Is there a salvage yard near you where you could look for a replacement that is already the colour you need? You might have to take the whole assembly though.

 

Paint it black/flat black/matte black with a spray can. Then paint the other side to match, call it customized.
Duplicolor may offer the correct color in a spray can?

 

Great minds think alike.
Or possibly a search at Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market might yield results.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm actually kind of curious how well some Duplicolor and clear coat would work and given the $30 cost of the part it won't cost me much to find out. Best case is that it's passable and worst case it is looks like someone took some Duplicolor and did a hack job, in which case it won't cost much to start over and will have learned something as well.

Still wondering how I lost it. There appears to be zero collision damage so wondering if someone 'liberated' it. Better that than my cat converter I guess.

 

I'm actually kind of curious how well some Duplicolor and clear coat would work and given the $30 cost of the part it won't cost me much to find out. Best case is that it's passable and worst case it is looks like someone took some Duplicolor and did a hack job, in which case it won't cost much to start over and will have learned something as well.

If you go with the flat black color that @Dubz suggested and skip the clearcoat, it will give you two advantages:

1. It won't look hack.
2. It's easy to retouch, if needed, without having blending issues.

 

Some body shops will make up a spray can of colour matched paint using your paint code. If your original paint is faded, it might not be as close as you'd expect.

 

That option is NOT cheap!

 

Some body shops will make up a spray can of colour matched paint using your paint code. If your original paint is faded, it might not be as close as you'd expect.

I'm not expecting it to be that close Seriously, the car has been garage-kept since new so no significant fading, plus the mirror is not like having to match a body panel and close might be good enough to pass casual inspection. It basically comes down to do I want to risk 30 bucks plus a can of Duplicolor to see how it turns out. My expectations are low but you never know.

 

My buddy lost 2 red mirror covers on his Malibu. First painted replacement cost $75 at Chevy. Second was $18 (black) from EBay. It will stay black and not really noticeable.

 

Look on fleaBay. They come in all colors.
You may have to buy the whole mirror but if you can figure out how to just pop the cover, win.

 

When I broke my "Silver ice " colored one, I just bought 2 black ones.

 

When I broke my "Silver ice " colored one, I just bought 2 black ones.

Was thinking about that too. The mirrors really don't look bad blacked out, not sure it's even preferable that they be color matched.

 

That option is NOT cheap!

True, but it's not "multiples" of the part cost when painted by a body shop. I still think a salvage yard is one of the better options when it's convenient (i.e. not too far away) assuming you will find one of the right colour. Quite likely cheaper than any new replacement option and already painted the right colour to boot.

 

I noticed that I somehow lost (or maybe 'lost', as in someone else needed one) the right-side outside mirror cover on my 2013 Outback. I believe I have found the correct part on the online fiche (p/n 91059AJ00B) but it does not appear to be available in a painted version. The part itself isn't too outrageous (about $35) but I'd hate to have to pay multiples of that just to get it painted at a pro shop, although I guess i don't have any other option (short of a spray can but I think I know how that would end up looking.)

I'm slightly confused because the side mirrors on my Dark Blue '14 OB are Silver. What are yours, and what colour are the "unpainted" ones?
You may end up liking them unpainted 😁

Kindest Regards,
JD

 

True, but it's not "multiples" of the part cost when painted by a body shop.

In my area I would very surprised if I could find a body shop that would provide time and materials for such a job for much less than $100, and that is 'multiples' of the $30 cost of the part. The junkyard option might be less (assuming that you could find a yard with the right color and willing to separate the cover from the mirror assembly), but considering time to find/driving miles/etc. I'm not sure the final cost would be much less than other options.

 

I'm slightly confused because the side mirrors on my Dark Blue '14 OB are Silver. What are yours, and what colour are the "unpainted" ones?
You may end up liking them unpainted 😁

On my 2013 the mirror covers were color-matched from the factory (Venetian Red, H2Q, in my case), maybe was part of an option package, not sure. The unpainted are black so yes, one could probably use them as is if you don't have to have color-matched mirrors (and I don't.) But in the end I'll probably just end up biting the bullet if I can find a reasonable painting option.

 

@smiller, you quoted from what I said about a (maybe) $25 custom made spray bomb/can with the factory colour. Time and materials for a shop to paint the mirror isn't relative to what you quoted. I used to get these for $15 but that was a long time ago.

 

In my searches I did find a place that will happily deliver a color-matched OEM part mirror cover right to my door... for only $270 (but free shipping! )

 

My local Napa will make a rattle can of OEM color matched paint for about $50. I know because I've had to replace two mirror scalps....danged garage door frame !

 

Automobile Touch Up Paint - Factory Matched Paints - Express Paint

We carry factory matched colors for all vehicles. All colors are available in touch up pens, touch up bottles, spray paint, and other professional sizes.

expresspaint.com

Another option. $25 for a code matched 11oz spray can.

 

Another option. $25 for a code matched 11oz spray can.

Thanks, I was looking for that site but couldn't find it. Trouble is by the time you buy both the paint and clear coat you are getting up to around 50% of the cost of a pro job, so I'm thinking maybe best just to spring for the known quantity.

 

I don't think so. Given the price of paint I'd say the $100 mentioned is way too low. Most shops wouldn't want to be bothered with this and the chance that you whine about imperfect colour matching, so even if they'd take it on I'd say more like $250 - $300. Plus you're done it an hour after masking and all. Take it to a shop and you're without your car for a day.

 

I don't think so. Given the price of paint I'd say the $100 mentioned is way too low.

Ah, that sadly may well be the case. I haven't gotten a quote yet but given that current pricing for anything automotive tends to be shocking these days I wouldn't be surprised. It also may be why my mirror cover somehow 'disappeared.'

 

It's not just the paint, which when you mix in very small amounts is harder to nail down the exact quantities. Someone mixes paint, loads the gun, puts on the apparel, goes into a spray booth, hangs and paints the object, has to clean out the gun nozzle and gun container and the mixing container. To say nothing of the power used to light the paint booth and run the fans plus anything else like masking off. No way anyone will do that for 100 bucks including the cost of paint.

 

1. scuff it up
2. spray with adhesion promoter.
3. prime
4. paint
5. clear coat

Let set for a week and then install it.

 

I received and installed the unpainted part, and since the body cladding and pillars are blacked out the black mirror housing almost matches better/looks better than the painted. On the fence whether it's best to paint the new cover or just replace the driver's side with unpainted for a small cost. In fact it I sold the painted cover I'd probably be dollars ahead on the whole deal.

 

I have gone down this road on a few cars now. Salvage yards (the non-pick your part yourself kind) are generally the best choice price wise, but arent always upfront with the condition of the parts. Also what is in great condition to them doesn't always translate to normal people's understanding of great condition.