Lincoln Town Car - Side Mirror Glass Replacement - Heated and Dimming - 2003 - 2008 - Quick Repair

NOTE: For reasons unknown, Ford changed the inner mirror attachment assembly on 2009-2011 Town Cars. So mirror assemblies from 2003-2008 will not fit on 2009+ Town Cars. You'll need to source from those year ranges.
...
On today's video, we have a Quick Repair - a relatively and essentially tool-less replacement. On our 2003 Town Car, the side mirror glass had failed and was cloudy and damaged.
We picked up good used OEM panel and it installed in mere minutes. We show you how.
Now you may be tempted to pickup a $15 - $20 glass panel off Amazon, but this will require you to take apart the assembly, and will only be the glass. If the dimmer is damaged (like ours was) then it will not fix your main problem.
Save time, and money in the end, and find a used OEM replacement.
Like the Town Car? Stay tuned, subscribe, and check out channel as we are going to be posting a longer overview and walkthrough/walkunder of this car!

[@user-wy9nh9zm7z]

My 2005 Lincoln town car had an overheated (crazed and copper tinted) side mirror that this video helped me with the replacement procedure perfectly. Thank you so much for doing this video!!

[@SBCBears]

Mine, too.

[@jameswalker8706]

Well. I’m headed outside!!! Let’s go fix the mirror !!! Thanks Vortex!!!

[@radioactivemoose05]

That’s great 😃 now I can fix my Lincoln’s mirror 😎

[@glynngarrett2587]

Thank you. Now I know what to shop for. I'm tired of the fractured view of the not-so-distant past.👓

[@EarlGuyton425]

My 2005 Lincoln town car has the dsign in the video. Mirror is good but shook when I would be driving. With my inner palm I was able to press it in the center while holding the back of the holder and I heard it pop back in to place. It probably got this way because the previous owner tried to adjust it with their thumbs or something being the mirror adjust fuse was blown

[@clerissonmesquita]

Thank you.

[@ParissaKhoury]

Love this !!! 🙌🙌🙌

[@timnorris4458]

Thanks

[@QueerlyPandalicious]

So, I got the passenger side mirror with the housing still attached, but I just need the mirror part to put on the car (04 Lincoln Town Car). I tried to pop out the new mirror to install on our Lincoln, but it's not coming off nearly as easily as it seems to in this video. Does it just take more force than I'm applying? Or is the passenger side mirror somehow fundamentally different inside the housing?

[@nomagogo]

I have a 2003 that I just picked up. Was missing the passenger mirror (glass and back plate) when I got it. The mount looks round as in this video, but I'm seeing replacement OEM mirrors that have a rectangular female plate on them. Are there different mounting plates based on different features offered for the same year (ie... heated, self-dimming)? I have a Cartier if it makes a difference?

[@VortexGarage]

I've not pulled the passenger side off, but I do think around 2010 (perhaps 2009?) there was a change to the mirror mounts even though the housing looks the same. Not sure if there's any other differences between trims...

[@Gostintheshadows]

Would this fit a 2002 Lincoln Town car signature

[@Gostintheshadows]

Also would you recommend peel and stick glass or should I buy an OEM complete replacement for the glass?

[@VortexGarage]

For heated and dimming mirrors I would definitely buy oem or try to find a nice secondhand unit

[@janettant8862]

I have a 2010 Lincoln Towncar Signature Limited the new mirror won't snap into place, any ideas

[@VortexGarage]

See your prior comment, me and another commenter discussed. Looks like Ford changed the internal mechanism around 2009...

[@janettant8862]

​@@VortexGarageLP lol no mo look mi mi D

[@janettant8862]

​@@VortexGarageI have the correct mirror, it won't snap into place

[@smoothglicky1720]

I lost sight of which wire was supposed to go on top or bottom can anybody help me put? I have a green and a black wire

[@donnamarrie1770]

stop the video at the 1:56 mark and you will see where it goes

[@donnamarrie1770]

sorry 2:56 mark

[@janettant8862]

My Lincoln is a 2010 towncar, my actuator looks different, the mirror will not snap in place.

[@VortexGarage]

Interesting - my experience is with the 2003, and many times on Ebay or used parts places, the mirror glass will list fitting 98-2011. And indeed the mirrors do look the same externally. I did some digging and it seems that Ford may have changed the part number on the overall mirror and housing complete assembly in 2009. I don't know why, or what changed, or if that means the internal adjuster motors/mounts changed. (A good example is looking up parts for a 2003, you can find aftermarket mirror housings, but not for a 2010...) I also don't know why Ford would have changed them, since that would have cost money to retool when the platform was only a few years to being halted. Plus, they look absolutely identical. So I wish I had a better answer here but it's certainly possible that Ford made a change to the mirrors in 2009...would be good if anyone else with a later year Town Car were to see this and could add insights.

[@clemmahabir]

@@VortexGarage I'm about to change my passenger heated mirror only on my 2010 Lincoln just waiting for the part to come in. I had know idea they changed the mounting assembly thought they were the same since watching your video. I got the rite part number and it's a brand new Ford part not OEM. From what I've seen on the 2003 mirror it's round in shape that clips back on but the 2010 mirror is square shaped inside that clips back..make sure you get the rite part or replacement new or used.

[@VortexGarage]

@@clemmahabir If you get the right one for the 2010 can you share the part number? It's still odd to me that they bothered to change the mechanisms but maybe they had to due to a supplier issue. From what I can tell it was around 2009 they changed. The old style worked back to 1998....

[@clemmahabir]

@@VortexGarage Np I own two Lincoln's both L bodies 2010 Executive L and 2008 Signature L. Finding parts since FORD NO longer makes them we have some options still used or OEM sometimes we can still find some genuine Factory Ford parts around. My heated mirror right side stoped working but I live in the northern part winters frozen mirrors a safety issue. Going to the mechanics gets expensive but when you can do easy fixes like these money in your pocket. 😎👍 I plan on keeping my Lincoln's so I maintain them I daily drive 2010 but my 2008 sees NO winters anymore. Thanks for a helpful video!

[@allenbowick4716]

My dumb a#$ old neighbor just paid almost $300 for the heated mirror glass from ford.