I finally got my 97 XK8 shipped up here from Florida and there was a big snap-on mirror over the other one. So I took it off and discovered the defective mirror. Sent it to Sybesma and they got it last monday and I received it back on friday even with the holiday 4th of July in there ...Works perfect and got back in less then a week. I am so happy I found this thread....and thanks to all the good pictures and info on this site.

 

I've only had my replacement for about a month and I love it. It works perfectly.

 

I sent the mirror for my '98 XJ8L off on a Friday morning, and had it back on the Jag the following Thursday.
They did fail to return a small plastic cover that hides the wiring and now one can see it through the windshield. Other than that, the mirror is like a new item, and works wonderfully.
I've not been able to retrieve the lost cover, and as such, may have to create something of that nature until a replacement can be found.

 

'99 XJR. I'm almost there........but I'm stuck.

I heard back from Stacy/Sybesma's Electronics. They state they just want the fully assembled mirror. No additional plastics, trim pieces, pins, etc. I have the mirror off the windshield/bracket but I can't figure how to unplug it. The wires (6) go into the mirror itself through the metal ball swivel that fits onto the back of the mirror. There is a retainer clip around the ball that I'm thinking it has to come off.........but I'm afraid of breaking it. Looks to be plastic. Is the plug behind the ball swivel? Am I going the right way here? Missing something? Any help appreciated. I thought the plug was in the windshield bracket assembly.....but it isn't. ??

 

The connector is behind this black bracket cover. You can remove the black rectangular metal bracket attached by unfastening the two torqx screws. Below is a picture of the cover.

The mirror bundle had three (3) wires: Black, White and Grey. I think the extra wires are for the rain sensing option which was not installed on my vehicle.

 

Thanks GordoCarCat. Got it and sent off.

So I'm wondering........all you guys that got the mirrors back "repaired" and "working perfectly"........is the electrical function repaired (auto lights, led light, etc) or just the gel mirror distortion? If the auto lights, dimmer, etc. didn't work before it was sent in, how did they bench test it without the "home link" as stated in the disclaimer?

 

I you talk about sybesma, there are clear that they are not going to fix anything except the glass itself. Electronic is usually pretty cheap and simple to fix, even for complex systems, if you are a little bit encline to it. Unless the thing is completely smoked, start looking for power supply, interconnections and component soldering on the printed circuits. Also you might be able to find a complete mirror with broken glass for pretty cheap? Also consider that the issue might not be in the mirror itself but somewehere else.

 

Laukia,
My mirror only had the three wires also like GordoCarCat's. I don't have auto lights or rain sensors, just auto dim for mirror.The led on it for the auto dim also did not work when I sent mine in. But it works now..

 

I'd like to be to just get the damn thing off the windshield. Jag dealer sent me to "their specialist" who after several attempts was unable to remove. Dealer will not try for fear they'll break the windshield, so I just motor along with a double vision rear view mirror. That is unless someone "out there" has a possible solution.

'98 XK8 52K mi

 

Well Eddie, I can only tell you I'm far from a specialist and I got mine off by hand (no tools) although it was on there pretty tight. I just figure it was made to come off and the bracket was made to stay on the windshield so just keep pulling with a slight twist now and then to break it free. Just be sure the pressure is downward and parallel to the windshield.........it will come off. Maybe go back to GordoCarCat's first post to situate yourself (in the passenger seat).

I'll post when I get the mirror back (hopefully next week). Hope mine works like Krissy's did.

 

Ezeddie,

I popped off the little black cover that faces the windshield to see what kind of connection I had..on mine there was a little metal tab that i pushed and had someone help me push down on the mirror and it slid right off. The little tab locked it into the square holder on the windshield..hope that helps... and save the cover and don't send it in cause some have said they didn't get it back.

 

Most of us had no problem removing the mirror once we could see how it is fastened onto the window bracket. The mirror base is removed in a plane parallel to the glass, up and down along the plane of the window. However, NEVER pry against the glass surface; hammer, pull, or otherwise use impact force in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the glass.

If you do not understand what we are saying, do not experiment with your windshield... It will crack!!

Some members have said that an auto glass installer is the best place to remove the mirror. Those shops do this for a living and only charged a couple bucks once the console and wiring were removed.

 

Thank you all for your kind remarks, they are appreciated. I have sat and watched the "specialist", who runs the local auto glass shop, on two different occasions attempt just about everything that has been mentioned on these posts. In fact I took several off them out to the car for his review..no luck. Ironically it was just a little over a year ago the darn thing just poped off the windhield and was hanging in mid-air. I will give it a try once again, I think the whole issue is somehow centered on the small clip, but that's only my opinion.

Thank you all for your interest.

 

Wwwoowww!!! Years later and this is still such a good post. I saw the goey brown slime on my shifter and couldn't for the life of me figure it out. I just woke the car up from winter-sleep and hadn't notice the mirror, but by george I just went out this late hour and YES... that's it.
I'll save this post for when I get around to replacing it.
Thanks

 

What yr/model Acura will work? thanks

 

very informative post and as one who has inherited this issue with the mirror at purchase, now have some options other than ordering through the dealer.

 

I received the refurbished mirror back from Sybesma's Electronics today. They got it on 7/13 and sent it off 7/20. The good news is the auto dimming/LED light works. The not so good news is the lens has some tiny installation scratches on the lens. Not really noticeable unless your looking for them. Also the original caustic fluid evidently marked the back of the casing to the mirror when they took it apart. Again not noticable but not new/mint either.
So I figured I saved 350+ dollars. I still need to figure how to get the mirror tighter in the bracket. I don't feel any sort of 'detente' when sliding up back in place. (?) I sort of MacGyvered it in there for now. If it falls out I'll give it another try, short of bending that little metal clip for fear of breaking it.

 

Thank you for the great thread! My mirror just cracked (while it was in the shop for oil change, alignment, and heater hoses)... I'm guessing my shop let her sit out in the direct sunlight and it heated up and cracked!

Sounds like I need to make a call and get a little cheap temporary solution while the mirror is repaired!

Thanks!

Keely

Edit: I went to the garage... and the mirror is leaking! You can see the brown swirls on the mirror in the pic, and below and to the right of the "auto" you can just barely see where the toxic goo is melting through the plastic! EEK!

Edit2: Got the mirror back and it looks fabulous and works great! Thanks again everyone for this awesome info! I got an Amico Rectangle Car Rear Vision Mirror with Suction Cup off of Amazon as a temporary - and being less than 10 bucks, I got what I paid for. It wasn't a terrible temporary solution, but I was very happy once my mirror came back and I was able to SEE again! The absolutely worst part about not having my mirror - remembering to turn my headlights on and off!

Happy Driving!

 

I just purchased a 1998 XK8 and the mirror was bad. Googled auto dimming mirrors and happened on your post. My husband I were able to remove the mirror without incident because of the excellent pictures contained in that post. We sent the mirror off to Sybesma's Electronics, in Holland, MI. on a Thursday morning and we received the mirror 2 days later! Astounding service! It's because of this information, I've decided to join the Forum! Looking forward to to this informative site.

 

How do you hook up with this company to get your mirror repaired? I've looked at their website and can't find out any info for sending to mirror to them.