Replacement of the side mirror glass on a 2024 Model 3 Long Range. The glass is heated and clips onto a motorized adjuster plate behind it; the housing itself does not need to be removed for this job.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Side mirror glass assembly (heated, with backing plate clips) — driver or passenger side as applicable × 1 — Tesla Model 3 OEM mirror glass — order by side (LH/RH) and confirm heated variant for Long Range

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place vehicle in P, and engage the parking brake.
2. Exit all doors with the key fob/phone key carried well away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery. On 2024 Model 3, the 12V (lithium) is typically located under the rear seat / floor area per the architecture notes — refer to Tesla Service Manual for exact location on your build.
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce ANY orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal.
5. If at any point you encounter an orange cable, an HV component, or are unsure if a system is de-energized: STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
6. Fold the mirror inward (manually, gently) to gain working clearance against the door.
7. Tilt the existing mirror glass fully INWARD and DOWNWARD using the touchscreen mirror adjustment before disconnecting the 12V — this exposes the upper-outer edge of the backing plate, giving you a pry point.

Procedure

1. 1

   Protect the mirror housing
   Apply painter's tape along the lower and inner lip of the painted mirror housing where you will insert your pry tool. This prevents scuffing the body-color paint when leverage is applied.
2. 2

   Insert pry tool at the inner edge
   With the glass tilted inward/down (done during prep), insert a wide plastic trim tool between the backing plate and the mirror housing at the upper-outer corner. You are prying against the plastic backing plate, NOT the glass itself. Apply gentle, even outward pressure.
   ⚠If you feel the glass flex or hear cracking, stop and reposition — you are prying on glass instead of the backing plate.
3. 3

   Release the retaining clips
   The Model 3 mirror glass is held by spring clips on the motorized adjuster plate. Work the pry tool around the perimeter, releasing each clip with a soft pop. Support the glass with your free (gloved) hand so it does not fall once the last clip releases.
4. 4

   Disconnect heater leads
   Once the glass releases, pull it out 2-3 cm only. Two small spade-terminal wires connect the heating element on the back of the glass. Pull each connector straight off the spade terminal — do not pull on the wires themselves.
   ⚠If a spade terminal pulls out of the wire harness instead of off the glass, you will need to repair the harness — pull only on the connector body.
5. 5

   Inspect the adjuster plate
   With the glass removed, inspect the plastic motorized adjuster plate for cracked clip towers, water intrusion, or seized motor gears. Any cracked clip will cause the new glass to vibrate or fall out. If the adjuster plate is damaged, the full mirror actuator must be replaced — not covered by this procedure.
6. 6

   Connect heater leads to new glass
   Push each spade connector firmly onto the corresponding terminal on the back of the new mirror glass. Polarity does not matter for the resistive heater element. Ensure connectors are fully seated — a loose connector will cause intermittent defrost failure.
7. 7

   Seat the new glass into the adjuster
   Align the backing plate clips of the new glass with the corresponding posts on the adjuster plate. Press firmly and evenly with both thumbs spread across the backing plate (not the center of the glass) until you hear/feel all clips snap home. Verify the glass is flush with the housing on all four sides.
   ⚠Never press in the center of the glass to seat it — this can crack the glass over the adjuster motor pivot. Press at the clip locations around the perimeter.
8. 8

   Remove protective tape
   Carefully peel away the painter's tape from the mirror housing. Wipe down the new glass with a microfiber towel to remove fingerprints.

Reassembly

1. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery per architecture notes.
2. Close all doors and allow the vehicle to wake. Confirm the touchscreen boots normally and there are no mirror-related alerts.

Verification

• From the touchscreen, enter Controls > Mirrors and run the mirror through full up/down/left/right travel. Motion should be smooth with no grinding — grinding indicates the glass is not seated correctly and is binding on the housing.
• Auto-fold and auto-unfold the mirror via the door controls to confirm the housing still operates and the glass does not contact the housing edge.
• Activate rear defrost (mirror heat is tied to the rear defroster on Model 3). After 2-3 minutes, the new mirror glass should feel noticeably warm to the touch — confirms the heater leads are properly connected.
• Inspect at multiple viewing angles for flush fitment; the glass should sit even with the housing perimeter with no protruding edge.
• Note: this job is not on a Tesla-published service interval, but while you have the door area accessible, this is a good time to verify your 2-year brake fluid service and 2-year cabin air filter replacement intervals are current.

More procedures for this vehicle