Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross Mirror Repair: Fix the Base and Folding Unit, Not the Whole Mirror
By Duber, The Car Mirror Man · Car Mirrors Australia · Updated October 2026 · 12 min read
Short answer: for Eclipse Cross mirror repair on models from 2023 onwards, the damage is most often the joint or mirror base, including the electric folding. A whole assembly can cost well over $1,000. We can usually replace just the internal mechanism and the folding unit for around half of that price, or even less.
Need it fitted? We can replace an electric folding mirror unit at your home or work in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide — see how our mobile service works.
The Eclipse Cross is a popular compact SUV, and its mirrors take hits like any other. A car park scrape, a passing bin, a mirror folded back too hard. Owners then get a quote for a whole new assembly, and it is a shock.
In our work, the glass on these mirrors is often fine. What has failed is the part underneath: the joint and the electric folding. This guide explains what that means, why the fix can cost far less, and what to send us for a price. It covers exterior side mirrors only. We do not repair or replace the interior rear-view mirror.
What is under the mirror on a newer Eclipse Cross
The Eclipse Cross is a five-door compact crossover SUV that has been sold in Australia since early 2018 [3]. Its side mirrors fold electrically. A small motor and a joint sit at the base, where the mirror meets the door.
That base takes the load when someone hits the mirror. The housing and glass can look untouched while the joint inside is cracked or the folding unit is stripped.
The signs the base or folding unit has failed
You can often tell without taking anything apart. Look for these four signs.
If you see any of these, the problem is probably the base, the joint or the folding unit. Not the glass. And not the whole mirror.
Why a whole assembly costs so much
A whole mirror assembly is a big, complete part. It includes the housing, the glass, the motor, the wiring and the painted cover, and on this model it can cost well over $1,000.
If only the joint and folding unit are broken, you pay for all of those other parts and use none of them. The glass was fine. The cover was fine. You still paid for them.
Part or whole: what we replace instead
Where the damage is at the base, we replace just the internal mechanism and the electric folding unit. In many cases, that costs around half of a whole assembly, or even less.
We say “around half or less” because every car is different. The final price depends on the exact part and on the model year. We give you a fixed price from a photo before we come out.
Eclipse Cross mirror repair: what it costs
| Option | Typical cost | What you keep |
|---|---|---|
| Replace the whole assembly | Well over $1,000 | Nothing: every part is new |
| Replace the internal mechanism and folding unit | Around half of that, or even less | Your housing, glass and painted cover |
| Glass only (if only the glass is cracked) | From $135 fitted | Everything else |
These are the figures we see on these jobs. The exact number depends on the vehicle, so we quote from a photo. For the full price ladder by part, see our side mirror replacement cost guide.
What to send us
Show the glass and the housing. A loose or tilted mirror head is easy to see.
Where the mirror meets the door. We want to see any gap, crack or loose part.
We care about 2023 and newer models in particular, because that is where we see this fault most.
Hangs loose, will not fold, grinds, or moves by hand only.
We never sell a mirror part without pictures. The photos let us match the part to your car, and they let us give you a price you can rely on.
A real folding-unit job
This is a different model, but the idea is the same. The unit that failed is replaced. The mirror stays on the car. To learn more, see our page on electric folding mirror motor repair and our guide to a power folding mirror that is not working.
How electric folding works, in plain words
When you press the fold button, a small electric motor turns a gear in the base of the mirror. The gear swings the mirror head in against the door, or back out again. The joint beneath it carries the weight of the head and holds it in place.
Both parts live in the base. That is why a knock to the head can leave the glass untouched and still stop the mirror folding. The force goes down the arm, and the gear or the joint takes it.
What not to do if your mirror will not fold
If the mirror is loose, park the car and send us photos. We will tell you what the part is and what it costs.
Can I keep driving with a loose or stuck mirror?
That depends on where you live and what is wrong. Rules differ by state, and a mirror that hangs loose or will not hold position may not give you a clear view to the rear. National rules cover rear-vision mirrors [1].
Our state guides explain the rules in more detail: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia. When in doubt, get it fixed.
Why a hit often spares the glass
The glass sits in a protected frame at the front of the mirror head. The base sits at the back, where the head meets the arm. When a car park knock hits the head, the force has to go somewhere. It tends to run along the arm into the joint.
That is why we see so many mirrors with perfect glass and a broken base. The glass looks fine. The damage is out of sight, and that is why many owners are surprised by a big quote.
