I have just damaged my o/s mirror. I need to replace the whole fitting. Where is the best place to buy one please?

eBay or a breakers if you want something cheap. Should be possible to find the correct colour with patience.

 

Dealer if you want to pay more for a new part, it'll need a painting before fitting.

Okay Langers2K. Thanks for that.

Is there a difference between up to 2009 mirror and post 2009 mirror? A lot are advertised 2004 to 2009 compatible and would this fit my 2012?

8 minutes ago, carbman said:

Is there a difference between up to 2009 mirror and post 2009 mirror? A lot are advertised 2004 to 2009 compatible and would this fit my 2012?

 

No, the mirror design changed with the facelift in late 09 so you will need one from 2009 to 2013

Thanks dilksie. It's all so confusing when you don't know. I've noticed looking at the ads, a lot say LHD so you have to be very careful what you buy. Thanks a lot.

That only affects the mirror if it is the blind spot type which would normally be fitted beside the driver, they can be used on the passengers side but if like me you drive in a country on the other side of the road (RHD car in Europe) then the blind spot function will not work on motorways etc due to the angle of incidence, a plain aspheric mirror is better but not as good as being sat on the correct side with the correct mirror.

29 minutes ago, J.R. said:

if like me you drive in a country on the other side of the road (RHD car in Europe) then the blind spot function will not work on motorways etc due to the angle of incidence,

 

Thanks for that observation.  I'd been wondering about fitting a paxside blind spot mirror to me UK RHD Octy but you've clarified why that's a bad idea.

On my MK1 after yet another clash of mirrors with a drunken driver I bought a replacement LHS mirror from a European Ebay seller, I thought I was being simply clever buying the blind spot type but it did not work at all.

 

On my new MK2 I have had to very carefully experiment with the LH mirror alignment to reduce the point mort to the minimum, its pointing away from the vehicle and I cannot see the side bodywork.

 

Changing the stupid default VCDS settinsg that meant when you adjust the drivers mirror the passenger one changes as well (unbeknown to you because you are looking at the drivers one) was a major help, it took me 10 years on the MK1 to even realise why the passenger mirror was regularly misaligned and I never did know that the setting could be changed as I never had VCDS then, didnt need it with such a reliable uncomplicated car.

58 minutes ago, J.R. said:

That only affects the mirror if it is the blind spot type which would normally be fitted beside the driver, they can be used on the passengers side but if like me you drive in a country on the other side of the road (RHD car in Europe) then the blind spot function will not work on motorways etc due to the angle of incidence, a plain aspheric mirror is better but not as good as being sat on the correct side with the correct mirror.

 

Not true on the MK2 FL Octavia - LHD and RHD mirrors have different angles due to the base. This may also apply to your pre-FL.

 

For example, if you used a LHD passenger mirror as a RHD drivers mirror, the mirror will be at maximum adjustment to get a decent view point.

 

This is an image showing the difference between those two bases:

Good observation, just looked at mine and the different angle is very apparent, its just that you never get to look directly down on both together to see the difference so it will apply to all vehicles.

 

My comment therefore is only valid for replacement of the mirror glass alone or the upper painted shell.

 

Given the corrected angle i am wondering now why the blind spot mirror I fitted to the left did not work but then the drivers one does not seem to do much at all, it barely distorts the image from one side of the line to the other, maybe they both are cheap copies but I think the drivers one is a VAG original.