Installation Guide for Scion car mirror

Read this page and learn how to install your car mirror glass only product

Its always such a hassle when you break your Scion side view mirror. I myself have hit many a mailbox in my day that cracked the car mirror or the mirror assembly. Lots of people think they have to go to the dealership to get the whole assembly. In some cases you have to, but most of the time its just the glass itself that is broken. Why spend $550.00 dollars and up to have it replace the assembly by the dealer or a  when you can fix it yourself easily and affordably.

Did you know that a car mirror is not regular mirror glass. Its actually a dual mirror. That means both sides of the glass is mirror. The reason for this is to cut the glare and reflective properties that you don't need when its late at night and the car in the other lane is blazing the lights in your eyes. However Scion vehicles, and many other car manufactures  have created an electrochromatic mirrors. In this option, the glass is actually a liquid that dims and heats the mirror. Due to the high costs of this mirror, we have the option of selling an electrochromatic fit over mirror. This is a mirror that fits over the old broken glass. The self dimming option will no longer function, but in most cases you will need to replace the whole housing in order to get your OEM product to work, and unfortunately almost all dealers only have the housing available for 300-500 dollars.  Also in later years many manufactures made side view car mirrors that were electro chromatic using and electrical charge using copper oxide. As year go by, they turned rust in color or black. So the fit over glass is an inexpensive option for these items, for at least until the junk yards have these in stock for a reasonable price.  So be aware of this feature when you order.

Did you ever notice that the Scion passenger side mirror always has the "objects are closer" text on the mirror. This mirror is designed this way to increase your field of vision and to eliminate the blind spot problem. Its always a good thing to replace that with a convex mirror glass verses a normal mirror. Don't substitute this as one day it might save your life.

A Scion side view mirror is made of 1/8 inch curved chrome mirror properties. This mirror is actually translucent. Meaning that light will travel through and absorb the light from the car behind you at night. USA Dot Standards require this mirror to absorb 40 to 60 percent of light.  We only sell mirrors that conform with DOT standards. Our mirrors are made in the USA. Beware of the 9 dollar mirror that you are seeing on sale these days on the internet, as these mirrors do not conform to USA standards. Car or Truck mirrors should be installed using the car mirror to a plastic frame plate. Without this plastic frame the glass has nothing to rest into the car mirror housing. We do not suggest the use of normal bathroom silicone adhesive, which everyone has laying around at somewhere in their house or apartment. Latex type silicone does adhere well to glass, but does to the plastic frame. We suggested using a construction silicone which is non latex based.  If you don't have any then get a small tube at your local hardware store, or order the tube online with us.

How to remove and replace your car mirror from the frame

Now how do you remove that old mirror to get the new one in. Well, you first must breakdown the mirror from the plate called a frame. One simple way to do this is to get a flat strong instrument like a wide screw driver or a automotive scraper. Not many of you have the scraper, but when you go to our page we could sell you one. Its a nice thing to have around your toolbox. Now to loosen the adhesive from the plate you must apply some heat. Ideally a propane torch is good, but if you have the wife's hairdryer or a heat gun that will also work. Heat up the mirror enough so you can get the screwdriver or the scraper under the mirror and pull all the broken pieces off. Make sure you are wearing gloves and protective eyewear, and after the side view mirror glass is removed, make sure all the mirror and adhesive is clean off the framed plate.

 Many Scion cars have heating elements behind the mirror. Best way to remove the heating element from the car mirror is not to make the mirror too hot. This will melt your heating element. This is the time to use the hair dryer warming up the mirror side, and taking a square utility razor, start at the corner, and slowly peal the element off the mirror. You may be able to save this heating element. Although difficult, TAKE YOUR TIME removing the broken mirror from the heating element which is attached to the mirror using a sticky adhesive. If that stick adhesive is no longer sticky, then use the silicone around the edge of the heating element onto the mirror, let it dry 24 hours then go to the next step.

  Once you have removed your side view mirror from the frame, you now need to , apply the glue to the black frame. Apply the glue outward so it extends past the lip of the frame. I call this the snow cone effect. Glue it in 5 spots. One in the middle and 4 in the middle corners.  Don't get too close to the frames edge, as it will ooze out of the frame, making a mess. So use small dabs of the adhesive 3/8" inch wide by 1/2" outwards. Remember you are not installing a windshield that requires a strong adhesive. Once you have adhered the mirror to the plate, get some easily removable tape, like masking tape, and tape the mirror around the mirror housing so that the mirror will not slide off the frame. This will also allow you to drive. Keep the tape on for 24 hours for cold climates and 5 hours in warm until the glue dries.

For more information please click on your Scion model of car above where you can order your mirror today. We have almost all car mirrors in stock and ready to ship. If your looking for just the mirror we are the car mirror for cars shopping guide.

This page was specifically built for the following cars.

Scion TC  car side view mirror glass, Scion XA car side view mirror glass, Scion XB series car side view mirror glass,

We have these in stock and will ship within 24 hours of your order.