Replacing the wing mirror

[hollymcr]

Thanks to a combination of alcohol and Halloween, I have now to replace my drivers side wing mirror (as indeed almost all my neighbours have). Grrr....

Anyway, I have sourced a replacement, but I'd like to transfer the mostly undamaged colour coded blue bit from my old wing mirror to the new one. I assume this can be done easily enough but I daren't risk breaking the new one. How do these come apart?

Also, any gotcha's I need to be aware of when it comes to doing the replacement?

 

[Slimy]

If you're worried about breaking the cover, why not practise on the new one? At least if that one breaks you will be able to see how you should have done it?

 

[hollymcr]

If you're worried about breaking the cover, why not practise on the new one? At least if that one breaks you will be able to see how you should have done it?

Unfortunately the vandals "practised" on the old one; the blue cover is pretty much all I have left of the original and that does have some damaged clips on it, so I may not be able to avoid using the black one that came on the new mirror.

That's why I'm hoping someone else might have already done this and can give me the benefit of their experience!

To put it into context, I had the inlaws staying for the weekend and their BMW lost both mirrors, they've been quoted £850 for the repair (although insurance will cover it after they've paid the excess). So far I'm looking at only £40 for the mirror, provided I can avoid damaging anything in the process.

 

[spike70]

My dealer wanted about £230 for a new unit.
Found a breaker with one for £70 and a fitter to respray it
and fit it for £25......result!

 

[hollymcr]

My dealer wanted about £230 for a new unit.
Found a breaker with one for £70 and a fitter to respray it
and fit it for £25......result!

I bought a new one off eBay for £35 (bargain!) and with the benefit of hindsight could have done with the £25 fitter to respray and fit - I had something of a nightmare getting it fitted! Fair play to the Seat - the amount of pulling and shoving the door panels got it should have ended up a lot worse than it did, but the mirror is now fitted (annoyingly I dropped the mirror while trying to get the bolt through into it, scratching the casing of the new mirror, but thankfully not breaking the glass!)

I've given up on the colour-coding for now - I still have the old blue bit to add at a future date if I can work out how to get the old one off without damaging it (any more than dropping it did).

At least I can drive the car again now, though.