Typical Ford Side Mirror Replacement Costs
When one of your side mirrors is damaged, it needs to be replaced as soon as possible because it’s probably illegal and definitely unsafe to operate a car without a functioning side mirror. If you’re in such a situation, you might be wondering how much you’ll have to pay to replace it.
You have a few options: replace it yourself, have a bodyshop replace it, or have your local Ford dealer do it for you. Cost varies wildly because there are many factors included, such as the cost of the replacement mirror.
How Much Does an OEM Replacement Mirror Cost?
The cost of the replacement mirror varies, depending on the complexity of the assembly. For example, the replacement mirror for an early 2000s Ford Taurus (part no. 1F1Z-17682-BA) is much cheaper than the replacement mirror for a 2013-2017 Flex with a higher trim level (part no. DA8Z-17683-DA). It’s simply because the latter part comes with a complicated assembly while the former has a much more basic design.
To find out how much an OEM replacement mirror for your Ford vehicle costs, do a search on your year and model here. This should give you a good starting point. The only remaining cost to figure out is the labor cost.
Shop or Dealership Cost
An auto body shop or Ford dealership will charge for labor, which takes about an hour. The hourly labor cost varies between shops and dealerships, but it will typically run around $100 per hour. Then you have to consider the cost of the replacement part, which the dealer or shop will mark up.
The Cost of Doing it at Home
Replacing the side mirror yourself saves you money on labor costs, but you still have to take the value of your time into consideration. An experienced DIY-er will be able to complete this project in less than an hour.
You may find that you need to remove the interior door trim panel to access the mirror wiring. If you need to do this, you may want to purchase a door trim removal tool. These are available for about $10 online. You may also want to get some additional door trim clips. These are made of plastic, and can break when you remove the trim. They are inexpensive, and you should probably order some at the same time you order your mirror. Other than these items, basic tools are all you should need.
So the main question here: Is doing it yourself more expensive than paying a shop to do it? To find out the answer, take the amount your time is worth and multiply it with the amount of hours the project may take:
If you’re experienced:
- About 45 minutes to 1 hour
If you’re a novice:
- 1 to 2 hours
The replacement process is usually straightforward but can be time-consuming if there's wiring or cables involved for automatic mirrors, or if you have to remove the interior door panel. If you’re not sure what you’re getting yourself into, we highly recommend finding a comprehensive set of instructions or an easy-to-follow YouTube tutorial first to see if it's something you can tackle. Generally though, doing this repair at home with an OEM replacement part will be more cost-effective.
Please contact us with any questions you may have about replacing your Ford’s side mirror. We’re more than happy to help!