Is it safe to repair auto mirror glass myself?
Many auto mirror glass is not flat but rather shaped convex. This is done to increase the driver’s field of vision. This also eliminates the blind spot that was often a problem on especially older vehicles. It is always a good thing to replace that with the same mirror glass as opposed to a normal flat mirror. Not using a flat mirror might one day save your life.
Other than the stipulation above, there is no reason why you can’t repair auto mirror glass yourself. As long as the mirror assembly is not broken (this can be determined by visual inspection) the glass alone can be replaced providing that you can find the correct shape for you specific mirror. You do of course also have the option of having the glass replaced by an auto glass specialist. This will of course cost a bit more than doing it yourself, but not nearly as much as replacing the complete mirror. Having an expert replace the glass saves you time and possible frustration, and buys you the peace of mind of a job well done.
If you have gotten too close to another car, building or any other solid obstruction and the glass on your side view mirror is broken, you can fix it yourself with the minimum of tools. You will need a scraper to remove the old glass. Specialised scrapers for this purpose are available, but a normal scraper will also do the job. The glue used to hold the mirror in place is very strong and not easily removed. To soften the old glue, you might require a heating device of some sort – a heat gun or small blow torch will suffice. Glue dissolving chemicals may also be used.
Gluing the new mirror glass into place is the easiest part of the job. Use the correct strength glue to prevent the glass falling out at some stage. When applying the glue, also make sure that no excess glue adheres to the side frame of the mirror. This could make adjusting your mirror impossible!
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