05LS430 driver's side rear vanity mirror
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: TX
05LS430 driver's side rear vanity mirror
I managed to find an LS430 for parts on ebay and replaced the clip in my rear vanity mirror and everything works now! Saved $200!
I have my old mirror - the mirror stays up and the lights work...it's just takes a little more effort to make it come down.
If anyone needs it for parts or anything, let me know. It's the beige/tan interior.
I have my old mirror - the mirror stays up and the lights work...it's just takes a little more effort to make it come down.
If anyone needs it for parts or anything, let me know. It's the beige/tan interior.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 70
From: CA
I need one of these! my driver's side rear vanity is stuck open and the lights never turn off! I am now taping it shut but it doesn't stay closed. what a nightmare. the dealer wants $450 which I will never pay. No one ever uses it!
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: TX
Rear vanity mirror fixed
I think I just fixed the rear passenger vanity mirror.
Symptoms
* Mirror would not open, had to use small screwdriver to pry it open
* Mirror would then not close, had to slam it in several times, and it finally closed
Findings
* Took it apart using instructions found here -- Thank You!
* The clip was broken into 3 pieces (several people mentioned the same issue, with someone using superglue, but it fell apart after installation)
Fix (still working after testing opening/closing 30+ times after installation)
* Glued the 3 pieces together with JB Weld epoxy (picked up at Wal-mart)
* Waited 24 hours to cure
* Cleaned up extra epoxy with x-acto knife
* Used a drill-bit to clean epoxy out the hole (so pin can fit back in)
I hope it helps someone else -- sure beats buying a new mirror.
-Mark
Symptoms
* Mirror would not open, had to use small screwdriver to pry it open
* Mirror would then not close, had to slam it in several times, and it finally closed
Findings
* Took it apart using instructions found here -- Thank You!
* The clip was broken into 3 pieces (several people mentioned the same issue, with someone using superglue, but it fell apart after installation)
Fix (still working after testing opening/closing 30+ times after installation)
* Glued the 3 pieces together with JB Weld epoxy (picked up at Wal-mart)
* Waited 24 hours to cure
* Cleaned up extra epoxy with x-acto knife
* Used a drill-bit to clean epoxy out the hole (so pin can fit back in)
I hope it helps someone else -- sure beats buying a new mirror.
-Mark
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I fixed mine today. It's very easy to take apart, just don't lose any pieces. marktmark described it perfectly but once you take it apart it's pretty self explanatory. Just need some super glue and you're good to go. My pin didn't fit so I used a large staple from a staple gun and it works fine.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: MA
Epoxy fix worked, but trouble with reinstall
Hey guys, new to Lexus, LS430, and CL in the past 2 months or so -- loving it all so far. I realize this is an old thread, but it appears to be the only one on the topic, and I'm hoping someone might be able to assist.
My 2004 had the same issue with the passenger-side rear vanity mirror, and Lexus quoted me $400+ to replace the whole unit. I was able to disassemble/remove the unit, epoxy the broken clip (with Loctite Instant Mix Epoxy), and put the unit back together following instructions found here. My issue is that I can't seem to get the actual light part of the unit reinstalled.
The whole unit is 3 main pieces -- the mirror/frame, the light bulb board, and the light cover. The mirror/frame piece of the unit goes right back into the ceiling no problem, but when I try to install the light bulb board, I'm not able to get the plug lined up correctly with the metal prong in the ceiling. I already blew the fuse once, and now I'm worried about bending/breaking the metal prong, which appears to be built into the ceiling. It seems like the prong needs to be bent and pushed into the end of the plug somehow during the reinstall, but I can't seem to figure out how to do that.
Perhaps marktmark, chrispy, or someone else who has done this can chime in on the reinstall process? Thanks!
My 2004 had the same issue with the passenger-side rear vanity mirror, and Lexus quoted me $400+ to replace the whole unit. I was able to disassemble/remove the unit, epoxy the broken clip (with Loctite Instant Mix Epoxy), and put the unit back together following instructions found here. My issue is that I can't seem to get the actual light part of the unit reinstalled.
