This might be too exciting for this community, so trigger warning.
Last weekend I backed out of my garage haphazardly, and hit the side mirror on the garage frame. It bent the whole mirror forward and, even with my full body weight, would not go back into place. I took my car to a body shop and they said they would have to take the whole door apart and install a new mirror. Total estimate: $3900.
Figuring I had nothing to lose, I watched a YouTube video on how to take the mirror unit apart, which I did. I found the impingement that was blocking its movement, and pounded it with a flathead screwdriver and hammer until it popped back. Put the mirror housing back together, works good as new! Only one extra screw when I was done. I think I’ll get the large fries to reward myself.
It’s an Audi, meaning all parts are needlessly complex and legendarily expensive to fix. Part of their justification for the cost (and corroborated by another shop) is that the whole mirror unit would have to be replaced and calibrated for the ADAS functions. Sure, whatever.
Yeah, if it’s got cameras or sensors that makes sense. Mine didn’t have any of those, just some motors and a turn signal, and they still wanted $500 for a new one