When faced with busted side mirror glass, many car owners ask themselves if they can just replace the side mirror glass instead of replacing the entire side mirror assembly. The answer is often yes. If the glass is the only part of the side mirror assembly that’s broken, then it’s a smart move to replace only the glass rather than the entire assembly.
The biggest reason you should consider replacing only the side mirror glass is because it’s the far cheaper option. A full side mirror assembly for a 2017 Ford Escape can cost over $450 (or $340 at Blue Springs Ford Parts) while the side mirror glass only costs about $70 (or $54 at Blue Springs Ford Parts).
Replacing only the glass takes less time, too, which translates to either lower labor costs (if you hire someone to do it for you) or less time spent on the project (if you do it yourself). Speaking of doing it yourself, replacing the side mirror glass is pretty easy.
Is Your Side Mirror Assembly in Working Order?
Before deciding to replace only the glass, you want to make sure that your side mirror assembly still works:
- Visually inspect the side mirror for damage, like cracks in the housing near where the mirror pivots. Usually you will see these on the underside of the mirror housing.
- Use your hands to gently rock the entire mirror housing left, right, up, and down. If it feels loose, it’s possible that the side mirror is in working order but it has come slightly loose where it attaches to the body. In this case, tighten the bolts that attach the assembly to the body of the vehicle.
- If you have power mirrors, play around with the controls inside the vehicle to make sure they still work. Move the mirror fully side to side and up and down. If the mirror doesn’t respond appropriately to a button, it likely either has an electrical issues, or the mirror control mechanism is damaged. You can remove the mirror and look for mechanical damage or wiring issues before replacing the assembly. (See below for a basic instructions on removing the glass.)
If everything seems to be in working order, you should be able to replace only the glass.
How to Replace Your Side Mirror Glass
NOTE: This tutorial is based on the Ford F-150, but the steps are generally the same for most vehicles.
Wing Mirrors are an inherent part of any vehicle, even though they are not paid much attention. Chances are, you glance at this mirror every time while driving, checking out the environment behind the car. Unless they are covered in snow, dirty, or too filthy to do their job, we tend to ignore the wing mirror. If you’re looking to know how to replace wing mirror glass, this article is for you.
There are many instances when your wing mirror is hit pretty badly. It might be while you were trying to park in a tight spot, or simply scraped it while driving in town. Either way, it is not advised to drive around with a broken or damaged wing mirror. Not only will it be a safety hazard to others, but it can also lead to a failed MOT certificate.
In some cases, the wing mirror body is damaged along with the mechanical operation. This would require a replacement of the entire mirror. In other instances, only the glass is shattered or cracked, allowing you to simply replace the glass part.
The damage on the wing mirror depends on how fast you were driving. If they hit an object at a low speed, the wing mirrors most likely snapback. At other times, there would be only a few scrapes and cracks instead of the entire mechanical component hanging out. I have also had cases where the wing mirror glass was not properly set and popped out at a speed breaker or a pothole. When your car faces the jerk, the intensity is enough to jolt the mirror out from the backing plate. Make sure your mirror glass is securely in place.
Car Wing Mirrors and its Features
Before we move on to understand how to replace wing mirror glass without breaking, let’s first talk about some of the handy features of wing mirrors.
Remote Adjustment
This is honestly, one of the easiest and smooth features of the wing mirrors. The majority of modern cars are equipped with remote adjustment features, allowing the driver to adjust the mirror as per his/her convenience while sitting inside the vehicle. There is a button, usually found near the driver seat, that controls the driver and passenger side wing mirrors. This allows for a very tailored experience for all kinds of drivers.
Electric Heater
The cold weather and stormy snow often leave a frozen residue on the mirror glass. The electric heating element found in many modern models of vehicles, thaws the snow, water, or dew, and turns the mirror back to its former gleaming glory.
Electrochromic Dimming
Electrochromic Dimming is the latest feature that makes your driving experience extremely comfortable and safe. The feature basically alters the reflective properties of the mirror to dampen the glare from the headlights of the cars behind you.
Pretty simple and efficient, don’t you think?
How to Replace Wing Mirror Glass?
Modern cars make the replacement of wing mirror glass a very easy, and inexpensive task. More often than not, you might not even need any tools for the job. Here’s how you can replace the wing mirror glass without any additional damage.
Method #1 Replacing the Mirror
Step 1: Taking out the Broken Mirror
Use a plastic pry bar to go behind the wind mirror. There is a slight gap that allows your fingers to behind it, however, watch out for the broken glass. With a little effort, you can get the mirror pop off the clips. In the case of mirrors with some extra features like built-in signals or heat mechanism, you may encounter a few wires connected to the mirror. Unplug them and mark them before removing the mirror.
In another case, you pry the broken wing mirror off by removing the decorative cover from the backside of the mirror.
Step 2: Inserting clips and tabs
The second step of how to replace wing mirror glass involves inspecting the clips and tabs. Every car model uses a somewhat different system of tabs and clips. Understand which clip snaps into what tab. If you encounter any broken tabs or clips on the mounting plate, make sure to replace them before putting the new mirror in place.
If you’re looking at mounting plate replacement, you might want to contact the dealer for the same.
Step 3: Lining the tabs
If your wing mirrors are equipped with built-in turn signal repeaters or heater elements, reattach the wires to the mirror. Next, line the taps and clips, moving the mirror into its proper position on the mounting plate.
Step 4: Fix the Mirror in Place
Once you press firmly, the clips should fall in place with a noticeable click. Make sure it is attached by prying it with your fingers.
Step 5: Clean and Readjust Mirror
There you have it; the task is done!
Readjust the wing mirror in such a manner that you can properly monitor what is behind you. Clean the glass off any fingerprints and smudges.
Method #2 – How to Replace Wing Mirror Glass?
This method involves sticking wing mirror glass. It is extremely easy to do the following steps.
Step 1: Finding the Perfect Fit
The first step is to look for the correct replacement mirror glass for the driver or passenger side mirror.
Step 2: Cleaning it off!
There might be some cracks or broken splinters on the mirror, that need to be cleared off before sticking the wing mirror glass. The surface should be as smooth as possible to stick the glass.
Step 3: Use a Hairdryer to Remove Adhesive
If the wing mirror is extremely damaged, remove much of the glass from the backing plate. The heat from the hairdryer removes the adhesive behind the glass, to remove any stubborn shards.
Step 4: Placing the Sticker
Peel off the adhesive backing sheet, and place it on top of the damaged glass or backing plate. Once in place, rub with a cloth to ensure it is firmly stuck.
This brings us to the end of our article on how to replace wing mirror glass. If you’re looking for more such articles, keep watching this space.
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