One of the drawbacks to buying a previously owned Corvette is that you'll most likely need to iron out a variety of "used-car" issues. While I've never had any complaints about the performance of my recently acquired C5, there were a few minor issues with the car's ancillary equipment early on. One such issue could be found in the driver-side mirror, which had become marred by a severe case of delamination. To make matters worse, water had seeped between the two layers, giving us an "underwater" view of the world aft.
Fortunately, major parts vendors such as Corvette Central carry replacement mirrors that will drop right into place and instantly improve your outlook. We decided to go this route, giving our ailing passenger-side mirror a refresh while we were at it. But the fun didn't stop there. We also addressed an issue with our C5's switchgear—namely, a mirror-adjustment control that was spotty at best. After tracing it to a failed membrane switch in the driver's armrest, we put in another order with CCentral posthaste.
Replacements were straightforward on all fronts. And as long as you follow the included directions, you can't fail. For an overview of our experience, just keep reading.
The day may have been dry,...
The day may have been dry, but the view was always wet—an unfortunate side effect caused by delaminating glass and seeping water.
The passenger side didn’t...
The passenger side didn’t look quite as bad...
…but a quick inspection of...
…but a quick inspection of the bezel convinced us to make this replacement a “twofer.” Start by positioning the mirror inward as far as it will go.
Following the directions,...
Following the directions, we popped out the OEM piece, complete with spider’s nest.
Note that the factory mirror...
Note that the factory mirror (top) retained a couple of the positioning posts when it was removed. Don’t panic; these will simply push back inside the motor.
With the mirror heater connected,...
With the mirror heater connected, all that was left was to align the posts and give the mirror equal pressure…
…until everything snapped...
…until everything snapped into place. For the curious, non-heated mirrors are also available through Corvette Central.
The passenger side was next....
The passenger side was next. Seen here are the aforementioned posts.
The secret to the install...
The secret to the install is worth repeating: equal, steady pressure. If you press too hard in one spot, you’ll break your brand-new mirror. Just stick to the instructions, and you’ll do fine.
Now that we could see clearly...
Now that we could see clearly once more, it was time to address our mirror’s positioning issue. CCentral to the rescue!
The old control pod comes...
The old control pod comes out easily as long as you can depress one of these two retaining tabs while it’s still mounted. It’s easier than it sounds if you use the right tool.
Next, depress the connector...
Next, depress the connector tab and remove the old pod. The new one should snap painlessly into place.
Much like the connector, the...
Much like the connector, the new pod should also reseat fairly easily. Just be sure to give the top and bottom their share of pressure and you’ll be ready to hit the road again in no time flat. vette