Removing rearview mirror.. "just twist it off" ain't working. What am I doing wrong?

[magn2o]

Ok, so I'm trying to remove my rear view mirror and every video and article I've seen thus far says the same thing --


Remove the upper plastic housing (easy.. done!)
Remove the lower plastic housing (easy.. done!)
Unplug connector (easy.. done!)
Grab mirror base and rotate counter-clockwise (...)



That's all fine and dandy, except that last part -- "grab mirror base and rotate counter-clockwise" -- just ain't happening. I've twisted the ever-living shit out of that base, it doesn't give an inch.

What trick am I missing here? All the videos I've seen online show it ranging from barely any effort to just putting a little oomph behind it and it twists right off. I haven't seen anyone having to harness the power of Thor to get it off, which is where I'm at so far and it's still not coming off.

I've wrapped it up with a shop-towel for better grip, tried from every angle imaginable (driver seat, passenger seat, straddling the middle(!)), and I've even put on some super grippy NFL receiver gloves. At this point, I just relegated myself to not having enough testicular fortitude to do it, so I enlisted the help of 2 significantly sturdier gentlemen to give it a go. No dice.

So... to anyone who has taken this thing off... WHAT IS YOUR SECRET???

[Audisthesia]

You're not missing anything.

That is EXACTLY how you remove the mirror. I've done it personally over a dozen times on various cars. And here's the straight from Audi by the book directions...

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/927738-HOW-TO-Remove-rearview-mirror-mirror-settings-and-guides

[magn2o]

You're not missing anything.

That is EXACTLY how you remove the mirror. I've done it personally over a dozen times on various cars. And here's the straight from Audi by the book directions...

https://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/927738-HOW-TO-Remove-rearview-mirror-mirror-settings-and-guides

… and were any of those times like trying to pull Excalibur from the stone? I’m not exaggerating when I say this thing feels like it’s welded on.

[esemes]

… and were any of those times like trying to pull Excalibur from the stone? I’m not exaggerating when I say this thing feels like it’s welded on.

Audithesia has r/r'd my mirror several times and it is a pucker moment - almost always. Cant offer any really advice (I looked away)

[Audisthesia]

… and were any of those times like trying to pull Excalibur from the stone? I’m not exaggerating when I say this thing feels like it’s welded on.

Twist counterclockwise, do not pull away from glass until you feel it give.

[magn2o]

Twist counterclockwise, do not pull away from glass until you feel it give.

Yea, I’m not pulling at all, twist only. I spent another 20m trying to get that thing off again, doesn’t budge even in the slightest. (╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

[TexasDfwS4]

Just a thought but maybe push in and turn???

[Alabama]

Twist counterclockwise, do not pull away from glass until you feel it give.

Probably just showing my ignorance, but I'm confused by the Audi instructions. To remove, it says "turn counterclockwise". To install, it also says "turn counterclockwise". Shouldn't the remove and install instructions be opposite; one is clockwise and the other is counterclockwise?

[mwdelta]

I had a similar issue when I was installing my frameless mirror.

This was a bit ago so I'm sorry I can't be more specific, but there was a clip of some type that was preventing rotation. It was the kind of thing that I could pry up a tiny bit and then the mirror came off easy.

[magn2o]

I had a similar issue when I was installing my frameless mirror.

This was a bit ago so I'm sorry I can't be more specific, but there was a clip of some type that was preventing rotation. It was the kind of thing that I could pry up a tiny bit and then the mirror came off easy.

Hmm.. do you recall where the clip might have been?

[Patrick73RS]

Anyone have that little trim piece that comes off in step 2? My window tint guy just broke mine

https://ibb.co/ccKdtHQ

Cover 1 in step number 2 in the above link

[magn2o]

Welp, I’ve given up. If I keep at this I’m going to break the glass — honestly, it’s a wonder I haven’t already. If anyone in the future comes across this post with a similar issue, best of luck! I’m just gonna live with the original mirror and forego going frameless…

[Audisthesia]

I answered in the chat.

[Patrick73RS]

Thanks

[Patrick73RS]

I took the two trim pieces off. AFter that I grabbed the base on the window and the mirror and twisted and it came off easily. Are you turning the base or just the mirror?

[esemes]

304800

not worth getting a new windshield over, but the results are very nice.