New E350 towing mirrors
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Georgia
New E350 towing mirrors
In case anyone else is thinking about this upgrade. I got a set of new 05 factory towing power mirrors off eBay for my 04. Install took 30 minutes tops and involved a total of nine fasteners on each side. One tip though, the studs will unscrew from the currently installed mirrors if you don't use two wrenches taking it apart. Other than that it was a piece of cake. The mirrors themselves are awesome. I can see a lot more with them even without extending them out to the tow position. I even think the change in wind noise is for the better, the pitch is less irritating. This upgrade was well worth the money and effort!
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 290
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From: South TX
Ditto- This was one of the first mods I did, and I'm very please!
Got mine off E-Bay also, but you've got to watch the fine print. I didn't get them, but some I saw on E-Bay were too good to be true.
One set were not electric/remote, and another had the connector cut off.
The set I got were great, and cost me $60 ea.
Got mine off E-Bay also, but you've got to watch the fine print. I didn't get them, but some I saw on E-Bay were too good to be true.
One set were not electric/remote, and another had the connector cut off.
The set I got were great, and cost me $60 ea.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Georgia
You did better than me but I am happy with the ones I have. They are factory, electric, with connectors and were removed from a brand new van. I get the impression they are coming of of box vans, RVs, or ambulances and being replaced with Velvac or simular like the pic I hope is below 
.
http://www.thomasregister.com/images/68113000/2020E03.jpg
Well, the picture didn't work but the link does.
.http://www.thomasregister.com/images/68113000/2020E03.jpg
Well, the picture didn't work but the link does.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: The Show Me State
al_e._gator,
Elaborate on the "wind noise issue." That's of interest to me, 'cause it's one of the few things I'd change about my '03 E350. The stock mirrors, probably/possibly due to the width of the mirror's base, are awfully noisy at highway speed... I understand the change in pitch, would you also characterize it as a change in volume?
DadVan
Elaborate on the "wind noise issue." That's of interest to me, 'cause it's one of the few things I'd change about my '03 E350. The stock mirrors, probably/possibly due to the width of the mirror's base, are awfully noisy at highway speed... I understand the change in pitch, would you also characterize it as a change in volume?
DadVan
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From: Georgia
I don't know if it's actually a volume change but I find it less irritating and that just could be personal preference. You might find it more irritating. The two thin arms should be less resistant to airflow but the heads are larger so they catch more air. All I can really say is I'm happy with it. If you are doing it just for noise, I recommend you try to find someone else with the towing mirrors and see if you can get a test drive. If you are close to St Louis, and willing to wait, I may be in western Illinois (Alton area) around Christmastime would be happy to let you try mine.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: The Show Me State
al_e._gator,
Thanks for the offer, but I'm clear over by Kansas City, so I'll try to find somebody closer... I guess I didn't realize the mirror head was bigger, so the "amount" of noise may be a wash. Having said that, I suspect that the two thinner arms may "transmit" less noise to the body of the van.
DadVan
Thanks for the offer, but I'm clear over by Kansas City, so I'll try to find somebody closer... I guess I didn't realize the mirror head was bigger, so the "amount" of noise may be a wash. Having said that, I suspect that the two thinner arms may "transmit" less noise to the body of the van.
DadVan
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Joined: Oct 2005
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I have a 05 e-350 with the telescopic towing mirrors and do not have a noise problem. They seem to have a big blind spot, and you can get fish eye mirrors a c-betr . com. They come with the brackets to fit the ford mirrors, and were only 29.95 including shipping, I highly recommend them, they look good and work well.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: San Francisco
We have a 03 E350 XLT 15 Pas. I put the telescoping towing mirrors on it to replace the normal XLT power mirror units.
I love these mirrors. No wind noise, adjustable smaller mirrors at the bottom of the units and power that hooked up to the connectors for the old mirrors.
They look great and give me a far better rear view of what is going on. No blind spots with these units.
Bought mine on EBAY as take offs from an ambulance conversion company. I have a set of the normal XLT power mirrors if anyone is interested before I put them up for auction.
I love these mirrors. No wind noise, adjustable smaller mirrors at the bottom of the units and power that hooked up to the connectors for the old mirrors.
They look great and give me a far better rear view of what is going on. No blind spots with these units.
Bought mine on EBAY as take offs from an ambulance conversion company. I have a set of the normal XLT power mirrors if anyone is interested before I put them up for auction.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Georgia
I don't know, but I don't think the truck lights will fit. I did a lot of research before buying the van mirrors and I'm sure I would have found something about it if the truck mirrors would work. I think the door angle is different so the truck mirror wouldn't sit right. Also, if they were compatible I would expect Ford would offer them as an option.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: arcata, ca
yeah, the whole assembly is different, i am wondering if the head will fit, i tlooks like the arms are same distance apart. ford does offer stuff later for vans, like this year the cargo vans can get power drivers seat, maybe the designers wanted to keep the look for the trucks awhile.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Georgia
According to the people who have been selling these, vans made before 2003(?) only have three mounting holes and the new mirrors have four mounting studs. Supposedly people have drilled their own hole for the fourth stud. After seeing how the mounts are made I know the fourth stud is removable from the mirror so mounting with three studs may be an option. I think I would drill the extra hole though since these towing mirrors are big. I'm sure Ford added the fourth stud for a good reason.
