Buy Ready Painted Mirror or Have One Painted?

[Bobby11]

The driver's side mirror on my daughter's 2014 IS 250 C was whacked and needs to be replaced. I see unpainted replacements for around $100 and painted, ready to go mirrors for $400 or more.

I've also seen recommendations that I should buy the unpainted version, and take it and the car to a body shop where it can be properly color matched exactly to the car. It looks as though a paint shop will charge $200 to $300 for this. Allegedly, this is the better way to go because a 7 year old car will have experienced some fading and a mirror painted to factory paint codes won't quite match.

So...
Any truth to the paint matching issues?
Experience in doing it one way or the other?
Recommendations for a supplier for either way?

Many thanks.

[NemesisUK]

You quote prices In dollars, are you in the UK?

I would definitely go with the unpainted version a 7yr old car will have faded a bit

[PRT68]

Yep, and get a rattle can mixed up to spray it with. If there is a slight miss match, I doubt if you'll notice. It's not as if it's directly next to an adjacent panel, or if you're painting a scape on a panel. 

[mikes5]

Both of my 2006 is250 have been hit and outer cover cracked.

Glued cracks and covered with imitation carbon fibre wrap, time consuming but only cost £7 

[stormchaser]

I got my N/S mirror cover replaced by the dealer as they come ready painted.I didn,t fancy trying to match Pearl White paint.It wasn,t cheap at £121 which includes the front surround too but it,s a perfect match and finish.

 

[mercbon]

Try to find a used set as a cheaper route.

[Mr Vlad]

Paul, did you get that mirror cover from your dealer or Lexus Parts Direct? LPD are about 25% cheaper and genuine parts colour matched and everything. 

[stormchaser]

On 8/10/2021 at 1:14 PM, Mr Vlad said:

Paul, did you get that mirror cover from your dealer or Lexus Parts Direct? LPD are about 25% cheaper and genuine parts colour matched and everything. 

Sorry for late reply.

Yes i got it from Lexuspartsdirect via eBay.

[Barry14UK]

Don't know how long ago that was but Lexus Parts direct cut the discount they offered about 6 or so months ago. I can't remember the reason they gave but I think it might have been because of complaints that what they were giving to us was too close to what they were giving trade.  However, they still often undercut other Lexus dealers, so always worth getting a quote from them.