Went about changing the wing mirror on my Fabia VRS 04 plate today as somebody had kicked it off and it had snapped at the pivot.

I managed to get another complete mirror from a Fabia Elegance estate (heated and electric) and went about swapping parts over today - some observations for future reference.

1. There is virtually no difference between the plastic/ colour coded mirror "cap" on both models, nor the plastic trim at the bottom with screws in, nor the baseplate that attaches to the car.

2. Internally there are some differences. The earlier car uses a different motor assembley, a smaller device with 2 seperate pivots on it that control up and down and right and left. The later car (04 vrs) utilises a larger motor which is a semi circle, and this itself moves up and down/ right and left. Therefore, the actually glass mirror brackets use a different mounting design.

Also, the actual "skeleton" of wing miror (the bit that everything else bolts/ clips to) is made of metal in the earlier car, and plastic in the later car (I assume cost-cutting).

So if you plan on getting a wing mirror motor out of an earlier car to put in a later car, don't bother, they don't swap.

The electrics appear to be the same, the controls in my 04 vrs move the mirror and the heating elements work (except the new mirror the glass itself as bust so didnt heat - more money ), the pins on the block are identical.

3. It is fairly easy to remove the painted cap, however it is quite delicate some brute force is needed - its a lottery whether things will snap.

4. dont try to remove the glass from the carrier - it just breaks.

Hello,

You sound like you might have a clue of how to change the glass on an 04 vrs? Some douchebag drove to close to me and smashed it, I have bought a replace glass but no idea how to take the old glass off and attach new glass?? There is a wire that seems to be stuck down and two metal clip/braket things that I assume I need to take off? Any ideas or tips very gratefully received!

Thanks

Beth

Hello,

You sound like you might have a clue of how to change the glass on an 04 vrs?

4. dont try to remove the glass from the carrier - it just breaks.

Edited 4 April, 201214 yr by hutchysrs50

Hi Guys,

What if the mirror glass is already broken? Do you think if I removed the broken glass off the plate, the other piece would go on ok?

Cheers

I have heard of folk just sticking the new mirror over the broken mirror for simplicity, obviously it may take longer for the heat to transfer through.

DB

I have heard of folk just sticking the new mirror over the broken mirror for simplicity, obviously it may take longer for the heat to transfer through.

DB

I did this, lasted about 3 weeks then fell off when I closed the door and smashed! no point sticking over top it takes 5 minutes to fit a new mirror with backplate.