Replace the side mirror glass on a 2024 Tesla Roadster. The glass is held to the mirror actuator backing plate by spring clips and (on heated mirrors) two electrical terminals — no fasteners are typically used to retain the glass itself.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Side mirror glass assembly (heated, with backing plate and clips) × 1 — OEM replacement glass for 2024 Roadster — driver or passenger side as applicable

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. Disconnect the 12V low-voltage battery before working near any powered mirror circuit (heater/actuator).
4. DO NOT touch, cut, or pierce any orange cable — these are high-voltage and lethal. If you encounter an orange cable or are unsure if a system is de-energized, STOP and consult a Tesla-certified technician.
5. Confirm you have the correct side (driver vs passenger) and correct heated/non-heated variant of the replacement glass before starting.
6. If the existing glass is cracked, apply painter's tape across the face of the glass to keep shards contained during removal.

Procedure

1. 1

   Position the mirror for access
   Before disconnecting the 12V battery (if you have not already), use the interior mirror adjuster to tilt the mirror glass fully inward (toward the vehicle) at the top. This exposes the bottom edge of the backing plate and gives you a gap to insert a pry tool behind the glass. Then disconnect the 12V battery as described in preparation.
2. 2

   Protect the mirror housing
   Apply a strip of painter's tape along the inner edge of the mirror housing where you will be prying. The housing plastic on the Roadster is thin and the paint is easily marred by a slipped tool.
3. 3

   Insert the plastic pry tool behind the backing plate
   At the bottom-inner corner of the mirror glass, slide a plastic trim tool between the backing plate (the black plastic disc behind the glass) and the mirror actuator. Do not pry against the glass face. Work the tool in until you feel it contact the spring clip behind the backing plate.
   ⚠Pry against the plastic backing plate only. Prying on the glass itself will crack it — even on a new replacement.
4. 4

   Release the spring clips
   Apply steady outward pressure with the pry tool until the lower clip releases with an audible click. Move to the bottom-outer corner and repeat. Then work along the top of the backing plate. The glass assembly will pop free of the actuator. Support the glass with your other hand so it does not fall once the last clip releases.
5. 5

   Disconnect the heater terminals
   With the glass freed but still cradled near the housing, tilt it forward to expose the rear of the backing plate. Pull the two spade terminals straight off the heating element tabs on the back of the glass. Note their orientation — they are not always polarity-sensitive for the heater itself, but route them so they will not bind on the actuator when the new glass is installed.
   ℹ️If the spade terminals are corroded or loose, clean the terminal contacts and gently squeeze the female spades for a tighter fit before reconnecting to the new glass.
6. 6

   Inspect the actuator and backing receptacles
   With the glass removed, inspect the mirror actuator face for cracked plastic, broken clip receptacles, or water intrusion. If any of the clip sockets on the actuator are broken, the new glass will not stay seated — the actuator will need to be replaced separately. Wipe the actuator face clean of debris and old gasket residue.
7. 7

   Connect heater terminals to the new glass
   Press the two spade terminals from the mirror harness firmly onto the heating element tabs on the back of the new glass. They should seat fully and not pull off with light tension.
8. 8

   Seat the new glass
   Align the backing plate clips of the new glass with the receptacles on the actuator. Press firmly and evenly with your palms across the face of the glass — center first, then each corner — until you hear/feel each clip snap home. Confirm the glass sits flush with the housing on all four sides; an uneven gap means a clip has not seated.
   ⚠Press with flat palms distributed across the glass. Pressing on one corner can flex and crack the new glass before the clips seat.

Reassembly

1. Remove the painter's tape from the mirror housing.
2. Reconnect the 12V low-voltage battery.
3. Close all doors and allow the vehicle to wake fully (touchscreen on, BCM active) before testing mirror functions.

Verification

• From the driver's seat, cycle the mirror adjuster through full range (up/down/left/right) and confirm the new glass moves smoothly without binding or popping off the clips.
• Activate rear defrost (which on most Teslas also energizes mirror heaters) and after 2-3 minutes, confirm the mirror glass is warm to the touch — verifies the heater terminals are properly connected.
• Visually confirm the glass sits flush with the mirror housing on all sides with no uneven gap.
• Check for any mirror-related fault messages on the touchscreen after the vehicle has fully woken.
• Road-test at low speed and confirm no rattle or vibration from the mirror assembly. If the glass buzzes, a clip is not fully seated — re-press it home.

More procedures for this vehicle