The whole unit is 3 main pieces -- the mirror/frame, the light bulb board, and the light cover. The mirror/frame piece of the unit goes right back into the ceiling no problem, but when I try to install the light bulb board, I'm not able to get the plug lined up correctly with the metal prong in the ceiling. I already blew the fuse once, and now I'm worried about bending/breaking the metal prong, which appears to be built into the ceiling. It seems like the prong needs to be bent and pushed into the end of the plug somehow during the reinstall, but I can't seem to figure out how to do that.
Perhaps marktmark, chrispy, or someone else who has done this can chime in on the reinstall process? Thanks!
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 363
Likes: 9
From: CA
These are the annoying little gadgets in a luxury car that fail/break over time, and become an expensive Dealer fix, if we can't fix it easily ourselves.
I wish the LS430 had no rear vanity mirror with lights. The only person playing with that is my kid, and guess what happens after a while when a kid plays with it...
Sent from an Android device using IB Automotive Group forum reader.
I wish the LS430 had no rear vanity mirror with lights. The only person playing with that is my kid, and guess what happens after a while when a kid plays with it...
Sent from an Android device using IB Automotive Group forum reader.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 11
Likes: 1
From: MA
At long last, an update on this situation: my re-installation difficulties were caused by a flawed process. The aforementioned mirror/frame piece of the unit and the light bulb board need to be combined before being put back into the ceiling. This alleviated the issue of the prong not fitting when trying to plug it in.
One exciting aspect of my final solution: the epoxy gave way after just a few presses of the button, so I ended up 3D printing a new clip. I designed it from scratch using 123D software and measurements taken by hand from the broken clip. Had to print 4 before getting the dimensions exactly right, and now it's as good as new.
Hopefully someone finds this helpful.
One exciting aspect of my final solution: the epoxy gave way after just a few presses of the button, so I ended up 3D printing a new clip. I designed it from scratch using 123D software and measurements taken by hand from the broken clip. Had to print 4 before getting the dimensions exactly right, and now it's as good as new.
Hopefully someone finds this helpful.
At long last, an update on this situation: my re-installation difficulties were caused by a flawed process. The aforementioned mirror/frame piece of the unit and the light bulb board need to be combined before being put back into the ceiling. This alleviated the issue of the prong not fitting when trying to plug it in.
One exciting aspect of my final solution: the epoxy gave way after just a few presses of the button, so I ended up 3D printing a new clip. I designed it from scratch using 123D software and measurements taken by hand from the broken clip. Had to print 4 before getting the dimensions exactly right, and now it's as good as new.
Hopefully someone finds this helpful.
One exciting aspect of my final solution: the epoxy gave way after just a few presses of the button, so I ended up 3D printing a new clip. I designed it from scratch using 123D software and measurements taken by hand from the broken clip. Had to print 4 before getting the dimensions exactly right, and now it's as good as new.
Hopefully someone finds this helpful.
Driver
Joined: Jun 2021
Posts: 98
Likes: 38
From: Nv
At long last, an update on this situation: my re-installation difficulties were caused by a flawed process. The aforementioned mirror/frame piece of the unit and the light bulb board need to be combined before being put back into the ceiling. This alleviated the issue of the prong not fitting when trying to plug it in.
One exciting aspect of my final solution: the epoxy gave way after just a few presses of the button, so I ended up 3D printing a new clip. I designed it from scratch using 123D software and measurements taken by hand from the broken clip. Had to print 4 before getting the dimensions exactly right, and now it's as good as new.
Hopefully someone finds this helpful.
One exciting aspect of my final solution: the epoxy gave way after just a few presses of the button, so I ended up 3D printing a new clip. I designed it from scratch using 123D software and measurements taken by hand from the broken clip. Had to print 4 before getting the dimensions exactly right, and now it's as good as new.
Hopefully someone finds this helpful.
Bumping this from the dead. I recently purchased a UL and witnessed the dealer break my drivers side rear vanity and he tried to demonstrate how it worked 😡. Anyway he threw the clip out and wedged a piece of paper in there. Now I don’t even have a clip to epoxy back together. “Here’s Johnny” if you’re somehow still out there I would love if I could purchase a spare if you happened to make any? I’ve searched everywhere online for just that piece to no avail. Thanks in advance
