Temple

So I'm enjoying my new shifter which was installed yesterday, have a nice family dinner, drive home around 9:30 p.m., wake up this morning to go drive into work and . . . no side-view mirrors. What the? Quick check of both sides and, yup, both side view mirrors have been removed. No scratches or door dings. Just a few open holes and a wire where my mirrors used to be.

On the ground in the garage lies one of the rubber gaskets.

My initial reaction was that some young punk(s) vandalised my car for fun, but having spoken to the police this morning they feel the clean removal indicates theft for parts. I had no idea my side view mirrors were so valuable.

Anyway, I guess I'm about to find out how valuable side mirrors are...

I'm going to look at the RUF side mirrors as well, but I'm not sure if I like how they look. Any other suggestions? I'm trying to view this episode as an opportunity to upgrade my car. Only wish they took my front bumper instead. Or maybe its time to upgrade from my condo garage, and provide my 993 with its own private sanctuary -- although generally requires purchasing a house to go with it.

Oh well -- I'm just venting.

Still enjoying my new shifter in my (temporarily) more aerodynamic 993 C2S,
Temple

Mr Michael B

That is just bizarre.

I have been hearing this a lot though. Mirrors being stolen. What is up with that?

The last item I heard that was popular to steal was Acura headlights. I guess maybe the "import crowd" would bolt the Acura parts onto their Honda Fast & Furious rides.

I cant imagine anyone wanting our mirrors though. I guess I am just not a good thief.

Gert

This also happens a lot in Europe too.
When you pull the mirror upwards, the bracket that keep the mirror to the car snaps right off.

These mirrors can be installed on a lot of other Porsches as they are a straight replacement for the "flag" mirrors ...

Suwipin

Hey Brooke,

I'm really sorry to hear about that

I sure hope that the bad guy is not trying to use your side mirror for his Civic

Oh and Brooke, be careful with those animals when you go there hehehehe <img src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" border="0" alt="[bigbye]" />

KC993

Gemballa has different style of side mirrors, round shape instead of the aero(teardrop) shape. Don't know how much they cost but I WOULD consider them...

Dudley

Greetings Temple,
Sorry to hear about your loss.
I know that feeling all to well. My mirrors were stolen six weeks ago - they also kicked my doors and damaged all the glass. The next thief I met ran a body shop that "specialized in Porsches".
When I finally asked for references, it was $2800 later.
Guess the next step is to install a vibration alarm to protect the car when the she is not locked away.
It is a funny world.
Dave

H20NOO

I know from a friends experience that late model M3 mirrors are a very popular item to fit on rice rockets like slammed Acuras, Hondas, etc...

MC

Tim Ashfield

Watched an interesting programme on South African car crime recently - They have some weird stuff available over there to deal with the issue. Flamethrowers, massive blades that rotate from under the car and electrified door handles!!!

None of it of course would be allowed in the UK or US but it certainly amused me!

Temple

I guess I should be thankful that my thief was professional enough to not damage the rest of my car.

FYI, while I like the RUF side mirrors they require welding shut the exisiting holes and repainting the doors. My local body shop feels its going to be difficult to blend the artic silver paint, so I'm going to pass on the RUF mirrors.

I can't find any gemballa options (I've looked over their websites (English, German and British)), but I've emailed Strosek about their options (it looks like it utilizes the same mounting point, but the mirrors are more horn-like).

Odds are, I'm going to stick with a used factory pair from a local dismantler. I spoke to a porsche dealer who was kind enough to refer me to the dismantler because purchasing, in his opinion, the mirror parts new would be ridiculously expensive.

Thanks for the support and advice, y'all. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

Greg Fishman

Check with Gert for prices. Also call around to some of the "discount dealers" like Suncoast, Sunset, Clair. These dealers, in my experience, can be up to 30% less than the retail prices many dealers quote.

Dudley

I was given a bill for $662.43 for the parts for two mirror "assemblies". I am only guessing that this price would be the upper limit. I don't know the cost of assembly because I left on the advice of a fellow Rennlister, who said "Run, Forrest,Run."

Too late smart.

KC993

Temple,

My apology to you about the Gemballa. It was indeed Strosek that offer the round style mirrors...
I had upgraded the flag style to the aero style on my 90 C2 back @ 1995. I bought a set of used one for $200 and ran into the problem of trying to take them apart and have them painted to match my car color. I broke the base of the mirror because the the tension of the spring that mate the mirror to the base was so tight. I ended up buying another OEM set from AJ USA for @$400 and had them painted and put together...
I would just get a new set and save some trouble...

Bill Verburg

I had a pristine '70 Mach 1 w/ 351 Clevland that I parked in the drivway one summer night. Some very capable thief walked off w/ the dist, wires and carb. w/o any damage or loss of fasteners. Bummer

JasonAndreas

The mirror elves visited my car last spring. (two towns over from where dudley's car was visited; not a lot of porsches around here) For replacement 'aero' mirrors from Porsche I paid $203.41 + $30.52(15% handling charge).

Bins

Would have thought a person who has a Porsche has enough respect to buy a wing mirror legally!!!