Busted mirror

backing out of the garage this morning I wasn't paying close enough attention and I busted the passenger side mirror on my truck! 
 
I'd love to save the money to get it fixed by trying to fix it myself, but I'm not sure I know how.  the part that's busted is JUST the mirror part.  it came off of the frame and looks like it just has several tabs in a circular pattern which go back into the slots in the frame. 
 
I've looked on the internet and can't find a replacement of just the mirror itself, I have to buy the whole assembly.  I wouldn't mind that so much because they're not that expensive (<$30), but how do I go about replacing it?
 
do I try to remove the mirror part and replace just that on my mirror frame that's still attached and functioning to my truck?  I'm thinking trying to remove the mirror part from the frame that I would have to buy would be a pain the way it's got several tabs on it and I might end up breaking the mirror trying to remove it before I get it on my frame.
 
the other option would be just to replace the whole assembly that I have to buy anyway.  but how do I do that?  I can't see any way to get to the screws behind the molded plastic piece.
 
here's a picture of the replacment assembly:
http://www.discountautomirrors.com/includes/secure/popup.php?type=more&image=aHR0cDovL3d3dy5kaXNjb3VudGF1dG9taXJyb3JzLmNvbS9jYXRhbG9nL2ltYWdlcy9wcm9kaW1hZ2UvaW1hZ2VzL2tvb2xfdnVlL2dtNTljcl8xZnRiay5qcGc=&title=S29vbCBWdWUgTWlycm9y&text=S09PTCBWVUUgTUlSUk9SLCBNQU5VQUwsIFBMQVNUSUMsIFVOUEFJTlRFRCAtLSBNYW51YWwgZm9sZGluZzsgQ29ybmVyIG1vdW50IHR5cGU7IFdpdGggY2hyb21lIGNhcDsgQSBoaWdoIHF1YWxpdHksIGRpcmVjdCBmaXQgT0UgcmVwbGFjZW1lbnQgbWlycm9yOyBCYWNrZWQgYnkgMi15ZWFyIEtvb2wgVnVlIGxpbWl0ZWQgd2FycmFudHku
 

Karyn


This is what happens when puppies try to drive trucks...    That's seven years bad luck for someone.











That mirror in the photo, isn't that for the drivers side?  Or has the photo been mirrored?

us American puppies drive on the RIGHT side of the road! 

Beagle

Karyn


This is what happens when puppies try to drive trucks...    That's seven years bad luck for someone.











That mirror in the photo, isn't that for the drivers side?  Or has the photo been mirrored?

us American puppies drive on the RIGHT side of the road! 

Hmmm, I think you'll find we drive on the right side and you drive on the wrong side.
 
Ask Wookie...

spacey - that's a good idea I'll look into that!

Karyn - no, I think you drive on the LEFT side of the road and we drive on the RIGHT 

greg - what do you mean by a "removable panel"  do you mean to get to the screws?  I don't know I'll have to look at that.  but that would be a pain if I have to remove the mirror anyway to get to the screws.  if that's the case I might just try to put the mirror on the assy anyway.

Oooo... Seven years of bad luck ahead!

And, just to make you feel that you're not the only doofus that's done something like this, I once had a custom painted pickup (hey, I was young!) and, while backing out of a friends apartment parking stall, didn't notice the metal support pole that they had thoughtfully painted a dark brown.  After the initial *CRUNCH!* the real sinking feeling came when I went forward to repark and the side mirror fell to the ground.  I hadn't even had the truck for a week when it happened and it cost me about $1,100 (in the early 80's) to repair...  Waaaah...

Hi Tim,
$30 I can handle for replacing the mirror.  it's the $100 installation (or whatever, I haven't even asked yet) that the body shop folks will charge to install it that I don't want to pay for.  sorry I wasn't clear about that.

but, as far as my head...I don't normally drive with my head sticking out of the passenger side window. 

the drivers' side window is a different story...

Should just be able to pop the panel off the interior inside the door to get to the nuts that bolt the assembly onto the door if you are gonna replace the entire mirror.  Not sure but you might see something from the inside of the miiror once you remove it all the way to maybe replace just the glass part.  The panels inside the interior are just held on by little spring clips. There will be a few screws you might have to locate to remove the panel but it will be held on by the clips. Usually there will be a couple on the main handle/pull area.

JB and spacey - my mirrors are electric adjustable.  can the glass folks glue a mirror on and have the electric adjustment still function correctly?

If it pops off easy like the last two, Id try hitting a salvage yard and get another there.

thanks Mike!  that 2nd one is exactly what mine looks like.  that's a 2003 Avalanche which I suspect is almost exactly the same thing as mine with regard to the mirror.  I have a 2001 GMC Sierra, most of the parts are the same.

JB and spacey - my mirrors are electric adjustable.  can the glass folks glue a mirror on and have the electric adjustment still function correctly?

Yes.


Trust Me.