993 Wing Mirrors Stolen

[Alex Johnson]

I was looking for a 993 Targa pre-Christmas, and got one. I had owned an almost identical model in 2001 and its wing mirrors were stolen so I was aware of the serious security design flaw. Still, that my mirrors on my current 993 were stolen yesterday is very annoying. It was a neat job and the plugs for the electrics are completely undamged. "Thanks." Another 993 Targa in my area also seems to have had its mirrors stolen recently, and there is a Carrera I walk by from time to time that has the area where the mirrors should be attached covered in masking tape.

So, I have a few questions.

1. This is clearly a problem, but what happens to all these mirrors? I most certainly wouldn't buy any from somone other than a dealer but I had a look on eBay and Exchange & Mart and there aren't any for sale there. So where do they go?

2. I live in central London. I went to Paragon last time and was planning to go there again. They have quoted me £395 plus VAT. Is this a fair price? It seems like it is, though of course I am not happy. Does anyone have any other recommendations?

3. I want to make sure this is as difficult as possible to do again. Presumably the thief knows where I live and the danger is s/he will just be waiting for me to get the replacements. What is the best way to stop this? Get Paragon (or whomever) to drill out the screw so an allen key can't be used? Put Superglue all over the end of that screw? I appreciate this would create a problem if the mirrors got clipped and needed to be replaced but right now that seems less of a worry. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks for the help!

Alex

Migration info. Legacy thread was 26007

 

[poon]

yikes, sounds like the superglue option would be best, if you ever need to remove then you can drill out the glue.

How about wiring the car up to the mains! Any thief would a nasty shock.

Good luck,

Migration info. Legacy thread was 26011

 

[Greg]

Stories like this turn me homicidal. The thievin' f***kers.

Changing the screws for something less common ie allen or even better torx, sounds the best bet.

I don't know 911s but why can't car manufacturers think, and have the screws only accessible from the inside.

I wonder how many sales they lose from people who want the car but are too worried about sub human thieving scum. I was one of those people, after the mess made out of my Beemer in it's early years but I am about to risk all again with a 987 on order.

I hope you come up with some solution, let us all know.
postamble();


Migration info. Legacy thread was 26012

 

[Porsche]

damn !

porscheapart & deisgn911 both on the web are a few parts places...

er.. as a fellow Londoner, what part of London did this happen in !


Migration info. Legacy thread was 26018

 

[Alex Johnson]

Quote: Originally posted by Sundeep on 25 March 2005
damn !
porscheapart & deisgn911 both on the web are a few parts places...
er.. as a fellow Londoner, what part of London did this happen in !

Thanks for the tips - needs to be somewhat local as it will have to be fitted but I will ring the design911 people. As to where I live, well it's not Chelsea or KB but there are four 911's on my street plus a couple of Boxsters and a Cayenne and I am ashamed to say my 97 Targa is the oldest! As I don't know who's reading this I'm not going to go into more detail but the point is that for on-street parking I am more worried about "touch parking" than theft.

When this happened with my last car AFN told me it was a known design flaw, and gave me some astronomical quote for replacements, which made me ask around and so was how I found out about Paragon.

Greg, unfortunately the whole mirror assemply is held in place by one screw that can be unscrewed with an allen key - probably as found in any Ikea flat-pack piece of furniture. Apparently this can be done in a few seconds. Changing that screw is not an option, but that's why I'm thinking of coating the head in Superglue so an allen key can't be used. As I posted before though I'd be interested in hearing from anyone else this has happened to, and what - in a world where it's on-street or nothing - they do to try and prevent it.

Migration info. Legacy thread was 26021

 

[M030]

 

[Alex Johnson]

Quote: Originally posted by M030 on 26 March 2005
The superglue or changing to another bolt will not help.
They just move the complete mirror upwards untill the little hook on the other end of the fastening bolt breaks off.
 

Is there any way at all to make this harder?

Migration info. Legacy thread was 26027

 

[M030]

 

[Alex Johnson]

Quote: Originally posted by M030 on 26 March 2005
Any other reinforcements to the way the mirror is attached will result in more damage to the door panel.
 

So there's nothing I can do?? If the screw is deliberately damaged, does that affect reassmbly on some other car? I was considering posting a brief notice on the small front window on the passenger door that stolen mirrors would be useless.

And any thoughts on where these things go? 911's aren't Ford Escorts; I can't believe there is some big market for no questions asked parts, and my own attempts to find one of the net have yielded no results.

Thanks for the thoughts.

Migration info. Legacy thread was 26039

 

[SiG]

I suspect that someone has discovered that they are the right fitting to be transferred to another type of car and they a) look good, and b) have kudos with mates. You see lots of Impreza spoliers (also easy to remove with a bit of leverage as my father has found out 3 times so far) on other cars.

Let me know of you find a solution. I and my 993 are moving to SW18 in three weeks!

Migration info. Legacy thread was 26040

 

[M030]

 

[speedd]

Sorry to hear of you misfortune

I have just bought a Targa and would be very upset if some ******* :evil:
done that. I hope you get them sorted and will keep an eye out for a set in my quest to get some bits for mine.




Migration info. Legacy thread was 26142

 

[Alan Mac]

Having recently purchased a targa (which is terrific!), and just now getting past the stage of listening to every creak ,squeek and gurgle.

I have now discovered something else to worry about !!!


Migration info. Legacy thread was 26167

 

[Alex Johnson]

Quote: Originally posted by M030 on 28 March 2005
These mirrors fit the 964, 968, 944 and 928 so there will be always someone who can use a pair.
Once the mirrors are broken off, the bolt and the remains of the hook are very easy to replace.
 
One alternative would be to engrave the VIN nr in the glass.
 

 

Hmm. OK, thanks for the help. I will avoid jimmying the bolts as it seems it won't achieve anything, but engraving is a good idea. I wonder if I can get the mirror mounts engraved as well? It would of course be ugly, but les ugly than the three holes and hanging cable I currently have.

Migration info. Legacy thread was 26173

 

[Robertb]

Perhaps there is a market for someone to create a "locking" nut socket system like for alloy wheels?

I'd certainly avoid drilling out the current bolts as you may need to remove them at some stage.


Migration info. Legacy thread was 26176