What are the repair methods for scratched car mirrors?
3 Answers
Here are detailed methods for repairing scratches on car mirrors: 1. Toothpaste: Toothpaste has a polishing function, equivalent to applying a layer of wax, which can provide a good repair effect. However, toothpaste can only repair minor scratches. 2. Touch-up paint pen: Using a touch-up paint pen can cover some small and shallow scratches, making the marks less noticeable. There is a certain gap compared to the original paint, with color differences, and the touch-up pen can only perform local touch-ups. 3. Car paint scratch repair agent: The repair agent has a polishing effect and can quickly repair the damaged part of the car paint, fixing minor scratches.
Last time my car's mirror got scratched, and I was really upset. I immediately went to my regular repair shop. The mechanic checked it and said the scratch on the mirror housing wasn't deep, so they just used a polishing machine to fix it. It took half an hour to restore it to its original condition, costing 80 yuan. If the plastic housing had been cracked, it would have needed a replacement part—around 200 yuan for a regular car, but it could cost over a thousand for a luxury car. A broken mirror is even more troublesome, requiring the door panel to be removed to replace the entire assembly, and some models even need programming for matching. My neighbor had a broken turn signal pivot on their headlight, and it cost over 1,200 yuan to fix. For minor scratches, I recommend using scratch wax as a temporary fix. If it's serious, it's best to go to a professional shop since mirrors affect driving safety. When parking, try not to get too close to the edge—it can save a lot of trouble.
Last time my car's rearview mirror got scratched by a delivery truck, leaving a crack on the casing. I bought a repair kit to try fixing it myself, but realized it required heat gun shaping and spray painting – way beyond my DIY skills. Here are some reliable solutions: For light scratches, use polishing compound for manual buffing; for cracked plastic parts, bond them with epoxy resin adhesive; if the casing is severely damaged, buy replacement parts online (I checked – aftermarket parts cost around 100 RMB on Taobao, OEM parts 300-400 RMB). Most importantly, test after repair: power adjustment should be smooth, heating function must work properly, and the mirror shouldn't wobble. It's better not to claim insurance for rearview mirror repairs – small accident claims aren't cost-effective and may increase premiums. After repair, I recommend applying a scratch-resistant film to the casing – quite practical.
