driver side mirror

I found a fully functional driver side mirror (with working glass)are they hard to replace? how long does the glass last and is there anyway to prolong its life? would covering it when parked help?

You found the complete assembly including the housing.?
Does it need to be painted to match your car.?

Assuming it's the complete assembly I would just install it and be grateful that you found one.

If it is just the glass assembly, is it a heated and dimming mirror.? If so, be EXTREMELY careful trying to replace the glass into your existing housing.

I bought a perfectly good used mirror, heated and dimming for my 98 and was successful in removing the old glass but unsuccessful installing the new/used glass part. I broke the glass and was not happy nor was I able to find another replacement unit with a heater and dimming capability.

So I just bought a cheap plain mirror and glued it to the old mirror and lived with it.

Costly mistake on my part.

Just a heads up for you. Others on this forum can better explain the best way to install just the mirror glass without breaking it. I've proven I'm not a reliable source of info. just thought I'd share my mistake with you.

To answer your question, No I do not think covering it up will prolong the life of the tint, if that's what your asking.

I move the mirror so there is a gap between the mirror and its housing and then use heat gun to carefully warm up everything inside. The same trick before installation, along with greasing both posts and sockets. That way, I believe, I minimize chances of breaking anything. I have removed/installed mirrors on both sides, zero broken glass so far.
My '97 doesn't have dimming/heated mirrors, so I'm planning to install Aurora heated mirrors - the glass assembly only, I mean. Where I live, Aurora parts are easier to find.

I believe the color of my car is Adriatic blue.how can I find the exact color

Rivieraz wrote:

I believe the color of my car is Adriatic blue.how can I find the exact color

Paint shop will mix it for you and put it in a (good quality) rattle can.

Rivieraz wrote:

I believe the color of my car is Adriatic blue.how can I find the exact color

Look at the underside of the spare tire cover in the trunk. There is a label listing all the options on the car. At the bottom of the label, next to BC/CC is the paint code.

https://www.automotivetouchup.com/images/paint-codes/buick-paint-code-label-1.jpg

Rivieraz wrote:

I believe the color of my car is Adriatic blue.how can I find the exact color

Look at the underside of the spare tire cover in the trunk. There is a label listing all the options on the car. At the bottom of the label, next to BC/CC is the paint code.

https://www.automotivetouchup.com/images/paint-codes/buick-paint-code-label-1.jpg

awesome thank you,

Rivieraz wrote:

I found a fully functional driver side mirror (with working glass)are they hard to replace? how long does the glass  last and is there anyway to prolong its life? would covering it when parked help?

My driver side outside mirror was fine until about 2009 when I changed jobs and didn't park in a garage all the time.  It took a few years to turn gold.

After about 12 years in outdoor use, it now has 'double vision.'

My wild guess is that covering it might not work; on a BMW forum I read the failure is due to *heat.*

albertj wrote:

Rivieraz wrote:

We all know that they die.  Does anyone know why?

Has something to do with the Auto Dim feature.  Mine was gold when I bought the car in 2004.  I bought a Burco redi-cut replacement mirror and epoxied it over the original mirror glass.  Been that way since 2004.  The heated mirror feature works, it conducts through the new glass.  Good enough for me.

See my post about mid page in this thread,

https://rivperformance.editboard.com/t4700p125-faq-side-mirror-problems-heated-auto-dimming-tilt?highlight=mirror

well as long as I don't expose it to a lot of sunlight or heat it will be fine.LOL also I'm not sure if mine had heat but the new one does will it complicate installment?

Rivieraz wrote:

well as long as I don't expose it to a lot of sunlight or heat it will be fine. LOL   also I'm not sure if mine had heat but the new one does will it complicate installment?

AFAIK all the auto-dim mirrors had heat. The heater does not get all that hot, BTW.

Rickw wrote:

Assuming it's the complete assembly I would just install it and be grateful that you found one.

I take it the Riv mirror is different than the Aurora mirror?

Jack the R wrote:

Rickw wrote:

Assuming it's the complete assembly I would just install it and be grateful that you found one.

I take it the Riv mirror is different than the Aurora mirror?

Yes. Surprisingly, for all it's gee-whiz gizmos the Aurora did not have an autodim exterior mirror, just heat.

Are all Riv mirrors auto-dim?

hmmm? I think I leaped before actually looking?i didn't check the part number,i just read the listing it has the wavy lines at the bottom right pointing up, 25627688 is what I bought and was listed as OEM...NOS, its on gm parts but it doesn't mention dimming, chalk it up to a learning experience