Spontaneously cracked mirror? Anyone else? Best replacement options?
 

When I started pulling out of the parking lot after work I noticed my mirror was cracked (see attachment). It had been cold the night before (40s) but not freezing. It almost looks like someone shot it with a bb gun. The mirror is angled in towards the car so I doubt it is possible that someone accidentally hit it - and there is no visible damage to the mirror case or surrounding areas. I'm curious if anyone has seen anything like this?

More importantly - I would like to fix it. I found this site : http://www.originautoglass.com/Audi-...duct_info.html

But I want to be sure that I don't lose any of the features that I had before - does the heated mirror require special glass? Also, my mirrors have a bluish tint - is that something that needs to be applied afterward or does it typically come on audi replacement mirrors?

Where can I get a good replacement and avoid purchasing the entire assembly?

Thanks in advance
Charlie

The heated mirror doesn't require special glass that i'm aware of, as the heating element doesn't get all that hot, just sorta luke warm. However, it is sold as an assembly from Audi and I don't know that you'd be able to take the heating element off your old glass and put it on new glass and have it work right. The blueish tint is the anti-dazzle feature. It prevents you from being blinded by headlights in your mirrors. This also must be purchased and cannot be applied to glass, as its actually behind the glass, not on top. New heated, anti-dazzle mirror assemblies are wicked expensive from aftermarket vendors, let alone the dealer. try ECStuning.com to get a better idea of the price range.

Have you thought about reporting it to your insurance company?

Maybe this is what you need?

http://cgi.ebay.de/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...m=290267546301

To complicate things it is a stubby mirror - it is hard to tell from the pic. I think I may just have to hunt down an entire assembly and pull the glass. I hesitate to make an insurance claim because I just had to make one two months ago when someone ran into my car in a parking lot and took off without leaving a note.

I don't think you have to buy an entire assembly. You just tilt the mirror full forward and use a large flat screwdriver to pop it out of the casing from underneath. Just remember to put a rag between the mirror and the casing to avoid scratches.