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Submitted by charliedawson on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 14:32.
3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

One of the few things I dislike about my Toyota Hi-Lux is the driver's side mirror. Unlike the US, where the driver's side mirror is flat, vehicles here use a mirror that is convex (like the passenger's side mirrors). The problem is that I actually like to be able to see things in the driver's side mirror, especially when the rear view mirror is blocked, and/or I need to be able to judge distance. The dealers only have the original equipment, and all of the parts stores I have checked in Matagalpa don't know the difference. Any clues out there?

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Universal Mirror Repair Kit

Submitted by maddog82 on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 16:39.

Just glues over your existing glass. http://www.brandsport.com/cipa-1100.html

There are only two problems

Submitted by charliedawson on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 18:12.

There are only two problems with that. 1) This doesn't work nearly as well here in Nicaragua, and 2) If the outer glass on the mirror is also convex (and I don't know if it is, or if the glass is flat and the reflector is curved), then the cover will take the same shape.

Estelí Options

Submitted by fyl on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 14:48.

Estelí seems to be the auto parts capital of Northern Nicaragua. There are lots of not OEM parts options. Two places come to mind:

  • Muiti-Repuestos - about 10 varas north of La Anexa. They are the most clueful place I have bought auto parts. They have stuff others don't have and generally know what they have and why. That would be my first guess.
  • There is another place next to SINSA on the Pan Americana that looks interesting. Lots of non-OEM tail lights and such in there. They are on my list for looking for a non-standard tail light for the 4Runner we have here.

If travel to Estelí is not on your short list, a phone call to Multi-Repuestos might actually work. (For those who don't live in Latin America, 99% of the time, *nothing* works unless it is a face-to-face conversation.)

Unfortunately, I am a little

Submitted by charliedawson on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 16:40.

Unfortunately, I am a little leery of the parts some of these places carry. All too often, they are ill-fitting, scratched, and/or broken Chinese junk. When I asked about the mirror in one parts store, the salesman brought out this mirror that was chipped all the way around, it was actually distorted as opposed to simply convex, and the plastic was so flimsy it couldn't possibly hold the mirror in place for more than a few hours. For that reason alone, I am not likely to go to Esteli just for that or to take their word based on a phone conversation. It will just have to wait until the next time I have to go there. I would much rather go to Esteli than Managua, but neither one is worth it just for a mirror.

when i broke the mirror

Submitted by acc724 on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 17:02.

on my truck..i went to one of the places that sell glass and mirrors..they cut a mirror out put it in and its still working...this was about 6 yrs. ago..have a couple of other friends that did the same thing..i used a guy in montoya in managua..but talking to other people most glass shops will do this

I stopped in at our local

Submitted by charliedawson on Sat, 2010/02/06 - 16:43.

I stopped in at our local glass supplier today, and they told me they could cut and install the mirror. The bad news is that they close at 12:00 today, so they can't do until Monday. The good news is that it will only cost 45 cordobas. Thanks for talking me into it. :>)

I totally forgot to update

Submitted by charliedawson on Mon, 2010/02/15 - 18:58.

I totally forgot to update this. Two weekends ago, I removed the mirror from the truck (3 torx screws for manual mirrors), but I couldn't figure out how to get the mirror out of the holder. I resolved to break it, so I used an awl, and put a lot of force on it, but that would only scratch it. I hit it with a hammer, but it wouldn't break. That Monday, I took it to the glass cutters. The very young man that handled it attached a suction cup, an easily removed the glass from the holder. Ten minutes later, they had the new mirror in. Total cost: 45 cordobas. The mirror was not the best I have ever seen, as it is slightly distorted, but anything better would not have seated in the holder. Distortion or not, I can actually see things in that mirror now. A real life success story in Nicaragua.

good luck with

Submitted by acc724 on Sat, 2010/02/06 - 19:13.

your new mirror..its a hell of a lot cheaper than what toyota wants for one

Probably not now! LOL

Submitted by Bobby on Mon, 2010/02/08 - 09:43.

Pura Nica, Bobby

I thought about that

Submitted by charliedawson on Fri, 2010/02/05 - 17:59.

I thought about that briefly, but convinced myself it wouldn't work. I'll check on that tomorrow if they're open.