MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: davidhowson on September 27, 2006, 17:53

Title: Heated door mirrors
Post by: davidhowson on September 27, 2006, 17:53
The past few mornings have produced quite a dew point on my 2, and unlike just about every other car I have owned, the 2 doesn't have heated door mirrors only electric adjustment. I presume this is right and I'm not missing something?

Has anyone ever come across a mirror glass with the heating elements on it, that will fit into the 2's standard door mirror case?

I'm quite good at the old electrics and the wiring up won't bother me too much; my fall back position here is just to get round to clearing out the garage of all the guff and get the 2 back in doors!

Thanks

David.
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Post by: Anonymous on September 27, 2006, 18:19
No - the MR2 doesn't have them.

I was considering doing this the other day. I expect there is an off the shelf generic aftermarket kit for this..... I'll have a look around.
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Post by: Anonymous on September 28, 2006, 10:15
 s:D :D s:D  
just wipe the dew off with a towel!
 :  s:shock: :shock: s:shock:

((((Maybe it's like heated seats or aircon. if you don't have it you don't see the point but once you've had it on a car it becomes a must-have.)))))
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Post by: Anonymous on September 28, 2006, 11:05
Good tip   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

Have you heard of Rain-X ??

Its avail from HalFrauds, basically once you have washed the car, then follow the instructions, and apply liberally to your windows / mirrors.  This should prevent the dew on the mirrors, as the moisture will just bead and run straight off.  Works for me.
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Post by: Anonymous on September 28, 2006, 11:10
Quote from: "simonp":D just wipe the dew off with a towel!.......

  s:lol: :lol: s:lol:  I don't want to have to carry a towel around! Just want to get in and go.... I'm always in a rush in the mornings and it's bad enough de-misting/de-icing the windscreen....

The Puma has a fine mesh heater element in the windscreen..... that was great.... your eyes soon got used to it!
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Post by: peppyuk on September 28, 2006, 11:46
Quote from: "projectneon"Good tip   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:  

Have you heard of Rain-X ??

Its avail from HalFrauds, basically once you have washed the car, then follow the instructions, and apply liberally to your windows / mirrors.  This should prevent the dew on the mirrors, as the moisture will just bead and run straight off.  Works for me.

I rain-X all glass apart from the windscreen, but still get due form on the rear screen and mirrors, but I just wipe it before I drive off.
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Post by: Tem on September 28, 2006, 12:59
Quote from: "Matt"I expect there is an off the shelf generic aftermarket kit for this.....

There is/was. I bought one for one of my earlier cars. It looked like a rear window defogger lines with smaller spaces inbetween. It was a sticker that you cut to size yourself and install it behind the mirror glass.

I didn't find them anymore few years ago.  s:? :? s:?  If you do, let us know.
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Post by: roger on September 28, 2006, 13:08
Quote from: "peppyuk"I rain-X all glass apart from the windscreen,

Why not the windscreen? That's the only glass I do   s:? :? s:?
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Post by: davidhowson on September 28, 2006, 16:02
Simon, you're right, once you've had a car with these extras you miss them. I also like the gadgets! - David.
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Post by: davidhowson on September 28, 2006, 16:06
I wondered if another toyota / lexus might share the same mirror glass but have the heater wire on it. But looking thro the various brochures, they all look different. Perhaps I could buy a pair of celica (or which ever happens to be the cheapest!) mirrors and extract the heater off the back??
- David
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Post by: Anonymous on September 28, 2006, 16:57
you guys dont look that hard do you?

