
Door mirrors
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GravyGraham
Topic author - Posts: 124
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 11:11 am
- Location: In the wilds of Kent, UK

#1 Door mirrors
My good lady insisted I fit a nearside mirror before she'd take to the wheel so despite my opinion that mirrors spoil the look of an E-type I've caved in to her request. Other than being sure to fit it symmetrically with the one on the other side, is there a secret to installing one or is it just bish bash bosh with the cordless and in go the screws?


'72 Series 3 2+2, pale primrose/black
(plus miscellaneous Land Rovers!)
(plus miscellaneous Land Rovers!)
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#2
Don't just assume that the placement should be the same on the passengers side... you may end up with the Pillar between the NDV and the window right in the middle of the line of sight. (Been there, done that)
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GravyGraham
Topic author - Posts: 124
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 11:11 am
- Location: In the wilds of Kent, UK

#3
Fair comment, although it would alarm me to see them asymmetrical. Maybe I'll have a few trials holding it with some duck tape first. In the garage that is.
'72 Series 3 2+2, pale primrose/black
(plus miscellaneous Land Rovers!)
(plus miscellaneous Land Rovers!)
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mystery type
- Posts: 950
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- Location: lancashire

#4
sounds a good reason NOT to fit mirrorsbefore she'd take to the wheel
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#5
I can just imagine the conversation in the ALDI:
"Hon, sorry, but I can't fit the mirror to the Jag."
"Why not Darling?"
"I'd have to drill a hole in the door, but there is no way to tell exactly where it should be."
"Not even with the cordless drills, laser Levels, Jaguar books, and measuring instruments you've been getting every Christmas, Birthday, Fathers day etc?"
"Nope, and anyway, the guys on the Forum advised against it"
.... (over the PA in Aldi)
"ATTENTION STAFF, Husband down, Aisle 5."
"Hon, sorry, but I can't fit the mirror to the Jag."
"Why not Darling?"
"I'd have to drill a hole in the door, but there is no way to tell exactly where it should be."
"Not even with the cordless drills, laser Levels, Jaguar books, and measuring instruments you've been getting every Christmas, Birthday, Fathers day etc?"
"Nope, and anyway, the guys on the Forum advised against it"
.... (over the PA in Aldi)
"ATTENTION STAFF, Husband down, Aisle 5."
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#6
Hi,
It appears you have bought the SNG Barratt units, which, after a lot of research, I decided were the only ones of this style you can fit and actually see out of. There are several similar designs which just don't seem to work, as you can't get them to line up. They also look very clumsy, whereas the SNG units seem very close to originals I found and actually look quite graceful, with swan like necks.
If your mirrors are not SNG type, then be very careful indeed as I suspect you may be very unhappy when you do drill the car door and ruin the paint, yet can't see out of the mirrors when fitted.
If they are SNG type, then I am fairly confident you can fit them satisfactorily to both doors, but as pointed out, be sure that the same position on both doors works from the drivers' side. I suggest taping the doors with masking tape and getting someone to trial position the mirrors in several locations and choose the best, symmetrical location, whilst you sit in the driver's seat.
I would like to help with exact locations, but by the time I had found the SNG versions would work, I had bought new, clip on units which remain fitted, with no drilling. My conviction the SNG units will work is based on the fact I can get their heads in a similar position to those of my clip ons, which are excellent until you do a prolonged very high speed run.
More here:
viewtopic.php?t=2042&postdays=0&postord ... or&start=0
and here:
viewtopic.php?t=2600&start=0&postdays=0 ... ht=mirrors
The masking tape will also help with location when drilling if you want the best chance of avoiding slippage.
Regards,
Simon
It appears you have bought the SNG Barratt units, which, after a lot of research, I decided were the only ones of this style you can fit and actually see out of. There are several similar designs which just don't seem to work, as you can't get them to line up. They also look very clumsy, whereas the SNG units seem very close to originals I found and actually look quite graceful, with swan like necks.
If your mirrors are not SNG type, then be very careful indeed as I suspect you may be very unhappy when you do drill the car door and ruin the paint, yet can't see out of the mirrors when fitted.
If they are SNG type, then I am fairly confident you can fit them satisfactorily to both doors, but as pointed out, be sure that the same position on both doors works from the drivers' side. I suggest taping the doors with masking tape and getting someone to trial position the mirrors in several locations and choose the best, symmetrical location, whilst you sit in the driver's seat.
I would like to help with exact locations, but by the time I had found the SNG versions would work, I had bought new, clip on units which remain fitted, with no drilling. My conviction the SNG units will work is based on the fact I can get their heads in a similar position to those of my clip ons, which are excellent until you do a prolonged very high speed run.
More here:
viewtopic.php?t=2042&postdays=0&postord ... or&start=0
and here:
viewtopic.php?t=2600&start=0&postdays=0 ... ht=mirrors
The masking tape will also help with location when drilling if you want the best chance of avoiding slippage.
Regards,
Simon
Regards,
Simon
Series III FHC
Simon
Series III FHC
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GravyGraham
Topic author - Posts: 124
- Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 11:11 am
- Location: In the wilds of Kent, UK

