Mirror Replacement

[RoGuE]

I think I asked this on here ages ago but I can't find it. My sisters 2002 Tahoe driver side mirror has been broken for some time, leaking the special fluid that dims the mirror at night (effectively making the entire mirror dark all the time) and she has tasked me with replacing it. Replacing it with another auto dimming mirror is too expensive for her, so I narrowed it down to a replacement that has power adjustment, black textured cap, puddle lamp and heating features.

I narrowed it down to one from Rockauto:

VARIOUS MFR Part # GM1320247 {#15056061, 15179832} With Puddle Lamp
heated power remote; manual folding; grained black-paint to match; RPO DL8; LT Mirror outside rear view
heated power remote; manual folding; grained black-paint to match; exc Z71; LT Mirror outside rear view


and this one from eBay:

eBay Mirror

Which one looks better (or if the same which would be easier to deal with?) The only real concern I have with either is if the wire harness plug will fit in without any real problems...anyone else had to do a similar replacement?

Thanks

 

[01rangerxl]

Either one will probably work just fine. I've used a number of made in Taiwan replacement mirrors and while they aren't perfect, they are definitely a bargain over OEM and work well enough.

My Explorer had aftermarket replacement power mirrors. The power function always worked fine, but you will notice some other differences. The plastic might have a slightly different texture, the mold lines and appearance might look a little cheaper, and the glass may vibrate a little more, but it will probably bolt up and work fine. It should be a direct fit, "plug & play" type deal, the mirror just might look a little cheaper than the original.

 

[mechtech2]

It dims at night? Isn't that backwards from common sense?
I want to see things better in low light, not dimmer.
I despise the silly complicated stuff like this on cars now.

 

[Rick in PA]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2
It dims at night? Isn't that backwards from common sense?
I want to see things better in low light, not dimmer.
I despise the silly complicated stuff like this on cars now.


Yes, the interior mirror dims for night driving. This is to reduce headlight glare from the car behind you. There's been a mechanical lever on the bottom of the interior mirror of pretty much every car I've driven to accomplish this. That would mean the feature goes back to the 1960s, but it could have been introduced earlier.

Me, I'd go for the Rock Auto replacement. I've had good luck with parts from them. I got a passenger side mirror for my wife's Windstar from them. It installed with no problems and was a match for the OEM mirror.

 

[RoGuE]

Yeah, the driver side mirror dims to lower the amount of glare from headlights.

Is Rockauto easy to deal with if there are any problems?

 

[Rick in PA]

Originally Posted By: RoGuE
Yeah, the driver side mirror dims to lower the amount of glare from headlights.

Is Rockauto easy to deal with if there are any problems?


I never had any problems, so I can't comment on that.