 m http://www.offroadstore.co.uk/index.php?cPath=597 (http://www.offroadstore.co.uk/index.php?cPath=597) m

as long as you can cut it down to size in some way it would work
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Post by: roger on September 29, 2006, 13:29
Sorry Perry, what did you search for? Can't seem to find it / them.
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Post by: Anonymous on September 29, 2006, 14:10
Heated Mirror Kit
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Post by: SteveJ on September 29, 2006, 14:17
They appear to have dropped them from their range  s:-( :-( s:-(
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Post by: Anonymous on September 29, 2006, 14:33
nope

go to the 4x4 section


then landrover defender


you'll see the kit then
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Post by: Anonymous on September 29, 2006, 14:33
hold it, theyve gone?    your right
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Post by: Anonymous on September 29, 2006, 14:47
It was there yesterday !!   £40    s:? :? s:?
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Post by: davidhowson on November 5, 2006, 14:04
Right, quick update on this one. I found a source who can supply various sizes of heated pads for DIY heated mirrors. I installed a pair on Saturday afternoon, took about three hours as I had to take the door trim off, mirrors off and strip bit off trim out, make up wiring loom etc etc. I have tested the best I can (the frosty nights have gone!!) and the glass warms up a treat and I am sure it will do the job.

If anyone is interested in this mod, let me know and if there is enough interest I could put some kits together??

With this mod and my heated seats, the 2 is getting rather civilised for everyday transport without lossing the "weekend" appeal!!
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Post by: markiii on November 5, 2006, 17:23
yes please
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Post by: Liz on November 5, 2006, 17:42
Me too!
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Post by: spit on November 5, 2006, 18:31
Me three!
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Post by: rob_g_clarkson on November 5, 2006, 18:54
i'll have one!!!  s8) 8) s8)
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Post by: Anonymous on November 5, 2006, 19:06
And another please.
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Post by: Tem on November 5, 2006, 20:00
Not for the '2, but for another car, yes.  s8) 8) s8)
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Post by: davidhowson on November 5, 2006, 20:45
Looks as though this could be a runner! I will try out the installation for a day or two while I also put together some component lists, instructions and costs. Thanks for the interest - David

Tem, I'll drop you a pm on the heater pads on their own in the morning, as there are various sizes.
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Post by: kanujunkie on November 5, 2006, 21:03
on this subject, if anyone ever comes across a product called RAINGEN then grab it, its a chemical that changes the outer layer of the glass to that of a hydraphobic glass but whereas Rain x is temporary, Raingen lasts for 12months. Its used on aircraft generally but F1 uses it as well, really hard to get and not cheap, but definatley a good buy, you wont get any condensation at all, shame my bottle ran out  s:( :( s:(  

i'm in if the price is good  s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
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Post by: Anonymous on November 6, 2006, 08:26
I'm in   s:) :) s:)
Title: heated mirror kit
Post by: Anonymous on November 6, 2006, 08:36
i'm interested
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Post by: northernalex on November 6, 2006, 09:06
 m http://www.rainmagic.co.uk/buy.php (http://www.rainmagic.co.uk/buy.php) m  sounds similar, professional strength lasts for a year!
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Post by: roger on November 6, 2006, 14:06
Quote from: "davidhowson"Tem, I'll drop you a pm on the heater pads on their own in the morning, as there are various sizes.

David, could you for me as well please. I don't really need it on the 2 (garaged and all that, but if its cheap enough might do it anyway), but I leave the Mondeo out all the time and it would be great for that.

Thanks
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Post by: davidhowson on November 8, 2006, 10:45
I have used the heated mirror installation over the past three mornings, and have to say I am very happy with the results. No frost but a considerable amount of dew which starts to clear after 30 seconds, but it takes about 2 minutes for the glass to become fully clear.
I have used a smaller heating pad on this first trial which clears about 2/3rds of the mirror surface within the 2 minutes mentioned above; I have ordered the next size up heating pad to trail that this weekend, as I think the bigger size will fit and produce an even better result. The other issue I have had with the smaller pad is that the electrical connectors are a bit of a tight fit next to the adjusting mechanism and I am hopeful the larger pad will also over come this.
Will update at the weekend and I'll try to get some pictures on here as well.
Cheers - David.
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Post by: davidhowson on November 16, 2006, 15:40
I have added a Group Buy to cover the parts required for this conversion. So if you are still interested, please switch over to my new thread and let me know.
Regards
David