1st Gen Towing Mirrors Finally??

Well - Well - WELL!!!

They say the best way to find something is to purchase a replacement.

Looky here

CCI 1998 2002 Ford Expedition Tow Mirror Upgrade Power HTD TXT Cap Pair | eBay


I'm gonna have to try these out.

They're here!

The mirrors got here late this evening. Haven't unpacked them yet, maybe I'll have time to install them tomorrow.

Done!

Mirrors are installed.

Steps taken:
1. Unpack and inspect for damage.

2. Remove door panel - youtube helps, some say to take the door handle off, but it isn't necessary.

3. Unplug old mirror and compare new connector and old connector. We matched!



4. Plug new mirror in and check for proper operation. GOOD!

5. !!! Tie a fish line to old mirror wiring !!! Tie something big to the other end of the fish line to keep it from pulling all the way thru.





6. WITH WINDOW ROLLED DOWN, Loosen all three mirror nuts. Put a piece of electrical tape across the top of your socket, and press it onto a a nut. This will help insure the nut does NOT get dropped down into the door. Remove the lower nuts first. WHILE HOLDING THE OLD MIRROR, Remove the top nut.

7. Remove new nuts from new mirror. The flange washer on the new nuts was much smaller than on the old ones, so I reused the old nuts.

Old nut on left.


8. Untie fish line from OLD mirror and tie it to the NEW mirror connector.

9. Start the new mirror wiring thru the door.

10. Install the new mirror loosely. There is a small clip near the top of the mounting surface that has to go in first. After this clip is in the hole, and the studs are through the mirror will hang on its own.



11. Start the top nut. Remember the tape on the socket to prevent nut loss.

12. Pull the wiring harness completely thru and connect. Now is a good time to double-check correct operation.

13. Start the lower nuts, then sort of snuggle everything up a tiny bit and check for fit. If AllGood, tighten everything to plenty snug, but not quite GUTENTITE. You are dealing with a plastic housing. I rechecked operation one more time.





14. Reinstall the door panel.

Side by side comparison



After install comparison



Extended comparison



I cannot verify that the mirror heaters actually work, but I did verify that there ARE electrical connections to the mirror glass itsself, so I "assume" the heat will work.

I just installed a set on my second gen. Let us know if you have any vibration issues on the top glass. Mine were terrible. Parked with engine running it would shake and rattle from engine vibration

No vibration issues. I love em.

Good to hear. I have a replacement set on the way so I'm hoping that fixes the issue. Other than that I love mine as well

I want!


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Update!!!

After several days' worth of driving, and some input from my SO (for those of you who care, she is a beautiful lady - - - AND she would NEVER be wrong), the mirrors are not 15 on a scale of 10. I give them that, but, she'd never be wrong, so...

If you are 5' 7" tall or less - DO NOT install these mirrors! They will create huge blind spots for you. Darlin is 5' 8" and she made me look from her perspective. 5' 8" is ok, i'm not sure 5' 7-1/2" would be.

The mirrors are BIG! - look at the pics. You CAN NOT see THROUGH the mirror and it's housings. If you tow a utility trailer, you don't need these, you can see OVER the trailer.

They prolly screw with fuel efficiency.

All being said, she's happy for the value of the money spent (read - BIG WIN) because we regularly tow the TT and stock mirrors are sketchy at best. We are both tall enough to see over these mirrors - - - this IS an ISSUE at rural intersections and 4-WAY STOPS!

Bottom line?

Money well spent if you tow an enclosed trailer or travel trailer (something that truly obscures line of sight).

Not so good if you're just looking for bigger mirrors or individuality.

Anyone have a problem with the passenger mirror being extremely zoomed in on the top mirror vs the drivers side. The right mirror is like 5x zoom compared to the drivers side mirror

Just want to see if this is normal or if I got a defective pair. Let me know!!!!

Thanks!!!

My top right mirror is not "zoomed in". The bottom mirror is "zoomed out" substantially (and may be closer to what you are accustomed to with the stock right mirror). Look at the reflected images in this pic to compare.





Compare the door handle size in the spot mirror with the top mirror and notice the difference in the size of the passenger seat in the stock mirror and the new top mirror.

Your old mirror has been lying to you for so long that your brain has compensated for it and now the truth looks like a lie.