Questions to ask any repairer
| Ask this | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Which part is actually broken? | A specific part, such as the joint or the folding unit |
| Do I need the whole assembly? | Only if the damage is too wide to repair |
| Is the price fixed? | Yes, given before the work starts |
| Is the work warranted in writing? | Yes |
These questions apply to any mirror job, on any car. They help you avoid paying for parts you did not need.
What the fix looks like
We match the base and folding unit to your Eclipse Cross.
The glass, housing and cover you already have stay on.
We check that it folds, unfolds and holds its position.
No weeks at a workshop. We fit it where the car is parked.
A closer look at the joint
The joint is the pivot that lets the mirror head swing and then hold its place. On a folding mirror it works with the folding motor, so both are in the same area. When the joint is cracked or worn, the head flops, droops or will not stay where you put it.
The joint is also the point that takes the most strain when the mirror is struck. That is why the damage on newer Eclipse Cross mirrors is so often found here, and not in the glass.
What “around half the price, or less” really means
We use that phrase because it is honest about how it works. The price of the smaller repair depends on the exact part for your car. It is not a fixed percentage off a whole assembly.
On the Eclipse Cross jobs we see, replacing only the internal mechanism and folding unit comes in at around half of a whole assembly, and sometimes lower. A whole assembly can be well over $1,000. It is a guide, not a promise. The only number that counts is the fixed price we give you from your photos.
Three ways an Eclipse Cross mirror gets damaged
These are examples of how it can happen. Whatever the cause, the photos tell us what is broken.
Can you claim an Eclipse Cross mirror on insurance?
Many drivers ask whether insurance will pay for a broken mirror. It depends on your policy, your excess and the cost of the repair. Our guide on whether insurance covers a broken side mirror goes through the questions to ask.
Before you call anyone: a short checklist
Is it cracked? If not, the glass probably stays.
Does the mirror move, grind, or do nothing?
Does it hold its position, or does it droop?
Front of the mirror, the base, and the year of your car.
With that, you have everything we need to price the repair.
Fitted at your car, in five cities
We come to you in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide, within the metro area. Home, work or a car park. We do not travel to the Gold Coast or to regional areas, but we can post parts. Every job follows the national rules for rear-vision mirrors [1].
Independent repairers can get the service information they need. Australian law requires car makers to share it on fair terms [2].
What customers tell us
Short notice is normal for us, and it is how most jobs start.
We come to you in five cities
Every job is mobile. We drive to your home, your work or the car park the car is sitting in, and the mirror is fitted and tested before we leave.
Frequently asked questions
Can you repair an Eclipse Cross mirror that will not fold?
In most cases, yes. The fault is often in the joint or folding unit at the base, and we can replace that part.
How much does it cost compared with a whole mirror?
A whole assembly can cost well over $1,000. Replacing just the internal mechanism and folding unit is often around half of that, or less. We quote a fixed price from a photo.
Which Eclipse Cross models do you see this on?
Mostly 2023 and newer models, where the damage is most often at the joint or mirror base.
Is my glass likely to be the problem?
Not usually. If the glass is not cracked and the mirror hangs loose or will not fold, the base is the likely cause.
Do I need to leave the car with you?
No. We come to you and fit the part where the car is parked.
Do you replace the interior rear-view mirror?
No. We replace exterior side mirrors only.
What should I send to get a price?
A clear photo of the mirror, a photo of the base if you can, the year and model, and what the mirror does now.
Will my glass need replacing too?
Only if it is cracked. If the glass is fine, it stays. If it is cracked, glass starts from $135 fitted.
Can the folding unit be replaced without the whole mirror?
In most cases, yes. We replace the internal mechanism and folding unit and keep the rest of your mirror.
Do you work outside the big cities?
We work in the Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide metro areas only. We do not travel to regional areas, but we can ship parts.
More from the guides
Keep reading if you are sorting out a mirror.
Sources
- Federal Register of Legislation, Vehicle Standard (Australian Design Rule 14/02 – Rear Vision Mirrors) 2006: the national standard for rear-vision mirrors — www.legislation.gov.au/F2006L02663/latest/text
- Federal Register of Legislation, Competition and Consumer Amendment (Motor Vehicle Service and Repair Information Sharing Scheme) Act 2021: the law that makes car makers share repair information with independent repairers — www.legislation.gov.au/C2021A00054/asmade
- Wikipedia, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: the compact crossover SUV and its sale in Australia from early 2018 — en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_Eclipse_Cross
Prices and information in this article are indicative only and reflect real quoted jobs at the time of publication. Costs vary with vehicle, part availability and features. Send a photo for an exact fixed price.
