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Side mirrors are damn important. In other words, they are not an optional feature in any vehicle. After all, they can prevent an accident from taking place. Not to mention that they can also prevent disputes when you take your case to an auto insurer.
The sad news is that they can get easily damaged. Usually, side mirrors are not repaired because the physical damage done to a mirror cannot be fixed.
Therefore, they are replaced with a new one, which might leave you wondering how much does it cost to get the side mirror replaced.
How Much Does It Cost To Replace The Car Side Mirror?
Depending on the quality of the mirror, the side mirror replacement cost sits around $125 to $400 for both the parts and labor. For the part alone, you can expect to pay somewhere around $30 to $100. Also, automatic and manual mirrors don’t cost the same.
| Auto Center | Price |
|---|---|
| Mr. Tire | $150 – $380 |
| Walmart | $70 – $250 |
| Midas | $190 – $340 |
| Your Mechanic | $250 – $400 |
| Pep Boys | $130 – $365 |
Generally speaking, the fancier the car, the more it will cost for side mirror replacement. That said, it’s not a complicated or labor-intensive task. It would normally take an hour to replace the side mirror, which is to say that you can leave your car at the repair shop and return an hour later to find it fully fixed.
Of course, if the whole door is damaged, then you should be prepared to drop a lot of money. Believe it or not, the cost can shoot up to $1000.
Why Should You Get Your Side Mirror Replaced?
If you value your safety, you shouldn’t be driving without a side mirror. As much as it’s important to pay attention to what’s ahead of you, paying attention to what’s behind is of equal significance.
Since side mirrors reflect what’s at the back of a car, they tell us how far or close a specific object is, allowing us to drive safely without causing collusion. What’s also important to know is that driving without a side mirror can attract a fine.
In other words, driving with a side mirror is a necessary evil. Experts suggest car owners that they repair or replace the side mirror as soon as possible.
How to Replace a Side Mirror?
Replacing a side error is nothing like assembling an aircraft. The process is pretty straightforward and can be performed by someone with little to no mechanical background. The mechanic will simply get rid of the damaged mirror and fit a new one in its place.
Of course, the process does get complicated when your car mirror is automatic. Also, some mirror replacement procedures will require you to remove the door penal to gain access to the mirror fasteners, which will, of course, complicate the whole process.
So, it’s better to know what you are getting into before attempting a mirror replacement job on your own.
If you are planning to undertake the project, here are the steps that you need to follow:
- Wear your safety glasses
- Lower the side window completely
- Uninstall the upper trim finish panel
- Remove the sound insulator
- Disengage the electrical connectors (if any)
- Get rid of the side mirror retaining fasteners
- Take the mirror out by hauling it away from the door
With these steps, you will be able to remove the damaged mirror.
The next steps explain how to fit the new ones in your vehicle:
- Compare the specs of the old and new mirror to be sure that the new one will be an appropriate fit
- Mount the new side mirror in the door
- Reinstall the mounting bolts and tighten them
- Make sure that you don’t overtighten the bolts. It must be a snug fit
- Next, reconnect the disconnected electrical connectors
- Reinstall the sound insulators
- Finally, install the upper trim finish panel
Some vehicles will require you to program some switches to the mirror for the mirror to fold in and fold-out. If it’s not programmed well, then the power-folding mechanism won’t work properly.
What Tools Would You Need?
The tools that you would need would depend on the make and model of your car. That said, you don’t really need any fancy or expensive tools for side error replacement. If you have these tools, you should be all set:
- Screwdrivers
- Ratchet/ Sockets & Wrenches
Other than these mechanical tools, you might also need safety glasses to avoid being hurt. If you don’t feel that you are up to the task, simply don’t do it. It’s not worth the risk because you could end up causing more harm to your car.
Side Mirror Replacement Costs: How to Save Money?
If you don’t want to pay for the repair, you can fix the broken side mirror yourself. Also, if you don’t feel confident treating your car, you can still save money by buying the parts that need a replacement. This will save you the commission that most auto repair shops have on parts that they buy on behalf of their customers.
You can easily get the replacement parts online. And, to save more, you can buy the mirror from a garage sale too. All you need to do is ensure that you are buying a suitable replacement that the car technician is willing to put in your car.
Keep in mind that you don’t have to take your car to the most expensive auto repair shop in the town. Frankly speaking, it doesn’t matter who installs the mirror in your car as long as you have bought a good quality mirror.
Given the fact that reinstalling a new side mirror is a fairly simple job, most car technicians won’t suck at it. So, don’t hesitate to hire the least expensive mechanic to get your side mirror replaced. Seriously, you won’t lose anything by being a frugal person over here.