To order the right wing mirror glass, you need to know five things: your car's make, model and year, which side you need, the glass type (convex or blind spot), whether it is heated, and whether it fits as stick-on or clip-on glass.
Quick checklist
- Find your make, model and year, and check the compatibility table on the listing.
- Pick the side. In the UK, left is the passenger side and right is the driver side.
- Match your original glass type, convex or blind spot (aspherical).
- Look at the back of your old glass. If it has two electrical terminals, you need heated glass.
- Choose stick-on glass if your backing plate is undamaged, or clip-on glass if it is broken or missing.
- Compare the photos with your old glass before you order.
Which side is left and which is right?
In the UK, the left wing mirror is on the passenger side and the right wing mirror is on the driver side. Left and right are always described as if you are sitting in the driver's seat, facing forward.
| Side | Also called | Short form |
|---|---|---|
| Left | Passenger side, nearside | N/S, LH, LHS |
| Right | Driver side, offside | O/S, RH, RHS |
Nearside means the side nearest the kerb when you drive on the left, and offside is the side nearest the middle of the road.
Driving a left-hand-drive import? The driver sits on the left, so "driver side" and "passenger side" swap over. Go by left and right instead, as seen from the driver's seat.
Convex or aspherical (blind spot) glass: what is the difference?
Convex glass curves evenly across its whole surface, while aspherical glass has an extra-curved outer section that shows more of the area beside your car.
Convex glass
Convex glass is curved evenly from edge to edge. It gives a wider view than flat glass. Cars and objects in it look further away than they really are.
Aspherical glass
The main part of aspherical glass works like normal mirror glass. The outer section, furthest from the car, is more strongly curved to show more of your blind spot. A dotted or solid line on the glass usually divides the two sections.
On our website, aspherical glass is listed as "Blind Spot" glass. Some listings also say "Wide Angle".
Which one do I need?
Match the glass you already have. Many cars sold in the UK have aspherical glass on the driver side and convex glass on the passenger side, but this varies between models, so check your car rather than assuming. For many models we offer both types for each side.
How can I tell which type I have?
Look for a dotted or solid line running down the glass near the outer edge. If there is one, it is aspherical.
You can also look at something straight in the mirror, such as a kerb or a building. When the line bends sharply near the outer edge, the glass is aspherical. If the curve looks the same across the whole glass and there is no line, it is convex.
What is blind spot glass for?
Blind spot glass shows more of the area beside and just behind your car that a normal mirror does not cover. That area is your blind spot, and it is where a car or cyclist can disappear from view when they are alongside you.
Blind spot glass reduces the blind spot but does not remove it. Always check over your shoulder before you change lanes or pull out.
Blind spot glass is not the same as blind spot monitoring. Some newer cars have a warning light built into the mirror glass. If your original glass has a warning light in it, contact us before you order.
Do I need heated mirror glass?
You need heated glass if your car has heated wing mirrors. It has a heating element on the back that clears mist, frost and ice from the mirror.
How to tell if your mirrors are heated
Start with the back of your old glass. Heated glass has two metal terminals, usually with wires pushed onto them.
Your dashboard or door switches may also have a mirror heating button, often shown as a mirror symbol with wavy lines. On many cars the mirror heating comes on with the rear window heater. Your vehicle handbook will tell you.
What happens if I choose the wrong one?
Heated glass on a car without heated mirrors is fine if the shape matches. It fits and works as normal glass, and the terminals are simply left unconnected.
Non-heated glass on a car with heated mirrors will fit too, but it will not clear mist or frost. Wrap the ends of the heater wires in insulating tape so they cannot touch anything.
The heated mirror glass on our website comes as clip-on glass, fixed to a backing plate.
Stick-on or clip-on glass: which should I buy?
Buy stick-on glass if your backing plate is undamaged and still fixed in the mirror. Buy clip-on glass if the backing plate is broken or missing.
| Stick-on glass | Clip-on glass | |
|---|---|---|
| What you get | Mirror glass with adhesive pads | Mirror glass fixed to a new backing plate |
| How it fits | Sticks onto your existing backing plate | Clips onto the mount inside the mirror |
| Choose it when | Your backing plate is in good condition | Your backing plate is cracked, has broken clips or is missing |
| Heated glass | Not available as stick-on on our website | Available for many models |
When do I need the backing plate?
You need glass with a backing plate (clip-on glass) if the plate is cracked or bent, or if one or more of the clips on the back of it is broken. The same goes if the glass and plate have come off together and the plate is lost or damaged.
Clip-on is also what you need for heated glass, and the one to pick if you would rather swap the glass and plate in one go than clean old glass and adhesive off the plate.
If your backing plate is sound and the old glass comes off it cleanly, stick-on glass is all you need.
How do I make sure the shape is right?
Choose your exact make, model and year, then compare the listing photos with your old glass. Mirror glass shapes can change between versions of the same model.
Check the year range first. A facelift can bring a new mirror shape even when the model name stays the same. Then compare the corners and edges, and note where the outline curves and where it has straight or angled sections. Measure your old glass at its widest and tallest points and check it looks the same in proportion to the photos.
Read the listing notes too. Some glass only fits certain versions of a model. Our Nissan Pathfinder 2007 to 2012 glass, for example, is only for models with the indicator in the mirror cover.
When the new glass arrives, hold it up to your mirror before you fit it. Do this before you peel the adhesive backing or remove the protective film, so you can still return it if it does not match.
Still not sure?
Email info@less4spares.co.uk with your car's make, model and year, the side you need and a photo of your old glass, and we will help you find the right part. When you are ready to fit it, follow our step-by-step fitting guide.