Heat in side mirrors Z3? + play in mirror?

[mjensen]

Hi. I have a Z3 1,9. I just found out, that my side mirrors each has 2 small black wires attached on the backside. Are the side mirrors heated? I don´t have a switch/don´t have hardtop with heat in the rear window.

Another thing: The driver side mirror is a bit loose and the image is a bit blurred when I drive. Is there a way to tighten it up? Looks as there is some play in the motor that adjusts the mirror.
Regards, Martin

 

[Grumps]

Hi. I have a Z3 1,9. I just found out, that my side mirrors each has 2 small black wires attached on the backside. Are the side mirrors heated? I don´t have a switch/don´t have hardtop with heat in the rear window.

Another thing: The driver side mirror is a bit loose and the image is a bit blurred when I drive. Is there a way to tighten it up? Looks as there is some play in the motor that adjusts the mirror.
Regards, Martin

Hi Martin. They are electrically adjusted, mine doesn't have heated mirrors tho.

 

[t-tony]

Simple test to find out, just breathe onto the glass while the ignition is on. If it's heated the condensation will evaporate almost immediately. Same test works for HRW's too.

Tony.

 

[pgunter]

When you say movement in the mirror, are you saying its the glass ? or the casing.

The mirror is on a frame attached to the motor with four very annoying plastic tags. The case is fixed under the mirror by four torx screws which hold the front shell and rear shell in place with he metal frame between. The casing should not be loose unless you have a broken metal frame. The mirror could have over time worked loose from the baking frame which has the annoying four plastic clips on. The bad news is that most will break the mirror when trying to remove it from the motor frame.

I hope that helps. Any issues.. post back on here..

 

[mjensen]

thanks for the answers. The casing looks/feels ok. I just have a little play in the plastic-thing with the motor that adjusts the glass. But maybe it is the four little plastic tags on the back of the mirror which is causing the slack. But the tags are not broken or damaged. All screws are tight.
Will try the breathe test but I don´t think it is heated since there is no switch.

 

[t-tony]

Some times cars with heated mirrors are live all the time. They were on my VW Touareg.

Tony.

 

[Dino D]

You probably have the 'WINTER PACK'
It's listed as option 314 and I believe includes Heated windscreen washer nozzles, heated door mirrors and heated drivers lock.

I have this and my mirrors have the wires behind attached directly to the back of the mirror. I'm not sure how it works - if it always warms or just activates based on ambient temperature. There is no switch for the heating.

If you decide your VIN on the website it will tell you what options you have (from the factory): http://www.bmwvin.com

 

[One Spanner Frank]

I think, and I could be wrong, that if the ignition is on then the heated mirrors are on. Mine has the heated washer spray nozzles and I imagine that there will be a connection at the rear of the cabin for attaching the hard top's heated rear window, but I haven't seen it.
It could, of course be part of the heating system.

 

[Dino D]

The hard top heated rear window has a switch (that you retrofit with an additional loom if not specced from the factory) so it's not always on.

 

[mjensen]

VIN check: No winter package. Odd thing: Vehicle info says, that I have limited slip differential (code 209) but I know it´s not limited slip diff (No mark on transmission and rear wheels rotate opposite when they are raised). Can anyone tell me: Has the transmission been changed at some time or is it normal that the vehicle information/codes can be wrong?

 

[andyglym]

to the forum from West Cumbria.

 

[oldcarman]

The hard top heated rear window has a switch (that you retrofit with an additional loom if not specced from the factory) so it's not always on.

Just to expand that. The wiring connections to the rear window defogger are attached to the installation HT fittings and to the additional loom from the swith as @Dino D has said. JIM

 

[MartinN]

Hi & welcome. Ref the LSD the ones fitted are theTORSEN type, I have read that the spinning the wheels test doesn't work. My old M44 powered Z had an LSD & I did try the spin the wheels when on jacks & it didn't prove anything. Good luck with your Zed.

 

[zedonist]

Mines a 98 and has heated mirrors, but does not have the winter pack, I believe they are on permanent. On the VW for people with those, the mirror switch has three positions, left or right mirror or central for heated mirror, it's best to switch it either left or right or you burn the mirrors out. This does not apply to the Z3.