Replacing my passenger side power mirror cowel

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04-25-2012, 10:38 AM

Omen

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Replacing my passenger side power mirror cowel

One of the few minor blemishes I have on my new (to me) 1997 Nissan Maxima GLE is a busted passenger side mirror cowl. The power mirror still works, which is a good thing.

I'm thinking of purchasing something like this - Dorman Passenger Side Non-heating corner mount to replace the cowel, while leaving the original moving parts as is. But since I'm going through all this trouble to replace the cowel, maybe I should replace the entire mirror motor assembly and be done with it.

What say ye Maxima owners here? Could I add heated mirrors as a not-to-difficult upgrade (maybe run the wiring off the rear defroster?).

Thanks for the opinions .

Last edited by Omen; 04-25-2012 at 10:46 AM.

04-25-2012, 11:12 AM

DennisMik

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If the broken part is what I think it is, it can be replaced by itself. It just snaps on and off. Here is something I posted earlier.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisMik

I went out and pried the cover off of my car. I started at the outside top corner (if you can call a rounded slope a corner). I had to use 2 screw drivers, one to pry with and the other to hold the cover out while I repositioned the first screw driver. Finally the corner snapped free and I moved the prying process towards the door.

What I learned is that the bottom edge of the cover has hooks on it, so you do not want to pry from the bottom. I was lucky in this aspect as I started prying from the top. However, I was also unlucky as one of the snaps/clips broke off on me. The cover seems to have gone back on securely in spite of the broken clip, but only time will tell.

04-25-2012, 03:47 PM

Omen

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisMik

If the broken part is what I think it is, it can be replaced by itself. It just snaps on and off. Here is something I posted earlier.

Here is my right side mirror:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41498098@N05/6967965366/http://www.flickr.com/photos/41498098@N05/6967965366/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/41498098@N05/, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41498098@N05/7114045219/http://www.flickr.com/photos/41498098@N05/7114045219/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/41498098@N05/, on Flickr

it looks like there's 2 pieces involved, the plastic around the mirror itself and the plastic cowl with the "body" color. I could leave it all black, but then I'd need to change the drivers side due to my LCD

Michael

04-25-2012, 08:08 PM

Trini Boom

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Yikes, looks like you need a whole new mirror there. Maybe you should look for a heated one since you have a GLE and the harness should be sitting there in the door.

04-25-2012, 10:19 PM

DennisMik

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Yeah, unfortunately you need more that just the cover.

04-26-2012, 04:41 AM

GGENIUS

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lol youre saying cowl, and im thinking youre talking about the cover on the inside of the door hiding the bolts. the actual mirror has a mirror cover, and mirror housing. the cover is what is pried off in that picture while the housing is the rest of the mirror.

04-26-2012, 09:20 AM

Omen

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Trini Boom

Yikes, looks like you need a whole new mirror there. Maybe you should look for a heated one since you have a GLE and the harness should be sitting there in the door.

That's what I was thinking. Get the heated one since the wring should be there.

04-26-2012, 09:27 AM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisMik

Yeah, unfortunately you need more that just the cover.

So, if I got that Doorman accessory (which contains all the mirror parts), then I should be good to go.

How difficult is it to remove the inside door panel? I have a full complement of metric tools and drills, but no specific door removal tools.

Thanks.

Michael

p.s. - I just realized that I should also replace the drivers side mirror for aesthetics sake (the passenger side mirror is all black).

04-26-2012, 10:38 AM

max ride 41

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search your local junkyards, or online for a used set. oem is always going to be better than aftermarket. i found this one on ebay in your color http://www.ebay.com/itm/95-96-97-98-...768f7e&vxp=mtr plus, its oem and cheaper

Last edited by max ride 41; 04-26-2012 at 10:43 AM.

04-26-2012, 11:04 AM

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DennisMik

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To remove the door trim panel, you will need a phillips screwdriver and a flat blade screwdriver to pry with.

Download the FSM, specifically the BT (Body & Trim) section. Page 19 for door trim removal and page 36 for the mirror.

http://boredmder.com/FSMs/Nissan/Maxima/

04-26-2012, 11:09 AM

#11

Omen

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Quote:

Originally Posted by max ride 41

Thanks for that catch Max Ride! I didn't think about looking over Ebay for the mirror...DOH!

04-26-2012, 11:12 AM

#12

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DennisMik

I have those tools, but without the step-by-step that you linked for me it's a tad more difficult than the tools seem to indicate. Many thanks for the pointers to the FSM/BT manual Dennis.

04-26-2012, 12:04 PM

#13

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Quote:

Originally Posted by max ride 41

I just sent the seller a message about the color. His ad states GOLD, where as my paint code is CG2 - Pebble Beige Metallic. Maybe it's semantics, or maybe they're different colors.

04-26-2012, 11:14 PM

#14

max ride 41

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Omen

I just sent the seller a message about the color. His ad states GOLD, where as my paint code is CG2 - Pebble Beige Metallic. Maybe it's semantics, or maybe they're different colors.

yes, but its allready painted and its oem!!!! you can paint at your discretion or leave as is, the color looks real close in the pic. and, " its cheaper"!!!

01-04-2015, 06:46 AM

#15

jason5391

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Thanks for the tip on removing just the cover on the back side of the mirror. Mine are not broken but most of the paint is gone and they look yellow. Saved me a bunch of time and money. I can pop these off a scrap yard machine and not have to remove the door panels.

01-04-2015, 06:25 PM

#16

yellow_cake

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jason5391

Just so you know... The post near the top with the pictures is a little misleading. The 4th gen Maxima will have Philips screws (3 if IRC) which are accessed by removing the mirror first.
Don't pry without removing the screws or you'll end up breaking the cover.