No matter how careful you are, side view mirrors get dings from bumping into mailboxes, posts, weather, or a flying rock when you hit a bump. Broken side view mirror glass is unattractive and a safety hazard, but you commonly don't have to replace the whole mirror.

However, it should be fixed as soon a possible. You should be able to replace the glass yourself by following these tips:

Prepare to Fix the Glass

To replace the glass, you need:

• work gloves 
• safety glasses
• masking tape
• clean cloths
• Phillips screwdriver
• Allen wrench or door panel remover
• flat blade screwdriver
• hair dryer rubbing alcohol or thinner
• construction adhesive or labels
• rubber sealant (optional)

If the mirror is electric, shut off the engine, let it cool, and disconnect the negative battery cable. When you shop for a replacement, it should match the factory paint code of your vehicle.

Remove the Broken Mirror Glass

To detach a manual mirror, remove the screws with a Phillips screwdriver, flat blade screwdriver, or Allen wrench. On manual mirrors, you may need to remove the door crank to access trim.  

To remove an electric mirror, insert a door removal tool in the mirrors trim panel to remove it. Detach screws with the tool by inserting the remover behind them. Some panel screws may have covers, which can be popped off with a hooked pick. Feel for hidden screws in the armrest, speaker grille, and finger-pull area.

Start the engine to lower the window, then detach the trim. Shut off the engine, disconnect the three emoting fasteners, and look for the electrical fasteners at the end of the cable. Detach this cable to remove the fastener, and set the panel aside.

Use the flat-blade screwdriver to remove broken pieces of glass, and discard the fragments. If needed, apply some heat to the glass with the blow dryer to help loosen adhesive. 

Install the New Glass

Wipe the surface of the mount with rubbing alcohol and a clean rag, then let it dry. Add adhesive to the four corners of the frame, or apply the sticky labels. Regardless of what adhesive you use, they should not contain latex, because it will not last in humid weather.  

Attach the mirror back into the mount, pressing the corners. If you are using adhesive strips, add a layer of rubber sealant around the glass starting at three-fourths of an inch from the retainer perimeter, avoiding pads and the plastic base where the mirror attaches.

Adhesive strips aren't often strong enough to hold the mirror. Lay tape over the glass until the sealant cures. Reattach the mirror to the base, and reinstall the negative battery cable.

Check out a website like http://www.collisionsplus.com for more information and assistance.