Greg,

Thanks for the reply.

I found a mirror manufacturer (Dorman) who says that their mirrors are
rear reflective like the originals, so I will be ordering from them.
Having glass as the front surface trumps plastic coatings for wear.

I may have jumped to a conclusion that the reflective surface was
aluminum.  Perhaps these front surface mirrors are chrome or some other
hard metal?

Mike

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Re: Side Mirror Surfaces
Date: Wed, 20 Oct 2010 15:16:44 -0400
From: Greg Potts <greg@pottsfamily.ca>
Reply-To: greg@pottsfamily.ca
To: Michael A. Radtke <wa7zpu@CISAZ.COM>

Hi Michael,

Try an auto-trim reseller. They have some optically clear adhesive
coatings that are like magic. A bunch of my friends have them protecting
the screens on their blackberries and iphones, they are very durable and
guaranteed for years outdoors.

Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
www.pottsfamily.ca
WWW.BUSESOFTHECORN.CA   <--- NEW .CA DOMAIN!!!
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender hardtop Vanagon
1988 Wolfsburg Weekender hardtop Vanagon
1973 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"

> Stacy,
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> The convex passenger side mirror is definitely silvered on the back with
> clear glass on the front.
>
> My Vanagon mirrors are manual.  I got used to driving with a convex
> mirror on the left when traveling internationally and my '79 Jet
> ElectraVan came equipped that way as well.  So I was pleased that when
> my Vanagon mirrors finally disintegrated, I could get both sides convex
> from the Bus Depot.
>
> Since apparently front surface mirrors are now common, I wonder if they
> are coated.  The surface looks like evaporated aluminum to me and that
> doesn't stand up well to cleaning.  On the other hand, a coating
> probably wouldn't last very long either.  Look at all of the fogged over
> headlights since the auto industry successfully lobbied the government
> to remove the sealed beam requirement.
>
> Thanks again,
> Mike
>
>
> -------- Original Message --------
> Subject:        Re: Side Mirror Surfaces
> Date:   Tue, 19 Oct 2010 22:33:58 -0700
> From:   Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com>
> To:     Michael A. Radtke <wa7zpu@cisaz.com>
> CC:     vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com
> References:     <4CBE6A1E.3070005@cisaz.com>
>
>
>
>         Almost all replacement mirrors today have the silver on the top
> side. (first surface mirror)  . It is done to minimize headlight bounce
> at night by allowing the light to go through the mirror and not come
> back at you. It is essentially what people call two way mirror . It is
> also what they use in observation areas . You see through it especially
> when the light is greater on the viewed side.
>         I would be surprised if any of those mirrors you bought actually
> have the mirror on the back side. I actually sell quite a few of these
> ,and do not think I have seen one that had the mirror on the back .
>        Just curious ,were the lenses for the Vanagon for the power or
> manual mirrors?
>
>
>
>   Stacy
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 19, 2010 at 9:03 PM, Michael A. Radtke <wa7zpu@cisaz.com
> <mailto:wa7zpu@cisaz.com>> wrote:
>
>      Hello,
>
>      I finally had to replace my side mirrors on my vanagon and I did so
> with
>      convex on both sides.  This has been just great.  (Vanagon content)
>
>      I just needed to replace the mirrors (hail) on a different car.  The
>      right convex mirror was just fine with glass on the reflecting side
> and
>      silvering on the back.  However, the flat mirror supplied for the
> left
>      would have had the silvering on the reflecting side.  Since that
> would
>      have been correct on the right side, I assumed that they just sent
> the
>      wrong mirror and I ordered a replacement.
>
>      You guessed it.  The replacement mirror was exactly the same.
>
>      I contacted the company and they had a story about the Japanese
> doing it
>      one way and the USA doing it the other and I should just go ahead and
>      use the mirror since it was correct.  However, it seems to me that
> even
>      if they clear coated the silvered side it would never hold up nearly
> as
>      long as if the glass was exposed to the elements.  We Vanagon owners
>      tend to keep all of our cars a very long time.
>
>      So, what's the best knowledge on this?  Is this the way they make
>      mirrors now?
>
>      Thanks,
>      Mike    '84 GL since new ... Phoenix.
>
>
>
>
> --
>     1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>      Oldest son is an Eagle scout.
>