The glass on a car side mirror is very thin and vulnerable to shattering from slight impact or even extreme cold. A broken car mirror is of no help for seeing objects behind the car. As long as the mirror casing is intact, the glass is replaceable. Fix your own shattered side mirror and pay only the cost of the glass.
Purchase replacement glass for the side mirror from an online retailer or auto parts store. Links to online parts dealers provided in Resources. Give the vehicle make, model, year and engine type when ordering replacement glass.
Put on goggles or safety glasses with side shields. Small glass chips are often propelled into the air when removing broken mirror glass.
Remove the shattered mirror pieces from the inner frame of the casing. Slip the screwdriver or putty knife in under the edge of the mirror glass and pry forward. If the glass is held with double-stick tape it will peel off easily. Apply heat from a heat gun or blow dryer to help loosen the glue if the glass is securely stuck. Remove all pieces of the shattered mirror.
Clean the surface of the rubber plate behind the mirror glass with rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth. Remove all traces of tape or glue that held the old mirror. Allow the rubber surface to dry completely.
Apply double-stick tape or glue to the rubber plate in the frame to affix the new car mirror glass. The replacement mirror may come with its own tape or glue. Use a silicone adhesive to hold the new mirror in place if no adhesive is provided with the glass.
Clean the backing of the glass with plain water and a soft cloth. Dry the glass and slip it into the mirror casing. Press firmly against the rubber backing. Tape the glass to the inner side walls of the frame with masking tape if a glue or silicone adhesive is used. Leave the tape in place for 24 hours to give the glue time to dry.
