Car Mirror.....Body shop or dealer?

[Michele]

Need some advice from you car guys.

My car was parked in my driveway between the two houses (mine and neighbors). Well a chunk of ice came off their roof and broke off my passenger side mirror, though, the cable is still holding it on, and its dangling. Its my fault, being I was too lazy to either pull the car all the way in the back or all the way up front, away from the "falling ice zone". It was one of those instances when I said "i'll do it later".

I have an older car, 1997 Lincoln Town.

Question: Should I go to the local Ford dealer and have them order the mirror and color it being that they also have a body shop?
Or
Should I just take it to a body shop and let them deal with it?

Being that its an older car, i'm quite sure the part wouldn't be available at a junkyard, so i'm inclined to think that even a body shop would have to go to the Ford dealer for the part.

Thoughts and suggestions appreciated! Thanks guys!

[fingers80002]

Go to a body shop.
They should be able to find a used one and pant and install it.
A dealer is going to have higher parts and labor.

I know, I work at a Lincoln/mercury dealer................

[billamj]

I second the body shop for this one. An older Lincoln, the dealer is really going to hit you for parts.

[Michele]

Thanks fingers.

What concerns me is the body shop buying a used one and it not working. I've already had an experience like that with a body shop. They got a used mirror and it didn't work, so, they loaded up my door with tape and wires and it kept shorting out. What a bizarre nightmare that was.

I'll give it a try going over to the body shop. Maybe i'll get lucky and they will be decent.

Oh, this will be mirror #5!

[normanvin]

Thanks fingers.

What concerns me is the body shop buying a used one and it not working. I've already had an experience like that with a body shop. They got a used mirror and it didn't work, so, they loaded up my door with tape and wires and it kept shorting out. What a bizarre nightmare that was.

I'll give it a try going over to the body shop. Maybe i'll get lucky and they will be decent.

Oh, this will be mirror #5!

Check with the dealer to see if an OEM unit is available. Then specify that the body shop use a new one.

[normanvin]

For that matter you may save a few bucks by suppling the mirror to the shop yourself.

[Michele]

I second the body shop for this one. An older Lincoln, the dealer is really going to hit you for parts.

Oh, I know! I've bought 2 brand new ones myself. Price rocked around 350.00 because its heated and has memory. Then it had to be painted. What a pain in the ass.

[andrewjs18]

What about a junk yard? You'll save a bunch...then, just have a body shop paint it to match...shit, you might even luck out and find 1 that's the same color as your car?

[Michele]

What about a junk yard? You'll save a bunch...then, just have a body shop paint it to match...shit, you might even luck out and find 1 that's the same color as your car?

The problem with the junkyard is finding a mirror in perfect condition and the electric intact. The mirror is heated and has memory.

Same color? I doubt it, there aren't many Towns this color, it was custom for the presidential series.

[andrewjs18]

The problem with the junkyard is finding a mirror in perfect condition and the electric intact. The mirror is heated and has memory.

Same color? I doubt it, there aren't many Towns this color, it was custom for the presidential series.

doesn't hurt to try....call around...