |
My next trick will be to figure out how to lower it so I get a better view out the back window.
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Someone posted recently (Hiram6 maybe?) that the arm from a Bay Window Westy will fit, and the arm is longer allowing for improved visibility to the rear |
I wonder if my buddy Dave will notice the difference if I swap the mirror from is fat chick Westy?
heee heee.....
_________________
"Use the SEARCH, Luke" But first visit the Vanagon FAQ!
1990 Multivan EJ 22, Rancho trans 0.82 4th, Small Car front AC, CLKs w/ 215/65-16, homemade big brakes 303mm, Konis, Recaros, etc....
Click to see my ads for Cup holders, Subaru clutch fix and CLK wheels (no wheels currently) |
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JunkYarDog
Samba Member
Joined: March 11, 2007
Posts: 676
Location: New Mexico
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| Posted: Mon Feb 22, 2010 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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Anyone got pics of their replacement super gadget rearview mirror/thermometer/compass/backup tv.... ? I'd love to see some of the options as now I am thinking "upgrade".
_________________
I have never owned a VW I didn't like, but there have been a few Fords and Chevy's.
85' GL Sunroof
68' Beetle sedan
72' Chevy C10 (LWB Step)
(67' Volvo 122S pending) |
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