WTB 2 nuts (captive nuts) for outside mirror

[eriknetherlands]

Looking to purchase 2 captive nuts needed to hold the outside rear view mirror on the door skin.

It's this part; looking for 2 of them. Can be NOS or used:

Nut for outer mirror you need 2 for 1 car

Nut for outer mirror you need 2 for 1 car

www.wallothnesch.com

My right side door skins looks to have been replaced, or at least the holes are non-original. Likely a previous owner used normal sheet metal screws to attach the mirrors. Which works, but isn't original.

 

[stphers]

The original nuts are terrible, why not use an aluminum riv nut? They hold much better

Thanks, Rick

 

[JohnP_02]

Available from Germany here:

Mirror cage nut, BMW series E10 E9 E3 E12, new!

M4 cage nut for mirror fixing, BMW series: E10 15 - 2002 New Class, 1800 - 2000 TiLux E9 2.5 - 3.0 CSi E3 2500 - 3.3Li E21 316 -…

shopware.bmw-oldtimerteile.de

 

[HB Chris]

Small sheet metal screw works just as well and maybe better and it is cheap!

 

[OCCoupe]

Small sheet metal screw works just as well and maybe better and it is cheap!

Oh the horror!!!

 

[teahead]

Small sheet metal screw works just as well and maybe better and it is cheap!

I tried that w/my old 2002 and I couldn't get hands back there to thread a nut on that screw.

Maybe E9 is diff.

 

[teahead]

big bux via Ebay and Roger's:

BMW 2002 1600 3.0cs Door Mirror Mount Cage Nut for sale online | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for BMW 2002 1600 3.0cs Door Mirror Mount Cage Nut at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

BMW Door Mirror Mounting Nut 2002 320i 3.0cs 3.0S

BMW 2002 320i 3.0cs Door Mirror Nut

www.rogerstii.com

Or here:

BMW - 2002 AD - Come rest your eyes on Los Angeles' recognized classic BMW parts and service authority. 2002AD.

Come rest your eyes on Los Angeles' recognized classic BMW parts and service authority. 2002AD.

www.2002ad.com

 

[teahead]

I would do Rivnuts if you ask me.

Here's a thread:

Wing Mirror Fitment

Well like an idiot I forgot to have these holes welded up in the door during painting. Does anyone have any ideas on how to get the large holes to accept smaller self tappers? Any clever fastners to put on the holes first? Any ideas gladly received as otherwise I will go for drilling between...

e9coupe.com

 

[lip277]

The backyard mechanic in me appreciates the thoughts behind wanting to use sheet metal screws.
The engineer in me cringes at that thought and would use the best rivnuts you could find (and have them solidly installed).

 

[eriknetherlands]

Thanks for all the replies. I do have a kit to place rivnuts in both steel and aluminum, but as others wisely noted, I hope that using the original part will spread the forces a bit if someone knocks the mirror.

thanks for suggesting Stefan Ries; I should have thought of him.

 

[HB Chris]

Those original nuts are extremely weak and bend easily. I was a Business Management guy so I used screws.

 

[adawil2002]

Have those cage nuts on my 2002 Tii & despite a new bracket & gasket the mirror refuses to be firmly connected to the door like my 1600 & Coupe which are firmly in place.

 

[JFENG]

Those original nuts are extremely weak and bend easily. I was a Business Management guy so I used screws.

I also think those cage nuts were a concession to cheap and fast rather than longevity and strength. On my ALFA I will be using a hardened steel strip (0,25” thick), tapped for fine thread mirror mounting screws. I’ll epoxied a small thin rare earth magnet on the backside so the strip will hold itself to the inside of the steel door skin. The bar distributes the load from the screws, is easily nudged into position, and holds itself where ever you place it . On an E9, The mirrors are bigger and heavier than the little round Alfa ones (esp the flag style), so I would make it a little wider, slightly curve the face to match the door skin, coat/paint to slow corrosion, install with plenty of anti-seize. I think the only drawback is there is no tolerance for variation in mounting screw width on the mirror base.

John

 

[coupesport]

use the best rivnuts you could find

did and happy with the results, = recommended.

 

[lip277]

For those curious as to what a rivnut is....

I have used them in aircraft for many years -
While they are my last choice for what I would want to use, they do come in handy if the situation (configuration) requires it.

When you do use one, please take care to not over torque the fastener being installed as it can cause the rivnut to spin - often making removal of that fastener a challenge.

 

[eriknetherlands]

I considered the rivnut, but doubted it because of the thickness; the dimension B in the drawing, as the mirror bracket (the plate, marked ' Left' in post #1) normally sits flush on the door. Any thickness of B would offset the mirror bracket by that same amount.

And I'm not sure if the base of the mirror can adapt to it, if the plate sits 1 or 2 mm proud of the door surface.

 

[JFENG]

They make riv-nuts that have a very thin beveled flange which sit essentially flush if you slightly dimple the metal. But Alfa’s threaded bar setup is superior IMHO. The magnet was my idea, but a dab of BavBob’s favorite gooey black strip caulk will also hold the strip in place long enough to mount a mirror and help seal from water intrusion too.

John