An elderly chap crossed over the centre lines on the road on Sunday and in doing so smashed my driver's door mirror. He was shaken and said he wasn't sure what happened and said he'd go through insurance. After consideration we've agreed it best we just pay for our respective damage and move on. The extra cost on our premium isn't worth it and it'd only end up being 50/50 anyway after eac insurance firm had argued it out. Plus neither of us would appreciate the paperwork.

My car is a 2008 MK2.5 (facelift). The door mirror has puddle light, indicator, is heated and is power folding (Titanium spec.). I'm actually struggling to find a direct replacement below £120 so it got me thinking. The mirror-moving mechanism still works (although mirror is broken), the power folding still works and all of the wiring is still intact. The only damage is the housing itself and the indicator lens.

Is it possible to open up these units? All I need is to replace the lens, bulb, mirror and housing. I was thinking of removing the existing unit on my car, taking it down to the basics and rebuilding it back up using parts from the much chepaer standard unit. Aside from the puddle light space the construction is just the same and its really only the housing, a mirror and the lens I need.

2 hours ago, CALLUMLE said:

An elderly chap crossed over the centre lines on the road on Sunday and in doing so smashed my driver's door mirror. He was shaken and said he wasn't sure what happened and said he'd go through insurance. After consideration we've agreed it best we just pay for our respective damage and move on. The extra cost on our premium isn't worth it and it'd only end up being 50/50 anyway after eac insurance firm had argued it out. Plus neither of us would appreciate the paperwork.

My car is a 2008 MK2.5 (facelift). The door mirror has puddle light, indicator, is heated and is power folding (Titanium spec.). I'm actually struggling to find a direct replacement below £120 so it got me thinking. The mirror-moving mechanism still works (although mirror is broken), the power folding still works and all of the wiring is still intact. The only damage is the housing itself and the indicator lens.

Is it possible to open up these units? All I need is to replace the lens, bulb, mirror and housing. I was thinking of removing the existing unit on my car, taking it down to the basics and rebuilding it back up using parts from the much chepaer standard unit. Aside from the puddle light space the construction is just the same and its really only the housing, a mirror and the lens I need.

When sourcing the parts if you manage to deconstruct try fordwingmirrors.co.uk maybe not the cheapest but I have had a good experience with them👍

very generous of you if it was his fault.

we all know that when it goes to insurance companies to handle all manner of money wasting and silly things happen.

On 3 occasions when my car has been hit by other people and it was their fault I have said it will all get out of control if insurance is involved and it will affect no claims discount etc so I have given them the option of paying me themselves and they have done so. Once they think about it for a few minutes they realise it is the best option.

1) Tatty old Fiesta , damage to wheel arch by reversing into it. I accepted about £30 quid, sorted it myself.

2) Reasonable condition Escort, smashed rear light, slight scratches to paint. I said I will buy new light and fit myself and I don't care about the paint. Showed them the invoice for the part

3) Fairly good Fiesta, rear end collision, rear bumper split along top and scuffed. I said I would accept £150 cash for the reduction in value of car but not have it replaced.

With all of these people I took their details and let them think about the course of action. They all paid and considered themselves lucky and thanked me for not taking them (or their insurance company)to the cleaners. I certainly did not demand money with menaces or anything like that. 

I hope that if I damage someone's car I will be treated the same. Many years ago I did damage someone else's parked car and had the decency to knock on their door, the bloke went mental but his wife then came out and calmed it all down and it was settled amicably without involving insurance

If you can do it without insurance being involved it is best for everyone in the short run and the long run. people taking the p**s with car hire charges in particular just increases insurance premiums for everyone, we all lose in the long run. 

However, I would not suggest anyone trying to sort things out themselves where an injury is involved. 

sorry it went a bit off topic and didn't help your mirror

 

I agree -- there is often no need to involve insurance. I have had two cars written off in the past due to other people. They both admitted fault and I claimed on insurance as I'd lost the use of my vehicle and was genuinely injured in both accidents. For 5 years having those non-fault claims recorded on my history put my premium up. A lot! I was also once hit by a van driver but couldn't claim a penny as I was driving as a named driver (to pick up my own car from the garage). No protection, nothing. So in this case I just don't think it's worth claiming for the cost of a single door mirror.as I'll end up paying those costs for years. 

I went onto eBay yesterday and bought two door mirrors at a combined cost of £42. One mirror is the same colour as mine (so I can use the back of it) but with broken black housing (cost £14). The other is in mint condition but in red, bu tI can use the black housing from this. As the mechanisms and puddle light still work on my own car, I'm going to cannibalise the parts from the two donor mirrors.

I'll take pictures step by step when I do this and post on here as a guide (if all goes well!)