Buy BMW M3 Mirror Glass

BMW M3 mirror glass-also called side-mirror, wing-mirror, or door-mirror glass-lets drivers spot cars in the next lane, keeps glare low at night, and clears fog or ice with built-in heaters. Modern M3 generations add handy extras like blind-spot LEDs, power folding, memory positions, and electrochromic (auto-dimming) layers.

The mirror glass is the shiny, reflective panel that snaps onto the exterior mirror housing on each front door. It shows traffic beside and behind you, helping with lane changes and parking. Because it is flat on the driver side and often convex on the passenger side, it can fit different fields of view. Some versions add a blue tint to cut glare or a small convex "spotter" area in the corner for wider vision .

• Clear Vision - Heaters in the backing plate melt ice and stop fogging so you see clearly on cold mornings .
• Cut Glare - An electrochromic gel darkens when bright light hits sensors, dimming the glass automatically at night .
• Blind-Spot Alert - Newer M3s light a small triangle in the glass when radar senses a car in your blind zone .
• Memory & Fold-In - The glass angle can store driver presets and the whole mirror can tuck in when you park .

• E30 (1986-1991) - Simple manually adjusted glass, no heat or motor memory .
• E36 (1992-1999) - Powered adjustment and optional heating.
• E46 (2000-2006) - Automatic curb-tilt when you reverse.
• E90/E92/E93 (2007-2013) - Electrochromic option added.
• F80 (2014-2020) - LED blind-spot icon appears in the glass.
• G80 (2021-present) - Standard heated, auto-dimming, power-folding mirrors with memory and turn-signal strip .

The M3's mirror heaters switch on with the rear-defroster or automatically below about 59 °F, clearing frost in minutes (g42.bimmerpost.com).

Electrochromic Layer

Two pieces of glass sandwich a conductive coating and gel; a tiny charge darkens the gel to soften head-lamp glare .

Convex vs. Flat

The passenger-side glass is often convex, giving a wider angle but making things look smaller; the driver side stays flat for true distance .

Memory & Autosync

When you save your seat position, the mirror glass remembers its angle too, important for multi-driver households .

• Standard Float Glass - Clear and inexpensive.
• Blue-Tinted Glass - Cuts glare and looks sporty.
• Shatter-Resistant Backing - Holds pieces if cracked.
• Eco Note - Recycling automotive glass saves energy and lowers greenhouse gases compared with landfilling .

1. Tilt the mirror to its innermost stop and slip in a plastic trim tool.
2. Pry gently until the glass pops off the motor plate .
3. Unplug the two heater wires and the auto-dim connector.
4. Click the new glass on, reconnect wires, and test the mirror adjustment.
   Tip: Wear gloves; broken mirror edges are sharp.

• Wipe with a soft microfiber cloth and mild glass cleaner-no ammonia on electrochromic glass.
• In winter, never scrape with metal; let the heater do the work.
• If water pools inside, check door-mirror seals.

• In the U.S., Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 sets the size, curvature, and field-of-view rules for passenger-car mirrors .
• Europe follows UN ECE Regulation 46 for mirror performance and durability .
• Proper aiming-turning the glass outward about 15°-can almost erase blind spots, says NHTSA's Blind-Zone Glare Elimination method .

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• Wide-Angle "Aspheric" Glass adds a small outer strip with extra curvature for even more view.
• Turn-Signal Repeaters embedded in the glass help other road users see your intent.
• Auto-Tilt Coding can dip the passenger mirror when you select reverse-many M3 forums give coding steps .

Good mirror glass reduces lane-change crashes because drivers see faster and farther. Convex designs widen the view, but training on distance judgment is key . Heated glass prevents icy buildup that can hide cars, while electrochromic layers cut nighttime glare that tires eyes .

BMW and other makers design mirrors for easy removal during end-of-life dismantling. Recycling the glass and plastic bracket lowers CO₂ output compared with dumping in landfills .

1. BMW M - The BMW M3 Generations at a Glance
2. YouTube - Blind Spot Detection | BMW How-To
3. YouTube - BMW M3 Mirror Replacement
4. NHTSA - FMVSS 111 Test Summary
5. Testups - ECE R46 Certification Overview
6. Hypersonic - Importance of Blind Spot Mirrors
7. BMW - G80 M3 Specification Guide
8. Bimmerpost - Heated Mirror Glass Discussion
9. Car and Driver - 2025 BMW M3 Features & Specs
10. NHTSA - Blind-Zone Glare Elimination Method
11. Ladwa - Benefits of Convex Mirrors
12. Carparts - Mirror Magic: How Auto-Dimming Mirrors Work
13. Honda of Salem - The Process Behind Auto-Dimming Mirrors
14. EPA - Greenhouse Gas Factors for Glass Recycling
15. Consumer Reports - Mirror-Glass Recall and Safety Risk