Hot side mirrors on Z4 3.0i '06

[Reflex_nl]

I accidentally noticed that the 2 side mirrors of my Z4 are running hot... you can feel it on the frond side of the mirror. Its kinda strange, and it is not the case on my 330i.

And yes, it is not due to the sun . It happens after ca. 10 min of driving, anyone similar issues?

[BlackSapphireZ]

they are heated mirrors...on whenever the car is on

[Huz-Z]

Or air friction from driving really really fast.

Huzz

[Hawkeye]

I don't know why you would need heated side mirrors on a zed, but we got them

how did you notice this? I can't think of a single time I've had to touch my mirrors (besides folding them in when I am washing the car)

[Huz-Z]

It seems that a lot of Zed drivers operate their vehicles in the warmer dryer parts of the continent. Some of us though are in other locations where the mirrors could be obscured with condensation and drizzle or even - GASP! - ice and snow.

Regardless of your location, if you are driving in damp, drizzly and / or cool weather conditions, the heaters in the mirrors should be very effective at keeping them clear of condensation. They will also melt ice and snow should you choose to drive the car in that type of weather.

As I'm in a nothern location, I know how effective heater mirrors are on my other cars. I also know what winter driving and roadsalt can do to a car so you can rest assured that my Zed will never be driven in conditions like that!

Huzz

[WAMz4]

Was the heater inside turned on? Or defrost? The mirrors are heated I remember reading it in the manual. I've never felt my mirrors to check if they are hot. But shouldn't they only come on when the heater or defrost is on?

[Reflex_nl]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

Or air friction from driving really really fast.

Huzz

I go fast but not that fast

[Reflex_nl]

Originally Posted by WAMz4

Was the heater inside turned on? Or defrost? The mirrors are heated I remember reading it in the manual. I've never felt my mirrors to check if they are hot. But shouldn't they only come on when the heater or defrost is on?

No, the heater was turned off, it was approx. 90F outside... no reason to have heating or heated side mirrors on at this time of the year in TX.

I just felt it by accident, but I couldn't trace it back to a setting in the manual. Did you test yours?

[Lance_Goodthrust]

Z4 manual page 34:
"Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated when the engine is running or the ignition is switched on."

That's the way mine work. Seems kinda silly. My wife's Mercury mirrors only heat up when rear window defroster is turned on. That makes more sense to me.

[Hawkeye]

It doesn't hurt anything and it is one less thing the driver has to worry about. Personally I think BMW did it the right way.

I don't drive my Zed in the winter, which sucks cause my truck doesn't have heated side mirrors or heated seats while my zed does... did that backwards!

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by Reflex_NL

No, the heater was turned off, it was approx. 90F outside... no reason to have heating or heated side mirrors on at this time of the year in TX.

I just felt it by accident, but I couldn't trace it back to a setting in the manual. Did you test yours?

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