Window Condensation?

So I got my 328xi last week, few things that I did notice were that:

1. When I drive my car in the morning, it literally takes FOREVER for the side mirrors to become clear. Living in NJ - on first start all the windows are covered with i guess water or condensation. The windshield begins to clear up real quick, but the side glasses and the rear view glasses literally never clear up.

Any ideas? tips?

2. When backing up, at night - looking at the rear view mirror I still cannot see jack. It feels like the rear view lights are not even noticeable. Coming from a Acura TSX 09 with rear view camera, backing out of a spot last night took me literally 5 mins.

Any tips would be most helpful...

Originally Posted by ojasray

1. When I drive my car in the morning, it literally takes FOREVER for the side mirrors to become clear. Living in NJ - on first start all the windows are covered with i guess water or condensation. The windshield begins to clear up real quick, but the side glasses and the rear view glasses literally never clear up.

Silly question perhaps, but are you turning on the rear defroster? That also heats the wing mirrors and should clear them in a minute or two. The backlight takes longer to clear but you should see clear stripes along the defroster wires in a matter of minutes. If not, check your defroster fuse, connections, etc.

Regardless, I suggest the solution I used in my pre-garage days: Keep a short-handled squeegee in the car to clear the back and side glass before driving off. (Wipers take care of the windshield.) It's a heck of a lot faster and safer than waiting for the glass to heat up.

[QUOTE=ojasray;7120333]So I got my 328xi last week, few things that I did notice were that:

1. When I drive my car in the morning, it literally takes FOREVER for the side mirrors to become clear. Living in NJ - on first start all the windows are covered with i guess water or condensation. The windshield begins to clear up real quick, but the side glasses and the rear view glasses literally never clear up.

Any ideas? tips?



Any tips would be most helpful...[/QUOTE Lower and raise your windows to clear them until they dry up. Good luck
cheers
vern

good point the squeegee - i also did not know about the rear glass heater also defrosting / clearing up the side ones... will check that out.

Are you referring to exterior or interior condensation? If you are referring to interior condensation be sure the a/c-heater is set to fresh air, not recirculate.

Weird, page 53 of my owner's manual says:

Automatic heating
Both exterior mirrors are automatically heated
whenever the engine is running.

No indication if this is for all trims, or just with the cold weather package, or what. But it's not a feature mentioned anywhere so like rear window defogging I assume its standard to all F30s. It could just be that the system isn't very strong, to save on power. Squeegee is your best bet - I've used it myself many times.

Originally Posted by elistan

Weird, page 53 of my owner's manual says:



No indication if this is for all trims, or just with the cold weather package, or what. But it's not a feature mentioned anywhere so like rear window defogging I assume its standard to all F30s. It could just be that the system isn't very strong, to save on power. Squeegee is your best bet - I've used it myself many times.

The exterior mirrors are heated on all trims, regardless of whether the car has the cold weather package.

Originally Posted by Zeichen311

Silly question perhaps, but are you turning on the rear defroster? That also heats the wing mirrors and should clear them in a minute or two.

Where did you obtain that information?
cheers
vern

Originally Posted by vern

Where did you obtain that information?
cheers
vern

My faulty memory.

The exterior mirrors have had heated glass for ages but I think (a) it used to be optional and (2) possibly operative only w/rear defroster and (C) that may have been only true for the E46, not the E90 (or F30). It was easier to stuff my foot in my mouth than check the facts.

Originally Posted by Zeichen311

My faulty memory.

The exterior mirrors have had heated glass for ages but I think (a) it used to be optional and (2) possibly operative only w/rear defroster and (C) that may have been only true for the E46, not the E90 (or F30). It was easier to stuff my foot in my mouth than check the facts.

iirc, they are always heated, even on the E46. easy test, put your finger on the mirror glass when the engine is running

Originally Posted by Orient330iNYC

iirc, they are always heated, even on the E46. easy test, put your finger on the mirror glass when the engine is running

Will do, as soon as I reacquire an E46.