which glue?

The last wing mirror I broke was on a focus. It had a deep bowl with the mechanism for tilting inside.

I suspect the tilt mechanism cannot be repaired to the point where it tilts again?

If so, remove the wing mirror, take everything out until you are left with a flat mirror and empty shell. Squirt in some expanding foam, dont fill it leave a bit of space after expansion.

Put the mirror back on the car, screw three woodscrews into the foam hold the mirror against the screws in as near to the original orientation as possible and get the driver to view the mirror while you adjust the screws removing and replacing the glass as needed.

use more foam if the space is large, but for the final adhesion use a none acetic acid based silicone.

As to whether the item would pass a MOT, I wouldn,t know.

AB

As long as you don't need to get any of it off again, how about a PU adhesive, like they use to 'bond' (= structural component) windscreens into vehicles?

I've not tried it on the specific plastics you mention but a mate has successfully repaired plastic diesel and hydraulic fluid tanks with it so it might be worth a try?

I *think* Tiger Seal may also be the same sort of stuff?

You can often get PU adhesive in black, grey and white.

Cheers, T i m

Contact adhesive I'd have thought. depends on the loading I guess. Brian

You need to identify the plastic - very different ways of gluing. My wing mirrors are polypropylene shells, which is very difficult to glue. All car plastics are marked with a recycling symbol which will tell you what they are.

I think you need to know you enemy better, surely there's a recycling mark on most car plastics these days?

If it's polythene that's bad news for glueing, try 3M DP8005, but it's expensive stuff ... maybe get an old mirror from a scrappie instead?

Forget gluing PE and PP.

Look at "hot stapler", a heat welding system that adds a bit of stainless wire to the join.

Thomas Prufer

didn't see one anywhere

she's already got an old mirror. The fixings on the car are broken as well as the fixings on the mirror.

NT

Most parts I've looked at have one /somewhere/ but if not, try identifying ...

Have you checked Ebay for a used one? If colour coded, you may be able to swap cases.

Gluing softish plastic never seems to work.

A new mirror won't solve it, the mounting plastic is also damaged. She's looking for the cheapest solution. I'll have another look at some point, see if there's a possible alternative fixing method.

NT

I can second the recommendation for one of the "SCOTCHWELD" 2-part acrylic adhesives. I've just used one to repair a model aircraft engine and so for it has stood up to nitromethane, heat cycling to ~70degC and vibration. RS sells them as well, a little cheaper IIRC Also have a look at

Ooh, I thought they would never come back on-line after their multi-year "factory move", they've got rid of the odd-ball pay after delivery too.

This might be worth a try ...

Replace the mounting too? If plastic, it has to be fixed to the door frame somewhere. On the principle that few such breakages are unique to you, still worth checking Ebay for all the needed parts from a wrecked car.

that's the obvious money wasting option.

Current plan is to drill a hole in the door mounted part & tie the 2 together with glue coated string. They will stay in place if undisturbed until the glue is set. Trim off protruding string when set. Cost nothing.

NT

Have you priced up the parts used on Ebay?

Wouldn't a cable tie do that job rather easier?

I doubt it would be possible to get it tight enough.

NT