Painting the rearview mirror housings
2/9/05, 10:50 AM
#1
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Has anyone done this yet and would you share the technique? I don't like the flat look and was hoping to match them to the body color. May help to blend them in a bit. Real question is how would paint look over that "rough/bumpy" surface?
tia
tia
2/9/05, 11:24 AM
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I think the problem is the paint sticking. When you have a "bumpy" surface and you sand it in preparation for paint, you can't get the sandpaper into all of the tiny crevices. So, when it comes time to paint, the paint is not going to stick to all those spots that are recessed and were not able to be sanded. I mean, it'll stick for a while... but it's going to eventually start to peel at one of those spots. Probably within a few months. And once it starts, it's just going to keep going from that spot, especially since the mirror is plastic and very flexible. I am personally waiting for aftermarket paintable mirrors for the '05. Hopefully, there will be some that are a bit smaller. I think the ones on the '05, although very functional, are just too big.
2/9/05, 02:13 PM
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Originally posted by acadian@February 9, 2005, 12:27 PM
I think the problem is the paint sticking. When you have a "bumpy" surface and you sand it in preparation for paint, you can't get the sandpaper into all of the tiny crevices. So, when it comes time to paint, the paint is not going to stick to all those spots that are recessed and were not able to be sanded. I mean, it'll stick for a while... but it's going to eventually start to peel at one of those spots. Probably within a few months. And once it starts, it's just going to keep going from that spot, especially since the mirror is plastic and very flexible. I am personally waiting for aftermarket paintable mirrors for the '05. Hopefully, there will be some that are a bit smaller. I think the ones on the '05, although very functional, are just too big.
I think the problem is the paint sticking. When you have a "bumpy" surface and you sand it in preparation for paint, you can't get the sandpaper into all of the tiny crevices. So, when it comes time to paint, the paint is not going to stick to all those spots that are recessed and were not able to be sanded. I mean, it'll stick for a while... but it's going to eventually start to peel at one of those spots. Probably within a few months. And once it starts, it's just going to keep going from that spot, especially since the mirror is plastic and very flexible. I am personally waiting for aftermarket paintable mirrors for the '05. Hopefully, there will be some that are a bit smaller. I think the ones on the '05, although very functional, are just too big.
2/9/05, 02:25 PM
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You might look at this post
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index....pic=10476&st=0
http://forums.bradbarnett.net/index....pic=10476&st=0
2/9/05, 07:07 PM
#7
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Talked to a painter today. They'll have to prep the surface by spraying on a thin layer of a special material that's similar to a spray-in bedliner for a pickup truck. That surface can then be painted body-color.
2/9/05, 09:09 PM
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Yeah, I figured there was something more to it than just your normal paint prep. Still, this surface is not meant to be painted, and I won't take the chance of doing it. Mirrors take the most abuse, sticking out from the side of the car. Someone bumps into it, or a rock comes up and hits it... i am betting that once it chips the paint, it's going to spread and just be a mess. And like I said before, I think the mirrors are too big, so if I'm going to spend the money to paint side mirrors, I'll be painting some smaller aftermarket ones.
2/9/05, 10:50 PM
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Sorry guys for the confusion - I did mean the side mirrors. With my black GT they really stick out as being HUGH and dull looking - Ian, if you find some decent (non-rice) looking aftermarket mirrors - please post!
I would like to see what options we have - hard to believe there would be many - since the mirror housing is specific to the Mustang, i.e., not interchangable with other cars...
I would like to see what options we have - hard to believe there would be many - since the mirror housing is specific to the Mustang, i.e., not interchangable with other cars...
2/10/05, 05:54 AM
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Are you sure he didn't mean the mirror itself. Doesn't make much sense to me. He'll have to start turning his head around and check for cars before merging into traffic. Sounds painful to me. I would sugest leaving the mirror itself unpainted. 
2/10/05, 11:17 AM
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Originally posted by Route 66@February 10, 2005, 6:57 AM
Are you sure he didn't mean the mirror itself. Doesn't make much sense to me. He'll have to start turning his head around and check for cars before merging into traffic. Sounds painful to me. I would sugest leaving the mirror itself unpainted.
Are you sure he didn't mean the mirror itself. Doesn't make much sense to me. He'll have to start turning his head around and check for cars before merging into traffic. Sounds painful to me. I would sugest leaving the mirror itself unpainted.
No, he could paint them with silver reflective paint.
2/10/05, 12:15 PM
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Another option that I have thought about is taking the mirror off completely and making some triangular piece of black plastic or even fiberglass to cover where the window went... and then buying some reproduction chrome mirrors from a '65 or '66 Mustang and putting those right on the doors, like in this pic...
2/10/05, 12:44 PM
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2/10/05, 07:32 PM
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I had mine painted, shown in the thread link above, and they've held up great. Not a single chip yet. It must be all in the prep work (bonding agent).
2/11/05, 01:05 PM
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John - that looks good - I was thinking the same thing - just painting that area! Of course with my black paint - it may not be enough of a contrast and I may end up painting the entire housing. 
2/11/05, 04:11 PM
#18
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Thanks John...love to take credit, but I just stole the idea from the two Steeda cars I saw last year....LOL.....they do turn out well when painted so don't be afraid to do it....later.....
John
John
