Damage to a side mirror on your vehicle, not only is a safety issue, but it’s one of those repairs that are rather annoying. If your broken mirror is a result of poor judgment or attention on your part, it makes it that much worse. However, if someone else decided to sideswipe your vehicle, you’re still on the hook for having it repaired. 

You have options when it comes to having this repair done. The first is taking it to an auto shop that handles this sort of work and letting them sort it out for you. The other option is taking on the repair yourself. We’re going to discuss a little of both in this article.

Take It To The Pros

Most side mirrors can be replaced with a little know-how and direction. But, if you have a newer model vehicle, the repair can get a little more complicated. It can include opening up the interior parts of your door, dealing with wiring issues, and then putting everything back together again in the right order. Some people decide to just have a repair shop handle this for them so as not to mess up any of the mechanical features such as power mirrors. The benefit of this, as you can imagine, is that you will not have to deal with the repair on your own. The downside, you’ll have to pay for the repair out of pocket. The average cost of this repair is anywhere between $200 and $500. 

Repairing Your Side Mirror

Every replacement will be a little different. This depends on the make and model of your vehicle. We’re going to give you some guidelines as to how to do this repair on your own. We’ve crossed checked with several different auto shops and online resources to give you the best information possible. Let’s get to it. 

Tools and Materials You May Need

  • Screwdriver
  • Rachet and Appropriate Sized Sockets
  • Wrench
  • Replacement Parts
  • Safety Glasses

It’s worth mentioning that things can go wrong when replacing your side mirrors. You could do further damage to your mirrors or doors, or even injure yourself in the process. We suggest taking your time and doing a bit of research before you begin this project. 

Removal

Step One – Wear safety glasses. This might seem a little overprotective, but stranger things happen these days when you aren’t starting with safety first. 

Step Two – Roll down the vehicle’s window. This will allow you to work freely and get more space to work on the mirror. Access is everything with this repair. 

Step Three – Remove the interior plate. This plate is usually plastic and clips in or is held together by what is called a retainer screw. 

Step Four – Disconnect the mirror from power. This is if you have power mirrors, you don’t want to leave that intact for this repair. 

Step Five – Locate Mirror Fasteners. These might be clipped in, screwed in, or have some other fastener. 

Step Six – Remove the Mirror. Inspect the rest of the mirror back or frame for further damage to mechanicals or leftover broken debris. 

Installation

Step One – Compare. Your old assembly and new part should be the same or have the same bolt patterns. Check to make sure they line up the same way before beginning the install. 

Step Two – Mount. Follow the specific directions for installing the new mirror and make adjustments as needed. 

Step Three – Assemble. Carefully remount the bolts for the mirror assembly and tighten them. They should be snug, but over-tightening might cause complications with your power features. 

Step Four – Connect. Reconnect your electrical wiring if you have power mirrors. Double-check the connector to make sure there are no signs of damage. 

Step Five – Wrap. Wrap up your project by replacing the trim plate and fastening it back into place or using the retainer screw. 

General Tips

Some vehicles will require that you remove the interior door panel in order to access the mirror assembly. This can be a tricky repair. These panels are often made of hard plastic that can easily crack leaving you with yet another repair. Our suggestion is to refer to your driver’s manual, or even better, research your specific vehicle online or on YouTube for a how-to video. 

If you have a newer make or model of vehicle, sometimes mirror settings have to be programmed into your smart car features. This is even more important if your mirror mechanism has sensors to catch things like blind-spot hazards or pedestrian alerts.

We hope you found this helpful if you’ve decided to do this project yourself, or maybe now, you would rather have someone else tackle it for you. Either way, we are glad you stopped by. Come back soon for more ideas and articles on auto glass repairs. 

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