Replacement of the side mirror glass on a 2024 Model X Plaid. The glass is heated and clips onto a motorized backing plate; care is required to disconnect the heater leads without damaging the actuator.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Side mirror glass assembly (heated, with backing plate) — driver or passenger side as applicable × 1 — Tesla Model X (2021+ refresh) OEM mirror glass — order by side (LH/RH); do not substitute pre-refresh Model X glass

Preparation

1. Park on level ground, place in P, engage the 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 (negative terminal first). The 12V battery on the Model X is located in the frunk, similar to Model S.
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 falcon doors are fully closed and will not be operated during this procedure — accidental falcon door cycling with a person near the mirror area is a pinch hazard. If service mode is needed for any reason, follow Tesla's documented falcon door service procedure.
7. Identify which side (LH driver / RH passenger) requires the new glass and confirm the replacement part matches side and heating connector style.
8. Allow the mirror to come to ambient temperature if the vehicle was recently driven in cold/hot conditions — thermal stress makes glass more prone to shattering during removal.

Procedure

1. 1

   Position the mirror for access
   Before disconnecting the 12V (if not already done), use the touchscreen mirror controls to tilt the mirror glass fully inboard and downward. This exposes the outer-upper edge of the glass and the gap between the glass and the housing, giving room to insert a pry tool. Then complete the 12V disconnect from the preparation steps.
2. 2

   Protect the mirror housing
   Apply painter's tape or wrap a microfiber towel around the perimeter of the mirror housing where the pry tool will contact. The Model X mirror cap is painted body color and scratches easily.
   ⚠Aluminum/painted plastic body panels — do not use metal pry tools directly against the housing.
3. 3

   Tape the face of the glass (if cracked)
   If the existing glass is shattered or cracked, apply two strips of painter's tape across the face of the glass to hold shards together during removal.
4. 4

   Release the glass from the actuator clips
   Insert a plastic pry tool at the bottom-inboard corner of the glass, between the glass backing plate and the motor's adjustment plate. Apply gentle, steady outward pressure until you feel/hear the spring clips release. Work around the perimeter as needed. The glass is held by integral spring clips on the back of the plastic carrier — there are no screws.
   ⚠Pry against the black plastic backing plate, NOT the glass itself.
5. 5

   Disconnect the heater leads
   Once the glass is released, tilt it carefully away from the housing. Two heater wires with spade terminals connect to tabs on the back of the glass. Grasp each connector by the terminal body (not the wire) and pull straight off. Note the orientation if the connectors are not keyed.
   ⚠Do not pull on the wires — the terminals can separate from the lead, requiring harness repair.
6. 6

   Inspect the actuator and housing
   With the glass removed, inspect the motorized adjustment plate for cracked clips, broken pivots, or water intrusion. Also check that the heater wires are intact and not chafed. If the actuator clips are broken, the glass will not stay seated and the entire mirror actuator must be replaced (separate procedure).
7. 7

   Connect heater leads to the new glass
   Push each spade connector firmly onto the corresponding tab on the back of the new glass. Connections should be snug — no wiggle. Polarity is not critical for the resistive heater grid.
8. 8

   Seat the new glass into the actuator
   Align the four (or more) spring clips on the back of the new glass with the receiving sockets on the actuator plate. Tuck the heater wires behind the glass so they are not pinched. Press firmly and evenly on the perimeter of the glass — NOT the center — until each clip snaps home. You should hear/feel multiple distinct clicks.
   ⚠Pressing on the center of the glass can flex it against the actuator and crack it. Always press near the clip locations around the edge.
9. 9

   Verify glass is fully seated
   Gently attempt to wiggle the glass at all four corners. It should feel firmly clipped with no gap between the glass and the actuator plate. If any corner lifts, press it in again until it clicks.

Reassembly

1. Remove painter's tape / protective towel from the mirror housing.
2. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery (negative terminal last). Close the frunk.
3. Re-enter the vehicle, wake the system, and allow the vehicle to fully boot before testing mirror functions.

Verification

• From the touchscreen Controls menu, cycle the mirror through full range of motion (up/down/left/right) on the replaced side. Movement should be smooth with no binding and no contact between the glass edge and the housing.
• Activate the rear defroster (mirror heaters are linked to the rear defrost circuit on Model X). After several minutes, the mirror glass should feel noticeably warm to the touch — confirming the heater leads are properly connected.
• If equipped with auto-dimming, verify the glass darkens appropriately when a bright light is shone at it from behind in a dim environment (note: only applicable if the new glass includes the auto-dim element — confirm part match).
• Drive at low speed and confirm no wind whistle or vibration from the mirror area.
• Check for any mirror-related alerts on the instrument cluster after a full drive cycle.

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