Unfortunately I have to park my MS3 outside. The result is most mornings my mirrors have a coating of dew on them and I need to see when I get onto the highway. On rare occaisions there is ice too, but this is California. My previous car had heated mirrors and they would clear by the time I get down my road to the hiway. So, I wanted to upgrade. The MS3 has the wiring in the doors already, so all you need is the mirrors assembles themselves. They are wired so they go on and off with the rear defroster. I purchased a kit for about $200 from OnlineMazda.
Here's how to install them.
First you need to remove the inner sail panel that has the tweeters in them. They come off pretty easily, just pry with a plastic tool or a screwdriver covered in tape. It is actually better to start nearer the top than is shown in this picture.
Disconnect the two connectors.
Remove the three screws; hold on to the mirror as it will fall off. Remove the mirror assembly.
Put the new mirror in place and replace the screws. It is a good idea to install the screws a bit loose until all three are in, then snug them down. Reconnect the mirror connector and tweeter connector and snap the tweeter panel in place. Clean up the mirrors and you are done.
Now, it turns out the kit I got had black mirror shells and my car is Cosmic Blue. I considered leaving the mirrors black.
But I decided to change them out. First you need to remove the mirror glass. Adjust the mirror so the outside edge is as far out as possible.
Put your fingers in the crack, grab the end of the mirror and pull. It will disengage three ball joint connectors.
At the top of the inside of the mirror housing there are two clips holding the shell on. Carefully use a flat blade screwdriver to release the tabs, then pull the shell off. This is the part where it is possible to screw up, like breaking off a tab - take your time and you will be fine. You might have to use a tool to carefully separate the shell at the top - be careful not to scratch the paint. It will come off from the top first, roll it back and the bottom hooks will disengage.
Reinstall the shell by engaging the tabs at the bottom and the pushing the top into place. Put the mirror glass back in place by aligning the balls in the housing to the sockets on the back of the glass and pushing. Do the middle first, then the outside, then the bottom.
Here's how to install them.
First you need to remove the inner sail panel that has the tweeters in them. They come off pretty easily, just pry with a plastic tool or a screwdriver covered in tape. It is actually better to start nearer the top than is shown in this picture.
Disconnect the two connectors.
Remove the three screws; hold on to the mirror as it will fall off. Remove the mirror assembly.
Put the new mirror in place and replace the screws. It is a good idea to install the screws a bit loose until all three are in, then snug them down. Reconnect the mirror connector and tweeter connector and snap the tweeter panel in place. Clean up the mirrors and you are done.
Now, it turns out the kit I got had black mirror shells and my car is Cosmic Blue. I considered leaving the mirrors black.
But I decided to change them out. First you need to remove the mirror glass. Adjust the mirror so the outside edge is as far out as possible.
Put your fingers in the crack, grab the end of the mirror and pull. It will disengage three ball joint connectors.
At the top of the inside of the mirror housing there are two clips holding the shell on. Carefully use a flat blade screwdriver to release the tabs, then pull the shell off. This is the part where it is possible to screw up, like breaking off a tab - take your time and you will be fine. You might have to use a tool to carefully separate the shell at the top - be careful not to scratch the paint. It will come off from the top first, roll it back and the bottom hooks will disengage.
Reinstall the shell by engaging the tabs at the bottom and the pushing the top into place. Put the mirror glass back in place by aligning the balls in the housing to the sockets on the back of the glass and pushing. Do the middle first, then the outside, then the bottom.
Last edited:
