Is300 Sportcross Door Mirror Query

BarneyTT · May 5, 2015

My drivers door mirror has some blueish (water) ingress at the bottom, I'm guessing water has penetrated the laminate.

A couple of questions as I want to replace it: Is it a heated mirror and how is the mirror removed from it's housing?

yuen321 · May 7, 2015

My IS200 owner's manual printed 'The outside rear mirror heater will operate while the ignition switch is "ON"

Maybe same as IS300.

or

You can check if your IS300 had a "15A MIR HTR" fuse installed at passenger side , left kick panel fuses box.(left side under the grove box)

ChrisIS200SportTTE · May 7, 2015

That's not water it's the heated element stuff come out.

Early 200's the heated mirror was always on as said above but in the 300 and later 200's (01-) the heated mirrors work in conjunction with heated rear windscreen switch.

BarneyTT · May 7, 2015

Many thanks Yuen and Chris.....

Looks like a new one will have to be ordered regardless, I might just order one when it's service is due later in the year and get Lexus to fit it, don't think it's cheap to buy either

br1anstorm · May 10, 2015

Haven't been on the forum for a while, but have just come across this thread. I had the same problem on my 2002 IS300 SportCross, so I did quite a bit of research online and on forums (both UK and US). The door-mirror problem is quite widespread and well-known. But it's also a bit complicated. And it's not water-ingress.

First, there is a difference between IS200 and IS300 mirrors. All are heated. Depending on model year, the switching for the heating element is apparently different. I don't remember the details, but as Chris has noted, on some year models I think the power supply is permanently on with the ignition, on others it is linked to the heated rear window switch. But the stain on the mirror glass is not directly caused by the heating element going bad.

The problem is the "anti-glare" or auto-dimming feature of the mirrors. As far as I can establish, only the IS300s have this feature. It's a bit like the polarising, or auto-darkening, of some sunglasses. The mirror glass is treated, or backed, by some sort of light-sensitive chemical, so that it dims when bright light shines into it. It is this chemical which degrades, turns liquid, or attacks the silvering reflective layer on the back of the mirror-glass. The "stain" spreads slowly - like an ink stain. There is no cure except to replace the glass.

The full parts-index confirms that although the size and shape of the mirror glass is the same for IS200 and 300, the part for the IS300 is more expensive (because it has this extra feature). But an IS200 mirror glass will fit (assuming the connections for the heating element are the same, and that may depend on model-year). But the replacements are expensive (£hundreds....). So it's worth searching the scrapyards...

A quick and simple solution for a few pounds from a well known auction site is a replacement stick-on mirror glass. This will keep the car MoT-legal and does the job.

It is possible to prise out the faulty/stained mirror glass. There are four little plastic clip fittings on the plastic backing to the glass which hold the mirror-glass into the housing and on to the pivoting motor plate inside it. A search on the well-known video site will show up a guide which illustrates how to pop the glass out - with great care....See here https://youtu.be/i-iYNaUpMdw . Then you can pop in your scrapyard replacement.

BarneyTT · May 12, 2015

Many thanks indeed Brain for your comprehensive and helpful reply. At least I know what options I can choose from. As mentioned I will probably order the part from Lexus and get them to fit it at my next service as I don't fancy buggering up a brand new and expensive replacement mirror.

br1anstorm · May 12, 2015

You're welcome, Barney. Just make sure you are sitting down comfortably and have spoken nicely to your bank manager before you call to order the replacement part from Lexus.....

Personally I'd still suggest trying a scrappie or the well-known auction site for a replacement mirror glass (or indeed the whole unit). Then you can try the removal/installation trick knowing that if you succeed you will have saved a tidy amount, while if you do screw up you've only 'lost' a few quid - well maybe £20-30 if you haggled successfully. And you still have the dealer option as a fallback if your DIY fails.

Slightly different example - I had to do the same when a mirror-glass on the Merc I used to own got whacked. Felt like doing brain surgery, but I managed it, and the glow of satisfaction at saving something like £300 was worth it!

Good luck whichever route you choose....

BarneyTT · May 14, 2015

Thanks Brian. Have tried a few people breaking IS's but so far the costs are prohibitive to simply try and have a go myself, the cheapest is £75 plus P+P (for the whole door mirror unit). I would rather replace it with like for like rather than just an ordinary mirror so the search continues.

Will give Lexus a ring and check prices in the meantime, sitting down with a stiff drink in hand of course!

WilliamH · May 18, 2015

I was quoted £250-ish today!

The glass was smashed by a man in lycra yesterday and I've got the MOT tomorrow - so it's the cheap stick-on solution for now. But I dearly want to replace it with the correct anti-glare glass. But not at £250....

So I'll be trawling my local scrappies over the coming weeks. Good luck.

BarneyTT · May 19, 2015

I take it that quote was from Lexus William?

At £250 quid I think I'll be taking another look around for a second hand item :eerrrmm:

Hope you get something sorted for your MOT.

WilliamH · May 19, 2015

My mechanic saved the day - thanks Paul at Toyotatech in Guildford 07833 456051

He had a spare glass from (I think) an IS200 which he supplied and fitted for £20. So no anti-glare or heating but it will do for now while I track down an all-singing IS300 mirror.

So, the Sportcross has a new MOT and I'm looking forward to driving it up to North Norfolk for a few days this weekend.

I've just worked out that Toyotatech did the 60,000 mile service, including new spark plugs and MOT, for only a little bit more than Lexus wanted for a new mirror glass!!

BarneyTT · May 22, 2015

Glad you managed to get the car through the MOT with the help of a temp mirror.

br1anstorm · June 15, 2015

I did warn that a genuine new "all-singing" IS300 mirror-glass from Lexus was eye-wateringly expensive. The price of the mirror glass alone makes £75 for a complete second-hand mirror assembly look cheap. Now you know why I recommend trying to source a scrapyard or auction-site replacement!

Sounds as if Toyotatech in Guildford are good people to know. Pity I'm at the opposite end of the country....

BarneyTT · June 19, 2015

Brian: Went back to your suggestion of a secondhand item and thanks to Scudney I now have a complete drivers door wing mirror assembly for the grand total of £90 delivered................and it's the correct colour!

Thanks to everyone for your help and guidance.

br1anstorm · June 22, 2015

Well done Barney - glad you got it sorted. If I recall correctly, it was fellow-member Scudney who gave me advice on sourcing a replacement mirror unit too.

BarneyTT · June 23, 2015

Thanks Brian, will store it for the time being and continue with the original until such time it requires changing. At least I have a replacement ready to go now.