Driver sidemirror smashed!

Ouch!

My DH did something similar long ago backing my car in - too close to a fence and oops. So sorry.

 

I had to replace both side mirrors on my old car - one due to my fault, the other was broken by a cab driver who passed too close while it was parked on the side of a road in downtown DC that was too narrow for two-way traffic and parking on both sides, but allowed it anyway.

It cost about $200 to replace each of those mirrors. I was wondering how much more expensive the Prius mirrors are, since they are heated. I'm also real happy the Prius mirrors fold inward so hopefully I'll be able to avoid future problems when it's parked.

 

Sorry ad78.

$350 installed sounds about right. It looks like you need an entire door mirror assembly, and the part alone runs about $200.

 

I don't know if European Prius do this, but last time I was in France, my rented Peugeot automatically folded the mirrors in when the car was turned off. As tight as many of the parking places are over there, probably a good idea.

 

If you're parked in an area so tight that you need to fold the mirrors in, how would you get out of the car?

 

You know the French! Once you are parked it becomes your apartment!:cheer2:

 

looks like it is time to get the jdm signal mirrors from sigma. you can also install the auto fold module and reverse tilt.

 

The Prius side mirrors are actually really tough. I slowly backed out of my garage and the passenger side mirror clipped the side of the garage opening. It was one of those things you watch and its like its in slow motion. The mirror hit the corner of the wall exactly at the point where it was pushed in instead of folding forward toward the front, there's probably only 1/4 of an inch in-out where it will do that. It kinda twisted, seemed like 1/3 of the way around and small plastic shards flew all over the garage and the painted outer shell flew off but didn't break, and the glass didn't break either. Its still functional, but the thick black plastic frame is broken at the bottom and has sharp edges. I snapped the front painted piece back on. I've just left it... it bugs me that I did that, but most people wouldn't notice it unless they were driving and looked in the mirror.

And yes, I'm kinda like a zombie when I get in the car at 7am and start my commute.

 

I'm a total zombie when I start my commute at 6am...I am so not a morning person. Fortunately I haven't smashed my mirror, maybe because I spent so much time installing the LED turn signal mirrors I kind of watch out for things that might hit them.

One thing I learned is that the mirrors are very easy to replace once you know how they are attached. The glass just pops out by prying it with a screwdriver at two points from the bottom, about 1" in from each side edge. There's a backing plate on the mirror glass with mating snaps on the motor assembly. The entire exterior mirror assembly is held on by 3 nuts - just yank the tweeter pod straight back from the inside of the door panel (carefully!) and you will see them. The mirror unbolts, you pull the wires and remove the heater and power motor connector and it's free. It takes maybe 30 minutes to replace the entire assembly even if you stop for a beer in the middle of the job.

Bottom line is you can do it yourself and it will probably cost 1/2 what the dealer is quoting.

 

Try Ebay. they have them there that i saw tonight. $83

eBay Motors: 04-07 TOYOTA PRIUS POWER HEAT SIDE MIRROR LH (item 380015574120 end time Apr-14-08 22:59:03 PDT)

 

im at work right now! all awake, will be a zombie at 4 am though..

 

7 years...

 

I just had this happen to my '05. While waiting for the part to arrive, I popped off the tweeter and couldn't figure out where the wire connections are.

From the illustration for the new part, it looks like the mirror assembly comes with a 6 inch cable with a connector at the end. I don't see anything similar behind the tweeter. Does that mean the connection is actually down behind the door panel (and I have to remove the panel as well to do this job)? Or do I unwrap the electrical tape that meets flush with the mirror assembly and connect the wires there (I don't want to short a fuse)? Or is it something else?

Also, what's the easiest way to pop off the black cover of the replacement mirror in order to put my undamaged silver cover on the new part?

Thanks much (this is my first post).

 

Ok, if I wasn't so tired when I wrote the original post I would have realized you probably can't get to the connector without taking the door panel off. At least I think that's the case. Maybe if you have really skinny hands you can get to it. Anyways, it is behind the door panel. Here are the steps to remove the door panel:

1.) pop off the plastic cover behind the door release lever. This will expose a screw which you will remove.
2.) remove the phillips screw from inside the door handle cup.
3.) pull the power window / door lock switch console straight up. Disconnect the connectors by releasing the securing tab back then sliding the connector out.
4.) find the recess in the bottom edge of the door panel and give it a tug, or use a body panel puller tool to pop the panel free of the door. The panel puller tool really helps because the pins need to be compressed inward then they will release easier. The tool looks like a flat-blade scraper with a V notch in the front end. Work your way around then lift the panel out. You will see the connector. Don't cut the electrical tape or protective tubing.

Attached are some photos to help you out.

 

The best way is to remove the mirror glass from the new mirror, then you will see 4 or 5 tabs that you press with a screwdriver and the front cover will pop loose from the housing. You can then install the factory painted one on the new assembly.

To release the mirror glass, the tabs are about 1" in from each edge, near the bottom. The top part is on a pivot and you need to swivel the mirror at an angle then pull it free from the backing plate.

 

Thanks much Sparky. Hopefully the part will arrive this weekend.

 

You said the plastic cover just snaps off? I hit the dirver side with my bike...held on with one screw....is it possible to just replace the black plastic...the door mount is unharmed.