DIY W212 side mirror actuator replacement

[Ct3833]

Sharing this DIY on how I replaced my W212 left side mirror actuator.  The left mirror will tilt down when i reverse my car, but recently it has been making strange noise, I knew one of the micro motors must have gone bad, I could buy a micro motor from taobao to fix it, but upon removing the refector , I realised that the actuator assembly screw is bad, so i decided to replace the entire actuator unit instead.

The micro motor should look like this, it should be on a plastic worm gear, not the one as shown. I replaced it on my W211 before and it costed me less than $10 from taobao. 

These are  the simple tools I need. a set of Torx screw drivers and a platic pryer. 

bought this from Surpass, Mr Lim, jiang zua ji. for $195.00

first, I removed the reflector using the plastic pryer. The reflector is snapped onto the actuator with several snap-on clips , do it gently to avoid damaging the clips. 

 

The reflector has two heater wires on it, be careful not to stretch the wires . I did not detach the wires because they did not cause any obstruction to my work. you can see a few of the snap-on clips at the back of thereflector.

once the reflector is removed, I could see the three screws that mount the actuator onto the casing, I removed the screws and the actuator came out naturally.

there is a cable connected to the actuator, disconnct the cable gently. 

 

Reverse the same process, and job is done. Maybe 15 min job?  Now i am a happy man, no new car but i have a new actuator, very silence. 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 19, 2023 by Ct3833

[kobayashiGT]

You should use the Tamiya engine. 

make it faster.  

[Inlinefour]

wow impressive Sir 👍👍👍 

 

me only know how to pump air into tyre 🙈🙉🙊

[Ct3833]

On 7/19/2023 at 5:40 PM, kobayashiGT said:

You should use the Tamiya engine. 

make it faster.  

Make it spoil faster😄😄.

[kobayashiGT]

On 7/19/2023 at 10:18 PM, Ct3833 said:

Make it spoil faster😄😄.

means you are not expert user. hahahah 

[Ct3833]

On 7/19/2023 at 7:12 PM, Inlinefour said:

wow impressive Sir 👍👍👍 

 

me only know how to pump air into tyre 🙈🙉🙊

You are not bad, i know of another MCFer , when his tyres punctured, he will change car 😄😄. I hope he does not read my post😱😱😱

[Ct3833]

On 7/20/2023 at 9:38 AM, kobayashiGT said:

means you are not expert user. hahahah 

I am a slow old man, i drive 3rd gear all the way from east coast to Jurong. 😪😪

[Inlinefour]

On 7/20/2023 at 1:56 PM, Ct3833 said:

You are not bad, i know of another MCFer , when his tyres punctured, he will change car 😄😄. I hope he does not read my post😱😱😱

errr his friend never tell him go tyre shop 😱😱😱

[kobayashiGT]

On 7/20/2023 at 1:58 PM, Ct3833 said:

I am a slow old man, i drive 3rd gear all the way from east coast to Jurong. 😪😪

Not good for the car. You should always engage to the final drive. hahaha. 

[Xers007]

On 7/19/2023 at 5:40 PM, kobayashiGT said:

You should use the Tamiya engine. 

make it faster.  

mirror tilt in 1 sec sounds good

Edited July 21, 2023 by Xers007

[Yeshe]

On 7/19/2023 at 4:03 PM, Ct3833 said:

Sharing this DIY on how I replaced my W212 left side mirror actuator.  The left mirror will tilt down when i reverse my car, but recently it has been making strange noise, I knew one of the micro motors must have gone bad, I could buy a micro motor from taobao to fix it, but upon removing the refector , I realised that the actuator assembly screw is bad, so i decided to replace the entire actuator unit instead.

The micro motor should look like this, it should be on a plastic worm gear, not the one as shown. I replaced it on my W211 before and it costed me less than $10 from taobao. 

These are  the simple tools I need. a set of Torx screw drivers and a platic pryer. 

bought this from Surpass, Mr Lim, jiang zua ji. for $195.00

first, I removed the reflector using the plastic pryer. The reflector is snapped onto the actuator with several snap-on clips , do it gently to avoid damaging the clips. 

 

The reflector has two heater wires on it, be careful not to stretch the wires . I did not detach the wires because they did not cause any obstruction to my work. you can see a few of the snap-on clips at the back of thereflector.

once the reflector is removed, I could see the three screws that mount the actuator onto the casing, I removed the screws and the actuator came out naturally.

there is a cable connected to the actuator, disconnct the cable gently. 

 

Reverse the same process, and job is done. Maybe 15 min job?  Now i am a happy man, no new car but i have a new actuator, very silence. 

 

 

 

 

U know how to replace aircon fin on w212?

[Ct3833]

On 7/22/2023 at 3:07 PM, Yeshe said:

U know how to replace aircon fin on w212?

bro,sorry i dont kmow , too chim

 

[Comage]

On 7/22/2023 at 3:07 PM, Yeshe said:

U know how to replace aircon fin on w212?

You mean the aircon vents in the interior?

Or the car radiator cooling fins?

[Yeshe]

On 7/25/2023 at 9:35 PM, Comage said:

You mean the aircon vents in the interior?

Or the car radiator cooling fins?

I think it should be called aircon vent tabs.

[Ct3833]

On 7/25/2023 at 10:12 PM, Yeshe said:

I think it should be called aircon vent tabs.

If you are referring to the cabin aircon filter, then it is a easy job.

[Comage]

On 7/25/2023 at 11:41 PM, Ct3833 said:

If you are referring to the cabin aircon filter, then it is a easy job.

Don't think he means the cabin air filter - it's the air vents that broken after years of usage.

Usually those kind - you get the whole unit (knuckle-size vent) - and then remove the dashboard and replace it.

Nobody fixes it fin-by-fin - but you may see guides online where guys do such a thing and "repair" the fins using wires and sh|t to hold the broken fins back together - but please FFS DO NOT do that, because you do not want wires in your face in the event of a crash.

[Ct3833]

On 7/25/2023 at 10:12 PM, Yeshe said:

I think it should be called aircon vent tabs.

@Comage if he is referring to the air vent, here is the video, looks like snap-on . I should be able to do it 😅😅

Good thing about these common European cars is that i can find many DIY videos in youtube, i dont see that many similar uploads for japanese cars. 

Edited July 25, 2023 by Ct3833

[Ct3833]

On 7/26/2023 at 12:32 AM, Ct3833 said:

@Comage if he is referring to the air vent, here is the video, looks like snap-on . I should be able to do it 😅😅

Good thing about these common European cars is that i can find many DIY videos in youtube, i dont see that many similar uploads for japanese cars. 

@Yeshe,  if this is what you are looking for, it looks easy, just use 2 L shape wires to pull out the  vent.