Wing mirror causing damage

Most of the time water is not going to damage anything that will not get replaced with the new mirror. However, as you are concerned you could use what we call foil tape. It is used to seal metal heating ducts and such. Basically an aluminum foil with a glue on the back. It sticks very well (some "shady" body shops use it under a layer of filler instead of actually welding in metal). The picture is the type of tape I mean. Probably sold there as well in a hardware or home type store. Wipe off the housing and stick it on. Then rub over it with something like a piece of plastic to smooth it down and make it stick.

Thanks for the quick response Steve! Do you think the mirror housing should definitely be replaced? I am very concerned about the blind spot camera that are in that wing mirror getting damaged by water, yet I am kind of afraid of how much it might cost to replace the entire mirror assembly..

From what I can see that actually should be repairable. You might be able to correct a lot of it yourself by setting the mirror in and gently tapping on the trim ring with a wood or plastic hammer. It also looks like it is just the trim ring that took the brunt of the damage. If you got that formed back into place a bit of touch up and nobody but you and I would know, and I am not telling (I also looked and that mirror is not that pricey, having a replacement painted to match would cost as much).

The mirror seems to be in the right place and does not move about when nudged actually. I have been trying to move stuff about with a screwdriver but the part where the indicator light meets the frame of the mirror is kind of jutting out (the indicator part) and I cannot seem to get it to move in such that the frame can sit nicely on it again.

Also, do you have any tips for someone completely new to handy work to hammer and work with this without causing more damage? I am really afraid of breaking the mirror or making it worse.

Thanks again Steve, I really appreciate your help.

Okay using the picture as a reference, adjust the mirror so it moves the way I added the arrows, that will move the edge toward the orange in and out of the way a bit.
Now you need to use something to pull the orange area out, it is pushed in. If you stand over it and look straight down you will see it has to twist clockwise as it comes out. Then it will set back into place. I would use a small plastic mallet and a block of wood as a backer so the trim moves but not the housing. The only tricky part is moving it without breaking it.

Do you have any suggestions as to what I can use to get the orange bit out? I tried prying at the trim above and below the signal light but the trim there moves independently of the trim at the signal light bit. There is not any space between the light and the trims of the frame to fit any tools to wedge it out so that is currently the biggest problem I am facing.

Also, pardon the very silly question but what do you mean by backer? Do you place the wood block against the part you aim to hit, then hammer at the other side of the block?

Thanks for helping me, especially since it is a Sunday and a public holiday.

If I could find an exploded view of that mirror it would be helpful but no luck yet. Tool wise, It really depends on what you have and what you want to do.
For me I would remove the mirror, strip it down, use a few trim and ding hammers and dollies and form the trim piece back to original shape. But unless you have all those tools already a replacement mirror is cheaper.
So use pliers with a rag on the jaws to twist the piece, a hammer to tap it back, basically use what you have.
A backer is simply something placed behind the part you intend to hammer on. It helps absorb the blow and holds the part in place so you are not just bouncing off. The picture shows how a backer works. In this case it is a real body dolly, but a piece of wood with a towel over it would work.

So I have bought the foil tape, and tried to pry at this with a Swiss knife, bit the bit beside the indicator light will no't come out. How would you tackle something like this?

It looks like the area that the light sets is squeezed together. I sort of highlighted it on the picture. The area with the orange arrow needs to be spread open to match the yellow and pink areas. That would open the notch and let it set into place. The green arrows show the way the corners need to move. The circled area shows that the trim piece is shrunk due to the damage in that notch where the light goes. If you can find a pair of pliers like the other picture it would make forming that area easy.

But it is looking a lot better than it was already. No big gaping hole.

I took another look just now, and the issue with the area where the light does not seem to be that the orange arrow area has to be expanded as much as the fact that the trim just right of the light (when viewed the right way up from the side) is currently sitting in line with the edge of the light, and there is not a gap between them. It seems like if I could lift the trim out somehow, it would fit back how it should be.

I am thinking of separating the trim from the back of the mirror at the orange circled part so that I can separate the light from the trim and reposition it properly. Do you think that would work?

Thanks Steve!

Without having it in my hands I cannot say take it apart or not. Some come apart easy, but then they do not go back together because of the way they are assembled at the factory. If it has screws/pins you can remove or snap tabs then maybe. But it is your vehicle and you are right there so it is your option. It would make it easier, but?

Great job Steve W.!

Hey Steve, so I tried using a set of bent pliers to reach into the gap beneath the light to try push the trim out beside the light, but that couldn't reach far enough to get where it was needed. Then u tried prying at the Orange circled part but it wouldn't open (and the edge of the trim got warped a tiny bit by the pliers... So I decided to settle for taping it up.

You've really gone above and beyond what help I'd expected to get, and I'd like to extend my sincerest thanks. You're a really helpful person and your kindness has made my day. Here's wishing you all the very best.

You're very welcome.

Thank you for using 2CarPros.com. Please return with any auto related questions, we're here to help.