#7
Thanks for all your input folks. It is indeed an SNG Barratt mirror and appears to be virtually identical to the one (originally?) fitted on the driver's door, see the first photo. I ended up fitting the additional mirror about 40mm rearwards of the existing one, (same height though) to minimise the obscuring effect of the A pillar.
I squirted some oil into the freshly drilled holes, cleaned off the paintwork, and then smeared some sillicone grease to the underside of the black plastic shim to try and prevent water ingress. It felt uncomfortable yet strangely liberating to be drilling through the paintwork and door skin.
Oh by the way, the car is the same colour on both sides, and all over as it happens. Must be a trick of the light.


I squirted some oil into the freshly drilled holes, cleaned off the paintwork, and then smeared some sillicone grease to the underside of the black plastic shim to try and prevent water ingress. It felt uncomfortable yet strangely liberating to be drilling through the paintwork and door skin.
Oh by the way, the car is the same colour on both sides, and all over as it happens. Must be a trick of the light.


'72 Series 3 2+2, pale primrose/black
(plus miscellaneous Land Rovers!)
(plus miscellaneous Land Rovers!)
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#8
Hy everybody, do you know if the design of the BARRATT mirror is the right one for a 1963 FHC serie 1 ?
Yves, happy XKE 63 fhc , w113 280sl owner
Looking for a OTS 4.2 serie 1....!
and now have found a fhc xk 140 
Looking for a OTS 4.2 serie 1....!
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Quattrofrank
- Posts: 316
- Joined: Fri Apr 04, 2014 4:17 pm
- Location: Norway, Oslo

#9
I have a similar question...
I want the bullet style mirror, I recently purchased one of ebay based on the assumption that it would fit the original holes. I did not
Does anyone know of a supplier that supplies a bullet style mirror that bolt right on? I doesnt matter for me if it can be adjusted so I can see out of it, just want to replace the original one
I want the bullet style mirror, I recently purchased one of ebay based on the assumption that it would fit the original holes. I did not
Does anyone know of a supplier that supplies a bullet style mirror that bolt right on? I doesnt matter for me if it can be adjusted so I can see out of it, just want to replace the original one
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#10
Hi,Hy everybody, do you know if the design of the BARRATT mirror is the right one for a 1963 FHC serie 1 ?
There doesn't seem to be a "correct" Series 1 mirror, although I bet someone will jump in and correct me. Dealers offered them at point of sale, so styles varied. If you aren't sure, then fit clip on units, saving drilling holes until you can decide. They work, can look quite good and certainly look period. If you do want a permanent fit solution, the SNG unit was the best style I found, stylish with the swan neck and it can be fitted to give good visibility. Another option is the TEX unit:
M68990
Flat Glass
M68890
Convex Glass
look on the TEX site: http://texautomotive.com/classic_exterior_mirrors.html
They used to sell direct, but this unit is very easy to find and is common on British classics of all makes, though I'm not sure how common it was in the 1960s.
Good Luck,
Simon
Regards,
Simon
Series III FHC
Simon
Series III FHC
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