Wing Mirror Repairs: Glass, Housing or the Whole Mirror?

Broken mirror glass on its own

If the glass is cracked or has fallen out but the casing is intact and the mirror still moves properly, you may only need a new piece of glass. On many cars the glass is held on a backing plate that can be released and swapped without removing the whole mirror.

On a car with heated mirrors, the glass has a heating element on the back with its own connectors, so the replacement has to be the right type. Cars with auto-dimming glass, blind-spot lights or a built-in indicator repeater need the correct glass too. Fitting the wrong one can leave a feature that no longer works.

Cracked housing and cover problems

The outer cover, often called the mirror cap, is the painted or black plastic shell at the back. It clips on and commonly breaks after a scrape or knock. If the mechanism inside is fine, replacing the cover can bring the mirror back to looking right without buying the whole unit.

The snag is colour. A cover that has to match the body paint may need to be painted, and that adds a step. If the housing itself is cracked where it mounts, the repair may stretch further than a simple cap swap.

• Loose or dangling casing can flap and get worse at speed
• Scuffed covers can sometimes be dealt with without replacement
• Painted caps usually need colour matching
• Cracks around the mounting point point towards a larger repair

When the whole mirror needs replacing

If the mirror has been knocked right off its mount, the adjuster motor is dead, or the internal arm is bent, replacing the entire unit may be the practical answer. It is also the likely route when impact has damaged the wiring or the folding mechanism.

Electric folding mirrors add complication. A folding motor that has been forced by hand can strip its gears and then refuse to open or close. Some mirrors, and the cars they sit on, also expect a fresh unit to be taught or reset, so it is wise to ask what applies to your model.

Heated, folding and indicator mirrors

Modern mirrors often combine several features in one body: electric adjustment, heating, folding, a side indicator, a puddle lamp and sometimes a camera. That makes the replacement part more complex than it used to be, and it is why we ask you for the make, model and the features fitted when you enquire.

If your indicator in the mirror has stopped flashing after a knock, do not ignore it. It may be a broken lens or a damaged connection, and a working indicator is a legal and safety matter.

Why the MOT cares about mirrors

Mirrors are part of the safety checks at an MOT. As a general rule, the tester looks for the required mirrors being present, secure and giving a reasonable view to the rear. A mirror with a badly broken glass or a loose casing may be marked down, and the exact detail is covered in the official guidance, so check the current rules if you are unsure.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we repair wing mirrors, so a borderline mirror can be sorted before the test. Bring it in and we will say whether the glass, the housing or the full mirror is the sensible fix.

Frequently asked questions