PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

Hello! I backed my van out of the driveway too fast and accidentally removed the passenger mirror from my husband's 95 Pontiac Bonneville. Is this something I can replace myself? The power cord is still attached and the housing for the power mirror was snapped above where it actually bolts onto the door. So there is no structural damage to the door itself (I'm pretty sure). I'm guessing I would have to remove the door panel to access the bolts as well as where to plug the power cord in on a new mirror. Is this something a housewife who enjys the occasional project should attempt or is this yet another thing I am going to mess up bc I dont know what I am doing? How much is an autobody shop going to charge me for this? I am in big trouble and would like to fix this ASAP!!

It's not too bad to replace. Remove the inner door panel. There are screws hiding behind the cover plate in the release handle pocket, behind the courtesty light (pry at the rear end, be careful, the lense will crack off the housing), there are some visible screws down around the front bottom corner, and I think there might be one behind the trim piece that fills the same spot that the power mirror control does on the driver door, can't remember. Pop the power window control off and disconnect its harness. With a little finageling you can get the door lock knob/handle off from by the release handle. There are some push pins hiding around the front, back, and bottom edges that will need pried. Then the door panel goes up to disengage the clips from along the bottom of the window. Don't pull the panel too far from the door yet, the speaker wiring will still be attached. Pull the vaper liner out of the way, then there are two nuts way up in the door (I think they are 10 mm) that hold the mirror on. IIRC, the window has to be up to reach them.

We had to replace the mirror on ours when my wife clipped the side of the garage door opening. I think between buying a new (aftermarket) mirror, and having a body shop paint and install the mirror, I spent $200 or under. The mirror came in flat black plastic, and I had the body shop not only paint the main part of it to match the car, but also painted the black part with gloss paint to match the other side.

I am fairly handy with tools, but chose to let the pros take care of this repair. Most likely, the mirror itslef is going to be broken, when it gets torn off like that. If you look at the side that mounts to the car, you should probably see a broken chunk of the plastic mirror housing. unlikely that you'd be able to glue that or something and have it hold well enough to last.

I'm thinking that the mirror was like $60 and I think my local body shop wanted $120 for their work to install it for me. Good luck!

If you're lucky, you can find one in the same color at a wrecking yard, if not, you'll have to get a new part (www.rockauto.com has them for a good price) and you'll have to get it painted, so they might as well throw it on for you too.

I've been there, broke the mirror off my 03 the day after I got it, and my dad and I have each smashed the big camper mirrors on our 2500 HD. We're on the 3rd pair...

I think it's a great thing to install yourself, good opportunity to learn how the door panel comes off. a 10mm ratcheting wrench will make this job go from annoying to easy.

Another option is to use a Buick or Olds side mirrors. There is a slight difference between the wiring, so if you find some in the junkyard snip the harness with the mirror.

I was able to find a set off of a 93 Buick lasebre that matched my cars color very closely, so much so I just cleaned them up and installed them. I did the switch because I like the smaller more aerodynamic look of the Buick/Olds mirrors.

Here's what I did/what they look like on a 99 Bonneville.
viewtopic.php?f=14&t=28395&p=283887&hil ... rs#p283887

Most importantly, if he were to find out you had broken it, accidents happen.. It's a pretty simple job, but you shouldn't feel like you're in major trouble. My buddy's wife drove his three–day–old civic si too far into the garage and caused much worse damage.. He was irritated but he told her, "well, it's just a car..."