You can change wing mirror glass at home without taking the mirror off the door. Every glass we sell comes fixed to its own plastic backing plate, so the job is to unclip the old glass, move the heater wires across if your mirror is heated, and press the new glass into place.
Before you start
Put on gloves and safety glasses. Broken mirror glass has sharp edges, and if yours is cracked, cover it with tape so the pieces stay together. Switch off the ignition so there is no power at the heater wires.
Hold the new glass up to your mirror and check the side, the shape and the glass type before the old one comes off. Leave the protective film on for now. If the glass does not match, you can still send it back.
Use a plastic trim tool rather than a screwdriver, which can crack the glass and mark the housing. In cold weather, warm the mirror with a hairdryer on a low setting first. Cold plastic clips break more easily.
Removing the old glass
- Tilt the glass as far as it will go in one direction with the mirror adjuster. This opens a gap behind the opposite edge.
- Slide the trim tool into that gap and lever gently until the clips let go. If the glass will not move, stop and check how your model holds it, because some mirrors use a locking ring or tabs.
- If two wires run to the back of the glass, pull the connectors off the terminals. Hold the connector, not the wire, and tape the wires to the housing so they cannot slip inside.
Fitting the new glass
- Compare the old and new backing plates. The clips and terminals should sit in the same places.
- Push the heater connectors onto the terminals of the new glass. On most heated glass either wire can go on either terminal.
- Line the clips up with the mount. Put a cloth over the middle of the glass and press with the palm of your hand until you hear a click. Keep your hand away from the edges and corners.
- Move the mirror through its full range with the adjuster, then peel off the protective film.
Checking the heating
Switch the mirror heating on and touch the glass after a few minutes. It should feel warm. On many cars the mirror heating comes on with the heated rear window.
If something is not right
The glass rattles
The clips have not fully engaged. Press the middle of the glass again until it clicks.
The glass stays cold
Check that both connectors are pushed fully onto the terminals and that the heating is on. If the mirror on the other side stays cold as well, the fault is more likely the car's fuse or switch than the glass.
There are wires, but my new glass has no terminals
Non-heated glass still fits a heated mirror. It just will not clear frost. Wrap the ends of the wires in insulating tape before you fit it, or ask us to swap it for the heated version within 90 days.
Need a hand? Email contact@wing-mirror.co.uk with a photo of your mirror and your registration. We answer Monday to Friday, 6am to 4pm. Not sure which glass to order? Read which wing mirror glass do I need.