After buying their dream car, all owners risk having vehicle-related issues at some point. Although manufacturers always intend for them to last long, extensive usage and inevitable wear and tear make even the sturdiest components rusty or unusable. And, seeing as you might encounter issues sooner or later, it’s best to come prepared.
While some repairs or replacements may be more costly than others, you might be interested to learn about changing the side mirrors. They did come a long way, and most are equipped with expensive technology, so it’s important to know what the cost will be if one or both break.
Even though it may not seem like a major issue initially, a broken mirror tends to get drivers in trouble. The limited visibility causes less traffic awareness, and thus you are likely to get in an accident on a hectic road.
Another thing entirely is the police. If you drive around with a badly damaged mirror, you could quickly get a ticket and possibly into even more trouble if you haven’t been diligent as an owner. So, it’s always a good idea to fix the side mirror as soon as possible.
Glass is not such an expensive material, so the prices will never be astronomical if it’s just that. On average, one broken side mirror will set you back by about $299, with the final price heavily relying on two components. The first one is the cost of materials, which ranges from $139 and $328. The second one is labor cost; here, an additional $90 is usually added to the price.
However, one significant factor we didn’t mention is the year and make of your car. As we said, most cars are equipped with various technologies, and mirrors are no exception. Nowadays, they can detect pedestrians and even map out roads. So, if your vehicle has such technologies, you will have to pay more.
A great piece of advice here would be to not concentrate on a single price point. Auto shops tend to compete with each other, and you might knock down the costs by exploring all possible options.
But if you still think that’s too expensive, even for a regular type of mirror, you might want to try doing things DIY-style.
Before starting, you should look into what type of automobile you own. A good idea would be to consult the manual and nitpick the details. Another thing to consider is insurance, as you won’t get coverage if you damage the side mirrors.
But if you’re firm in your decision and want to proceed, you’ll need to gather the following tools:
If you’ve carefully read the manual, you know how the mirrors are attached. So, all that’s left to do is to follow these steps:
If you’re working with broken glass, it’s always a good idea to use gloves and glasses. Even though it may not seem like it, things could get dangerous pretty fast, and some caution is always advised.
After removing the old mirror, installing the replacement should be twice as easy. All you need to do is:
Working with mirrors is not that difficult if you prepare a little and consult the manual. And while it’s undoubtedly a process you can handle on your own, don’t hesitate to delegate if you think you won’t do a good job.
Side mirrors are detrimental to your vehicle. They heavily influence visibility and traffic awareness, helping you track what’s happening. If you lose one or both, it’s always a good idea to go for a replacement before the police write a ticket or you get into a road accident.
While it’s generally a good idea to fix the issue yourself, there’s no shame in asking a mechanic to do it for you. Side mirrors are as important as any car component, and you must be absolutely sure things were done correctly.
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