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      03-01-2013, 07:42 PM   #1
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Heated Mirrors

Is it my imagination or heated mirrors work really slow.

This is what mine looked like after 40 minutes of driving in 43F outside and small mist.
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      03-01-2013, 08:24 PM   #2
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Buff a little RainX into your mirrors and you will thank me. The heated mirrors on the F25 were never meant to "vaporize" water on contact.
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      03-01-2013, 08:58 PM   #3
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2013 BMW X3  [5.66]
Its primary objective is to melt the snow or ice :P
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      03-02-2013, 07:12 AM   #4
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This is the 1st car I've had in years where I have to wipe the mirrors because they are so weak. I'd prefer they weren't automatic but were more powerful and I could use them when I thought necessary
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      03-02-2013, 09:30 AM   #5
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Old VW I had actually dried mirrors if wet.
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      03-02-2013, 01:45 PM   #6
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As you can see on the picture, the bottom portion started to dry out in 40 minutes. It took another 30 minutes for the rest of the mirror to improve.
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      03-02-2013, 02:24 PM   #7
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I cannot see any dry part but that could be my eyes I do remember that my E36 M3 had heated mirrors that used positive temperature coefficient thermistors, which basically means that the glass heating decreases (due to decreased current) with increasing temperature, and the opposite for decreasing temperature. 43F is not that cold. It might be interesting to see how the mirror heating performs on a really cold day.
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      03-02-2013, 03:20 PM   #8
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I also noticed that the heating on the wing mirrors is poor. My previous cars (Honda Accord and Hyundai Santa Fe) zapped ice/snow and rain quickly, the X3 takes ages to clear
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      03-03-2013, 03:27 AM   #9
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I am sure mine have cleared much quicker than 40 mins (usually doesn't take that long to get to work0
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      03-03-2013, 10:04 AM   #10
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The mirrors don't turn on below a preset temp. I can't remember the temp, I think its something like 7C.
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      03-03-2013, 10:28 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by clivem2 View Post
The mirrors don't turn on below a preset temp. I can't remember the temp, I think its something like 7C.
I never heard that but cannot find documentation either. In the OP's case, low temp was not an issue but at the moderate temp he enountered (43F), the heating might have been weaker than at lower temps.
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      03-03-2013, 10:46 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by noka View Post
I never heard that but cannot find documentation either. In the OP's case, low temp was not an issue but at the moderate temp he enountered (43F), the heating might have been weaker than at lower temps.

I have not been paying attention to performance in other temps, but for some reason I noticed on this day that it was unusually slow.
Based on these posts, it seems that temperature outside has relation to how they work. I don’t remember seeing anything in the manual that describes that.
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      03-03-2013, 11:36 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by alexg62 View Post
I have not been paying attention to performance in other temps, but for some reason I noticed on this day that it was unusually slow.
Based on these posts, it seems that temperature outside has relation to how they work. I don’t remember seeing anything in the manual that describes that.
I don't see documentation on the X25 either. I confirmed my findings on my M3 by taking the mirror glass assembly with connected wires and measuring the resistance while cooling and heating it . A BMW tech later confimed my findings. So, operation of the X25 heated glass is only an assumption on my part.
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      03-03-2013, 01:31 PM   #14
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I have noticed that as well, the heated mirrors does not work on warm days. Basically, the warmer the weather, the weaker the heated mirrors. On those warm rainy misty days, you are out of luck.
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      03-05-2013, 02:16 AM   #15
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Also, it seems the "eco pro" mode lowers the output of the various climate gizmos, perhaps there is a link to the heated mirrors too? Do you drive in eco pro?
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      03-05-2013, 03:53 AM   #16
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To reply to myself, this morning was one where I had to defrost/demist the mirrors, and I didn't kick in the "eco pro" button -- result is clear mirror in about 3-4 minutes. Next time I'll try with the "eco pro" mode on and see if it makes a difference...
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      03-05-2013, 06:55 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by buze View Post
Also, it seems the "eco pro" mode lowers the output of the various climate gizmos, perhaps there is a link to the heated mirrors too? Do you drive in eco pro?
Very interesting point. I do drive in eco-pro mode. Will have to try this again next time without it.
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      03-05-2013, 07:44 PM   #18
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All that the manual states is, "Automatic Heating - Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated whenever the engine is running."
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      03-05-2013, 08:18 PM   #19
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Did some googling on "bmw eco pro heated mirrors" and found that performance of heated mirrors is adjusted. I also found several posts on other BMW forums stating the same.

The following article explains this further for 3series

http://cgdailydrive.com/analyzing-ec...2012-bmw-328i/


At least I understand how it works now.
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      03-06-2013, 02:24 AM   #20
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I have had no problems with mist or ice.

Maybe "arctic" -spec cars have more power on those heaters?

When there is layer of thin ice on the mirror it is melted after about one minute drive.

When there is mist and rain my mirrors stay dry. I have come to conclusion that mirror heating is on when wipers are on.

I live by the sea and I was afraid that misty mornings my mirrors will be useless as there is no switch to turn heating on. But this has not been a problem at all.

I am satisfied with my mirrors heating.
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      03-06-2013, 07:35 AM   #21
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The rumeour is; that the heather they put in the mirror was supposed to be in the steeringwheel and the other way around. :-)
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      03-06-2013, 08:43 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jeschiotz View Post
The rumeour is; that the heather they put in the mirror was supposed to be in the steeringwheel and the other way around. :-)

That reminds me of a joke Jay Leno told a while back, about the serious flaws in the Hubbell telescope mirror (manufactured by a subsidiary of GM) that caused initial poor images,... they figured that the mirrors were accidentally interchanged between the Hubbell and a car because some guy looked in his Buick rearview mirror and saw Pluto.
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