Does any else have an issue with foggy windows in a rainy climate(Seattle). It seems like when it is wet outside and when I get in the Mini the windows fog up a little more than I use too. I was thinking about using FogX but i am not sure how it would work on tinted windows. I have not tinted my windows yet but curious if any one has similar issues with fogging windows or has used FogX

fog x product if you don't know what it is
fogx

 

Mine will fog up too so to keep them clear I keep the AC on with the temp at a comfortable level (i.e. set to warm in the winter months). Around here I think I have more use for the AC in the winter than the summer.

 

Make sure recirc is OFF.

 

I've used FogX before on several vehicles, and it certainly does work, including on factory tinted windows. But I can't comment on aftermarket tinted ones.

Like the other two forum members said, make sure the recirc is off and use the A/C to remove humidity.

 

What he said. I was on a trip once in a borrowed pickup, and my buddy kept complaining about the windows fogging up; I drove the next day and found it on recirc.

 

I will check to see if "recirc" is on, as I am new to the car I saw auto and called it a day..

I know about the AC, but i did not want to turn it on just because i get in the car wet. and whats wired is that the rear window on the driver side really fogs up.. maybe condensation from my coat.

 

For whatever reason, you have the keep the fan on. If you leave the fan in the off position, the interior gets NO ventilation and will fog up within a few minutes. It's not like most cars, where with the fan off, you still get ventilation (especially at speed).

One of the MINI "quirks."

 

yep A/C and recirc resolved for me as well. Unfortunate bug in the HVAC system. Stinks for me since I'm in Jersey and with all the traffic it's sometimes nice to use recirc to keep the pollution out. Oh well, I guess there are some things you have to give up with the 'oh so sensitive' Mini.

 

AFAIK recirc should be off in any car for foggy windows, not just MINI.

 

This is definitely not a bug in the HVAC system, or even specific to MINIs. All cars will do this given the right conditions. No ventilation in a small enclosed high moisture environment will cause the windows to fog. If you run the AC it will no longer fog up, and you may even be able to use the recirc option as well. This is exactly what the defrost button does, it cycles the AC compressor to remove moisture from the air.

In fact, most newer vehicles run the AC full time by default for this exact reason. If you use the 'AUTO' button on the MINI HVAC systems (if equipped), the car will do this. I know Audi's and Chevy's do this, Ford is starting to as well, MINI and BMW do it via the AUTO button, as well as many other auto manufacturers.

You will still get nice hot air with the AC on. I run the AC full time in my Paceman (in AUTO mode) and in the 5 months I've owned the car not once have the windows fogged up (I've used recirc as well). Same with the R56 I drove for 3 years, and my GMC pickup truck for 2 years before that. The AC systems in newer cars are efficient enough to not have as big of an affect on MPG's as you see in older vehicles. Cars are now being designed to run the AC full time.

Also with MINIs, when the HVAC system is off, no air will be allowed to flow through. This is done by design and is something more common in luxury brands.

 

Agree with arsci, turned on AC when I got my CM, haven't turned it off since. No fog.

 

FYI you can run defrost without AC.

 

You can, but it will still cycle the AC compressor whether you have the AC button pressed or not. That's how it removes moisture from the air.

 

I'm not sure that's true. It is in US and japanese cars, in fact, turning on defog in my wife's car turns off recirc. But I think in MINIs, the functions are separate. The up arrow doesn't turn the compressor on, and I don't think the defog button does either, just the gale force blower. My thought when I first turned on the defrost/defog was that the British answer to fogging up (being more experienced than the rest of the world outside Seattle) was air flow volume. I'm headed out in a minute and I'll test it out.

 

It does it, trust me. It will not turn on the AC light, but it is still cycling the compressor. If the defrost button is on, the compressor is cycling and recirc is turned off. Blowing moist air at an already fogged up window does absolutely nothing regardless of temp or force.

That said, I can't speak for what the up arrow does. As far as I know that's just a selection for where the air goes . I doubt it does anything with the AC compressor.

 

Trusting you has nothing to do with it. I had checked by ear, and I just came in from checking visibly. It may be different in your car, but in my '08 Clubman:
Arrow up: (Directing whatever temp air directly on the windshield, at the standing fan setting) Compressor off. No surprise there.
AC button on: No change in air direction, compressor on. No surprise there either.
Defrost button on: Essentially all air is directed up to the windshield, at what sounds like max fan speed. Compressor still off.
If I started with recirc on, that was turned off when the defrost button was pressed; I'd never paid attention to that.
It may also behave differently if you're in "auto" mode, but I have that turned off in the winter, as I don't want the drag of the compressor cycling on & off.

You may be young enough to have never owned a car without AC. Air blown against the windshield was all there was in those cars. In the summertime, it takes a long time to work. For that matter, in the summetime in the MINI, hitting the AC button and changing nothing else will clear the screen pretty quickly. Like I say, yours may work differently, but try my experiment (hood up, car parked) and see what you discover.

Not that it makes any difference to the OP...

 

I realize it's been a couple of months since this issue was discussed... but thought I would throw my two cents into the ring.... I have never used a product called Fog-X but can highly recommend a product called "Cat Crap"... don't go to your neighbors litter box.. that might scratch up your tint... but head to your nearest ski shop or motorcycle shop.. I use it on my helmet shield and it NEVER fogs...