Emma and the mirror
Emma was having a normal day. A quick run to the shops, a school pick-up, nothing out of the ordinary.
But then it happened.
She was driving down a narrow street parked cars on both sides, just enough room to squeeze through. As she edged forward, a van came the other way. She tucked in closer to the left, just trying to be careful.
CRACK.
The sickening sound of plastic meeting plastic. In her mirror, she saw it—her wing mirror, hanging limp like a broken limb. The van’s mirror? Barely scratched.
“Oh, for f**k sake.”
She pulled over, got out, and surveyed the damage. At first glance, it didn’t seem that bad. The casing was cracked, the glass shattered, but surely… surely this wasn’t a big deal?
Emma was wrong!
THE HIDDEN NIGHTMARE OF MODERN WING MIRRORS
Back in the old days, a wing mirror was just that—a mirror. Cheap to replace. A quick swap, and you were good to go.
But Emma wasn’t driving an old car. She was driving a 2024 model packed with technology. And that seemingly simple mirror? It was hiding a financial horror show.
What she didn’t realise was that her wing mirror contained:
✅ A heated glass panel to stop it fogging up in bad weather.
✅ An integrated blind-spot / 360 camera that helped her stay safe on the motorway
✅ An auto-dimming function so she wasn’t blinded by headlights at night.
✅ A built-in indicator light because modern design isn’t simple anymore.
Oh, and because of all this tech?
• It wasn’t just a ‘part’—it was a precision-calibrated safety system.
• It couldn’t just be bolted on—it had to be programmed to her car.
• And it couldn’t just be painted at home—it needed to be matched perfectly to her car’s factory colour.
THE MOMENT OF SHOCK
She took it to a repairer. “Just need a new mirror,” she said. “How much?”
The technician tapped on his tablet, checked the part number, and read out the price.
“£1947.44, all in.”
Emma nearly choked.
“For a mirror?”
Yes.
Because when you damage something that’s part of your car’s safety and driving system, you’re not just replacing plastic. You’re replacing technology, security, and peace of mind.
• The part alone? £1364.20
• Factory paint and prep? £48.67
• Fitting and wiring? £60
• Recalibration of cameras and sensors? £150
• TOTAL DAMAGE? £1947.44
All from one moment. One mistake. One clip of a mirror
THE LESSON? MODERN CARS AREN’T CHEAP TO FIX – BUT THEY NEED TO BE DONE RIGHT.
Emma had options. She could have done it on the cheap got a second-hand part thrown on maybe if she could of found one. But then:
❌ The sensors might not have worked.
❌ The paint might not have matched.
❌ The camera might have been off—making her blind-spot warning useless.
So she did the smart thing. She got it done properly.
And now, every time she folds in her mirrors, checks her blind spot, or signals to change lanes, she knows:
✅ It works.
✅ It’s safe.
✅ It won’t fail when she needs it most.
THE REALITY OF MODERN REPAIRS
This isn’t just Emma’s story. It’s happening every day.
Modern cars are filled with hidden costs that most people don’t think about until it’s too late.
So if you find yourself in Emma’s shoes—whether it’s a mirror, a bumper, a scratch, or something worse—ask yourself:
Do you want it done at the cheapest price?
Or do you want it done right and safe?
Because when it comes to repairs, the real cost isn’t the bill—it’s what happens when you cut corners.
HIT SOMETHING? DON’T PANIC. CALL BODYMATTERS.
We don’t just fix cars. We restore them properly.
✅ Manufacturer-approved repairs.
✅ Factory-quality paint matching.
✅ Safety recalibration to ensure everything works as it should.
Because modern cars aren’t just metal and paint anymore. And neither are proper repairs.
