Hey everyone, just finalizing my order and was thinking it would be nice to have the front window defroster. The car would be outside quite a bit in cold wintery weather here in Canada, so I figured this could come in useful. Has anyone used it? I'm completely sold on it, but the only drawback I'm thinking about is that the windshield will have lines on it. How visible are these lines?

 

US models don't have that.

 

I saw a Ford Sporttrac around here that supposedly had a front window defroster and I couldn't see any lines. But I've never seen a MINI with this option. As mauberley said it's not something we have available in the US.

 

Consider yourselves lucky

I guess the Germans feel sorry for us Canadians going through hard winters... not realizing that a considerable part of the US actually suffers the same.

 

I'd want to order a windshield defroster mainly because we can't get them here in the U.S.!

One thing to consider is if your area is rock-chip prone; the defroster windshield is no-doubt much more expensive than the standard one. If your insurance covers glass anyway it might not be a concern. Just food for thought.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

it works absolutely wonderful!!! i love mine!

give it a minute or so in the dead of winter, and watch the ice start to slide off.
its also great to keep the steam down on the inside of the car - it'll be the best $190 you spent!

should help on wiper wear too!

 

Wow, with that glowing recommendation, how can I not get them?

Do you see any visible lines on the windshield?

 

Barely visible.. you won't notice them unless you try to.. the best test is to have others in the car.. no one else has seen them.
Go for it!

 

Thanks guys... The front window defroster has officially been ordered. Bring on the ice!

 

When I was test driving, I had a very close look at the lines... they're thin wavy wires running vertically through the windshield and you can't see them unless you are looking for them.

I was told that the additional cost when replacing the windshield is about the same as the cost of the option ~C$200.

That's one of the features I'm looking forward to the most since I always park outside.

 

Wonder why this option isn't offered in the USA?

 

Good question. But then again, I wonder by 50+ options available in the US aren't available in Canada! Must be some market research determining that it wouldn't sell in the US. Probably not worth them building it into the production if they expect only, say, 10% of cars being ordered with it. Can't imagine it being popular in the Southern half of the States.

 

That might be true, but it seems I read elsewhere how the production line is totally flexible. They can build a South Africa model right in front of a UK model, followed by a USA model? If that's true then it shouldn't matter?

(Or am I mis-remembering and it's that they can do an MC, then a Clubman, then a convertible, then another Clubman? )

 

I think it's all of the above. The German production lines are remarkable and do allow for ultimate flexibility. Perhaps it's just a marketing thing based on the market and whether there will be enough demand to explain and sell the feature altogether.

 

I'd tend to agree - marketing probably plays a large part in the decision as to what features to offer. My other vehicle has a heated front windshield as standard, but it's not available on the US model either, so it's not just Mini making this decision. Maybe someone did a survey and found out that US buyers don't want heated windshields.

So MCEnvy, I'm assuming the dealer inventory car you were going to get didn't work out, hence your factory order?

 

Yes, very very disappointing. I thought the deal was done. Dealer called me after the weekend and said that the car in inventory was actually sold, but the dealer that had it didn't update the system nor get back to them right away.

So.. bitter sweet. On one hand, looks like it's a mid-end of July delivery. On the other, at least I get the auto climate and heated windshield that I wanted but wasn't available on the lot. Guess I'm in the waiting mode with everyone else now!

 

so for us US residents..... who has done what with that blank button?