BMW X5 E70 wing mirror left and right

To do this, you need:

• screwdrivers – a flat one and a Phillips one;
• ring spanner set.

See your car’s workshop manual for the exact steps. In addition, the type of the component’s actuator should be taken into account (manual or electric).

Instructions for removing manually adjustable components:

1. Remove all clips and the door trim panel.
2. Remove the mirror adjustment handle.
3. Remove the retainer clip and cables of the regulator.
4. Unscrew all mounting screws on the internal side of the door.
5. Detach the part.

Instructions for removing power components:

1. Disconnect the battery negative terminal.
2. Remove the door card.
3. Detach the plastic cover by carefully pressing on the retainers with a flat screwdriver.
4. Disconnect the wiring.
5. Unscrew the fasteners of the component and its actuating mechanism.
6. Detach the part.

When removing the part, hold it tightly to prevent it from falling.

Prepare the following tools:

• a heat gun or hair dryer;
• a flat screwdriver or a plastic pry tool.

Universal instructions for disassembling the part:

1. Heat the joint between the glass and the housing with the help of a hair dryer.
2. Carefully detach the glass. For doing this, use a small flat screwdriver wrapped with a cloth or a plastic pry tool. Sometimes to remove the part it’s necessary to pull the tabs or press the glass in the centre and move it aside.
3. Disconnect the wires if the mirror is heated.
4. If the mirror frame has a fastening screw, unscrew it.
5. Once you gain access to the adjustment and folding mechanisms, remove them.

Only buy parts recommended by the car manufacturer. Also take into account the following:

• Type of the reflective element. Plane ones provide a perfect image of the road, however, they have a narrow angle of view. Wide angle (spherical and aspherical) ones give a larger field of view but show the objects with a distortion and make them look like they are farther away. The parts of a blind spot type, which combine both types of mirrors, have almost no blind spots.
• Presence of anti-glare coating. To protect the driver from being dazzled at night, the glass has a special coating. Choose components with a light-blue or grey tint.
• Regulator type. A cable-driven one is the most reliable and simple. This kind of mirrors are adjusted from the car cabin using a handle. Power mirrors are more convenient, but due to the structural complexity, their actuation mechanism breaks down more often.
• Additional functions, such as heating, turn indicator repeaters, blind spot sensors, folding controllers, and rain guards. Availability of these options is determined by the trim level of your car.