PSA - Side mirrors are NOT glass - they will scratch

[K6CCC]

I discovered that the side mirrors are not made of glass and can be scratched somewhat easily.

Here's how I discovered this. I had put a convex stick on mirror onto the drivers side mirror, but did not like where I put it. As is normal, these are held on with double sided foam tape. The easy way to remove those is to use dental floss as a saw between normal mirror and the add on. It will easily cut the foam tape. Once the mirror is off, then Goo Gone and some gentle scraping with a knife blade will get the remaining tape off. The removal worked fine, but after I was done, I could see some minor scratches on the mirror surface. A glass surface will not be harmed by gentle use of a knife as described, so I have to assume that the mirror is a plastic material.

Not enough to be a problem, just enough to notice.

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[21st Century Truck]

I discovered that the side mirrors are not made of glass and can be scratched somewhat easily.

Here's how I discovered this. I had put a convex stick on mirror onto the drivers side mirror, but did not like where I put it. As is normal, these are held on with double sided foam tape. The easy way to remove those is to use dental floss as a saw between normal mirror and the add on. It will easily cut the foam tape. Once the mirror is off, then Goo Gone and some gentle scraping with a knife blade will get the remaining tape off. The removal worked fine, but after I was done, I could see some minor scratches on the mirror surface. A glass surface will not be harmed by gentle use of a knife as described, so I have to assume that the mirror is a plastic material.

Not enough to be a problem, just enough to notice.

Hmmm... the glass is indeed glass (I know because I broke one when putting on my power folding mirrors and the shards sure looked like any mirror shards I had broken in the house as a preteen boy), and perhaps the scratches are in the coating(s) on top of the glass ??

 

[K6CCC]

Hmmm... the glass is indeed glass (I know because I broke one when putting on my power folding mirrors and the shards sure looked like any mirror shards I had broken in the house as a preteen boy), and perhaps the scratches are in the coating(s) on top of the glass ??

Hmmm, could be...

 

[FloridaMan655321]

I use rainx on the mirror and it seems to be glass from my experience. Sure it might not be gorilla glass, but it seems to be glass. Probably just cheap like the mirror in your house.

 

[MidAtlanticLightningClub]

I discovered that the side mirrors are not made of glass and can be scratched somewhat easily.

Here's how I discovered this. I had put a convex stick on mirror onto the drivers side mirror, but did not like where I put it. As is normal, these are held on with double sided foam tape. The easy way to remove those is to use dental floss as a saw between normal mirror and the add on. It will easily cut the foam tape. Once the mirror is off, then Goo Gone and some gentle scraping with a knife blade will get the remaining tape off. The removal worked fine, but after I was done, I could see some minor scratches on the mirror surface. A glass surface will not be harmed by gentle use of a knife as described, so I have to assume that the mirror is a plastic material.

Not enough to be a problem, just enough to notice.

The mirrors are coated glass. You scratched the coating.

 

[Brent@ANParts]

Yup sounds like the coating got scratched unfortunately. Regardless your advice still applies whether glass or not, definitely be careful with these.

 

[HI Zeus]

I discovered that the side mirrors are not made of glass and can be scratched somewhat easily.

Here's how I discovered this. I had put a convex stick on mirror onto the drivers side mirror, but did not like where I put it. As is normal, these are held on with double sided foam tape. The easy way to remove those is to use dental floss as a saw between normal mirror and the add on. It will easily cut the foam tape. Once the mirror is off, then Goo Gone and some gentle scraping with a knife blade will get the remaining tape off. The removal worked fine, but after I was done, I could see some minor scratches on the mirror surface. A glass surface will not be harmed by gentle use of a knife as described, so I have to assume that the mirror is a plastic material.

Not enough to be a problem, just enough to notice.

I have the same problem for the same reason. I hate and don't want to get used to the BSIS, largely because I often drive older cars that don't have it and believe I would get used to no little light in the mirror means coast is clear. I'd much rather have the convex mirrors I'm used to.

Apparently, based on other posts here the mirrors ARE glass with a coating that you and I, and I'll bet many others have now scratched up.

I wonder if anyone has any ideas for completely removing the coating (since it is now scratched), acetone?

Maybe this question should be first: Any idea what the coating is for? (I doubt it is essential, or part of the reflective-ness. )

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