Tequipment roll bar installation - How to remove the rear view mirror - SOLVED

Ok I am making good progress installing my Tequipment roll bar. After trimming the plastic door side trims, I managed to get the bar in the car. BTW I would not try to install the bar without trimming the side plastic, it is pretty tight install and even with the trimming you already have to push hard to get the bar to move the clear the carpet. Aside of that it is really not that hard. I did it myself without help. The bar is quite light so it can be moved around easily by one person. Now my problem .... The both front mounts are in position, but I can't recline the bar backward because it hit my rear view mirror. On the roll bar install video You Tube At minute 17:35 , you can see the guy playing with his 'manual' rear view tab and the bar clears the mirror, but with my 'auto-dimming' version there is no way the bar will clear. I need to remove the rear view mirror from its ball socket. Can anyone help me understanding how to remove the rear view mirror ? I tried to apply reasonable pressure but it would not go. I am scared to pull it stronger as those auto-dimming mirror are super pricey to replace if I break it.

Cant answer but I'd be more worried about the windshield. My hand hit my manual mirror during cleaning and the mirror mount that is attached to the windshield came off with the piece of the windshield. Cost of windshield: $1k

indeed, that is why I did not want to try anything, and hope someone here can give me some clues about how to do it right, if not the learning curve might be really expensive. helllp

I installed mine without removing the mirror but it took two people to negotiate the bar. If you push the bottom of the mirror toward the windshield it can be done. Be extremely carefull with the windshield! I used a rag taped to the bar to prevent any contact. The front legs must be pushed down and back as far as possible and this should give you a few millimeters to swing the bar backwards. Good luck... go slow.... Another set of hands would really be helpful...

humm, yes I saw that the front 'feet' of the bar, could potentially be forced backward to gain clearance, but the carpet is formed quite strongly at this location and I would need a pair of strong hands for this. I tried it myself but it can't be done alone. If nobody knows how/if it is possible to remove the rear view mirror, I'll ask for two helper and see what we can do using this technique.

I looked at installing the same bar. I found this write up, different from what you are doing. tequipment-rollbar-install/

Maybe try renntech for the mirror removal procedure?

@ 17:35 he rolls the mirror in sinc with the bar...looks like its very close....2 people and a lot of patients!

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arghhhh this writeup is completely different ! It says that you should get the bar in on its back ! I have done quite a good amount of reading before starting this DIY and that is the first time I read this ! If it is possible it makes sense as the rear view mirror seems to be a problem for everyone. Man ! I can't believe I see this only now. I think everybody on this forum have put their bar laying on its 'front' first, like in the youtube video. At least that is another option for me... but I have to take the bar out not that it was too hard to put it in but I though I had done my due diligence on this project

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That's how I did it too.

ok I managed to clear the rear view mirror by removing the carpet under the bar. I had originally taken it out to cut the plastic trim put I did put it back before putting the bar in. It was a pain to remove again and even more to put back in with the bar sitting right on top but it is possible. I only removed the carpet on one side and it was enough to gain 3 or 4mm of clearance. The bar cleared the rear view mirror by a micron, I could not even put a piece of paper in between them. I might have had been able to do it by pressing down really hard the bar, but I was scared of it backfiring on me. anyways the bar is in, now I am waiting for my new set of screws and I'll try to make it fit then. It is super tight, that is not gonna be easy.

Glad you got it in. I'm not sure about the OEM autodimming mirror, but the standard mirror is easily removed by simply twisting the base clockwise with a pair of pliers (wrapped in tape or a cloth to protect the plastic).

Good to heat you got it in.

Good work Phil. As you noted, you still have to bolt the bar in place. Again, a second set of hands will help a lot. Be carefull not to cross thread obviously. My bar took some manuevering before I could bolt each leg. Thread each bolt in loosely before tightening. Good luck, your almost there...

I can't imagine having a shop doing the tequipment bar install, unless they have done it before and are the super careful/OCD kind... it is quite time consuming to do it right. I enjoy every minutes working on the car, but I am lucky enough to have it sit in the garage and not requiring it for daily driving. Advise for anyone who want to install this bar, take multiple days to do it if you can. That way you can enjoy doing it right and don't break anything out of frustration. it can be done in one day for sure but might need beers Extra set of hand can help, but avoiding the constant advises from your helper...priceless lol

Good stuff man! Glad it all worked out for you

I highly recommend installing the bar laying on it's back and going up and over. Years ago, I use to do it the other way going up past the mirror. After you bump the mirror ever so slightly and crack the windshield, you won't do it that way anymore. Maybe I wasn't being as careful as normal as we were replacing the windshield due to a different crack anyway, but I wouldn't want to see a DIYer lose a good windshield doing it that way.

I just can't picture how the bar can get in on its back.. the door is kind of on the way, no ? But for sure that would avoid the whole rear view mirror dilemma ! I hope someone can post pics or video of a roll bar install on its back. mine is almost done so don't count on me

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Plenty of room to angle it in.