Crazy fighting couple takes out mirror cover

I always park far, far away from all the other cars in the parking lots and structures, fearing that somebody will dent or scratch my car with their door.

Last night, I was in an outer left-turn lane in North Long Beach, waiting for the green, about a couple of yards ahead of a large SUV on my left in the inner left-turn lane. All of a sudden, the passenger door opens and a guy comes out—at first, he looked like he was coming for me—violently and forcefully slamming the huge SUV door on my car. He then runs across multiple lanes, and his girlfriend starts chasing after him while shouting at each other. I am hoping that there is not much damage to my car, but somehow, I stayed in the car. Later, I saw another young woman crying her heart out in the SUV, and I thought someone got stabbed or shot. I asked her what happened, and she said, "They are fighting... There is a baby in the car... [sob, sob...]" I still didn't get out of the car. The woman came back and started driving away. I couldn't get the license plate because it was covered with a dull plastic, which makes it impossible to see the numbers—typical around here. I was going to go after her to get the license plate number, but she made a U-turn, possibly to find her boyfriend, and I gave up.

Later, I saw the damage. Luckily my mirror cover sacrificed itself and stopped the SUV door from hitting my door, which prevented me from spending at least $1,000 on some expensive body work. I just ordered a new mirror cover from Toyota Parts and Accessories - Official Online Store, which was only $47.31 plus tax. I will simply snap it on when it arrives; so, not much harm and damage was done. I probably won't deal with the insurance. Incidentally, there are two different versions of these covers—2021 models have four ribs on the cover. The correct part number for my 2021 "Spirited Aqua Metallic," which is the worldwide name for Blue Magnetism (paint code 791), is 87945-33030-H1. Interestingly, the original mirror cover had paint-protection film, which is not an accessory listed in my car's factory sheet. We'll see if the mirror cover will come with paint-protection film. Perhaps they all do in the 2021 models.

 

Yes, Toyota mirror covers come painted.

 

Yeah, Toyota has their mirror covers really streamlined.

I just got an email from West Coast Toyota in Long Beach that my 2021 "Spirited Aqua Metallic" mirror cover is ready to pick up. Incidentally, that's where the famous "Diane" works. Hopefully it will snap on instantly when I try to install it.

 

I picked up the new Spirited Aqua Metallic (Blue Magnetism, paint code 791) mirror cover, part number 87945-33030-H1, from West Coast Toyota in Long Beach on my way to the gym tonight.

It turns out that the 2021 mirror covers do come with paint-protection film from the factory, which is a great touch from Toyota! You can see it in the edges in the lower left and at the bottom in the photo below. The 2021 door handles also nicely come with paint-protection film from the factory. The 2021 mirror covers also have the four little ribs.



This is what the inside looks like.



The installation was very similar to putting the battery-compartment cover on a remote control—I simply pushed in and then went around the edges to click the edges in. It's as good as new now. Toyota has excelled at streamlining these mirrors.

 

LOL Probably lights of cars on the street and traffic lights.

 

Last night, I was at a Whole Foods parking lot. I always park away from other cars just in case. There was an SUV parked two spots over, and he put his empty cart into the spot between us, which started rolling toward my car and he didn't even bother stopping it. He probably didn't notice that I was sitting in the car. I panicked and honked three times, and luckily he was able to stop the cart a foot or two away from my car. And then he berates me for honking: "Relax! It is not going to hit your car!" I can't believe how selfish some people are. Imagine if it were my cart rolling toward his new SUV instead.