Replacement of the exterior side mirror assembly on a 2024 Tesla Model S Long Range. The mirror is a powered, heated, auto-dimming, power-folding unit with integrated turn signal and (on most trims) blind spot camera, requiring careful door card removal and connector disconnection.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Side mirror assembly (LH or RH, color-matched, with appropriate camera/heater/auto-fold options for trim) × 1 — Tesla Model S 2024 OEM mirror assembly — verify side and option codes by VIN
• Replacement plastic retainer clips for door card (in case originals break on removal) × 1 — Generic Tesla door panel clip kit

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage parking brake.
2. Exit ALL doors with the key fob away from the vehicle. Wait at least 2 minutes for HV systems to fully de-energize, even on this non-HV job.
3. Open the frunk and disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (located under the nose cowl panel in the front trunk). Loosen the negative terminal first.
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. Confirm the replacement mirror matches the original by side, color code, and feature set (heated, power-fold, auto-dim, blind-spot camera, turn signal repeater).
7. Lower the affected door's window fully, then close the door before disconnecting 12V — this gives clearance for door card removal.
8. Lay a soft blanket or microfiber on the ground beneath the mirror to catch any dropped fasteners or to set the old mirror on.
9. Apply painter's tape along the edge of the door glass and the A-pillar trim adjacent to the mirror sail to protect paint.

Procedure

1. 1

   Remove interior door panel (door card)
   Carefully pry off the small trim cover behind the interior door pull to expose the retaining fastener. Remove the fastener, then use a plastic trim tool to release the door card clips around the perimeter, working from the bottom upward. Lift the door card up and off the window belt. Tilt it outward and disconnect the electrical connectors for the window switch pack and any door pull lighting. Set the door card aside on a padded surface.
   ⚠Door cards on Model S use both clips and hidden tabs along the top. Pry slowly — broken clips will cause rattles.
2. 2

   Peel back the moisture barrier
   Carefully peel back the upper portion of the plastic moisture/vapor barrier behind the door card to access the inner sail panel area where the mirror harness routes through the door frame. Do not tear the barrier — the butyl adhesive must be reusable for re-sealing.
   ℹ️If the butyl adhesive is dried out, plan to replace it with new butyl rope before reassembly. A torn or unsealed barrier will cause water intrusion and door card mildew.
3. 3

   Remove the inner sail/triangle trim
   From inside the door, locate and remove the small interior triangle trim cover at the upper front corner of the door (where the mirror base meets the door). It is typically clipped in place — pull straight inward with a trim tool. This exposes the mirror mounting nuts/bolts and the harness pass-through grommet.
4. 4

   Disconnect the mirror harness
   Locate the mirror harness connector inside the door cavity at the pass-through point. Depress the connector lock tab and separate the connector. Push the rubber grommet out through the door frame so the harness can be pulled through with the mirror when removed.
   ⚠Do not yank the harness. If the grommet resists, work it free with a trim tool — tearing the grommet will cause water leaks.
5. 5

   Support the mirror externally
   Have an assistant support the mirror from the outside of the vehicle, or use painter's tape across the mirror body to the door temporarily. The mirror assembly is heavier than it looks and will fall once the last fastener is removed.
6. 6

   Remove the mirror mounting fasteners
   From inside the door (with sail trim removed), loosen and remove the mirror assembly mounting fasteners securing the mirror base to the door frame. Note the orientation and any spacers/gaskets behind the mirror base — these must transfer to the new mirror.
   ⚠Torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual for the verified mirror mounting fastener spec. Do not guess; the door frame is aluminum and overtightening will strip the threads.
7. 7

   Remove the mirror assembly from the vehicle
   Carefully lift the mirror outward and away from the door, feeding the harness and grommet out through the door frame opening. Inspect the door-side gasket/foam pad for damage; if torn, source a replacement before installing the new mirror.
8. 8

   Transfer any removable trim or gasket to the new mirror
   Compare old and new mirror assemblies side by side. If the new mirror does not include the foam/rubber base gasket, transfer the original. Confirm the connector pinout and feature set match exactly.
9. 9

   Install the new mirror assembly
   Feed the new mirror's harness and grommet through the door frame opening. Seat the grommet fully into the door frame. Position the mirror base flat against the door, aligning to the original mounting points. Hand-thread all mounting fasteners before final tightening.
   ⚠Verify the mirror sits flush with no gap before torquing — a misaligned base will cause wind noise above 50 mph.
10. 10

    Torque mirror mounting fasteners
    Tighten the mirror base mounting fasteners in a cross pattern to the manufacturer-specified torque. Do not exceed spec — the door frame thread inserts are aluminum and will pull out under overtorque. If a verified spec is not on hand, torque to OEM specification — refer to Tesla Service Manual.
11. 11

    Reconnect mirror harness
    Reconnect the mirror electrical connector inside the door cavity until the lock tab clicks. Verify the harness is routed away from the window regulator and any moving glass paths.
    ⚠A pinched harness against the window regulator will fail within weeks — confirm clearance by hand before closing up the door.

Reassembly

1. Reinstall the inner triangle/sail trim, ensuring all clips are seated.
2. Re-seat the moisture barrier and press the butyl adhesive firmly to the door frame; replace butyl if it has lost tack.
3. Reconnect the window switch and any door pull lighting connectors to the door card.
4. Hook the door card over the window belt first, then press the perimeter clips back into the door frame. Reinstall the door pull fastener and trim cover.
5. Reconnect the 12V battery negative terminal in the frunk. Torque the battery terminal bolt.
6. Close the frunk and reinstall the cowl panel.

Verification

• With doors closed and key fob present, verify the mirror powers on and shows no error pop-up on the center touchscreen.
• Test mirror functions through the touchscreen: tilt up/down/left/right via the steering wheel scroll wheels (Controls > Mirrors), power fold/unfold, heated mirror function (run with rear defrost on), and auto-dim if equipped.
• If the mirror has a blind-spot camera, verify the side camera feed appears correctly when the turn signal is activated and during Autopilot lane changes. If the image is misaligned, schedule a Tesla Service Center visit for camera calibration — alignment cannot be performed without Tesla Toolbox.
• Drive at 50+ mph and listen for wind noise around the mirror base; any whistle indicates a gasket gap or under-torqued mounting fasteners.
• Spray water around the mirror base and inside the door card area after a day to confirm no leaks past the moisture barrier.
• Note: while you have the door panel off, this is a good opportunity to check service-interval items unrelated to the mirror — cabin air filter (every 2 years, or 3 years if HEPA-equipped), brake fluid (every 2 years), and tire rotation (every 6,250 mi) on the appropriate Tesla schedule.

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