while doing my first oil change, I took a look at the fuse box, hmm, what is the empty slot for?


then I realized my Mini misses a rear defroster fuse


Since it has been raining like forever, I did turn on rear defroster couple of times, don't remember if it actually worked.
So does your Mini have this fuse installed? Hard to believe someone would overlook that.

 

I believe it is actually the fuse slot for the heated windshield - not available on US spec MINI's. Have to go to Europe or Canada for that one.

 

That is the heated winshield fuse, wonder if you could get retro fit kit for that, also anyone know why they're not availible in the US?

 

I know Land Rover uses heated windshields, I dunno why US spec MINI's wouldn't have this option...

 

Yep, mine is missing too? Plug one in...see what burns down

 

whew, what a relief, now I have to find the 'real' fuse.
since we're on this topic, I'm wondering how heated windshield works, is it heated by embedded wires or by blowing hot air?

 

Heated windshields work from electric current flowing through extremely tiny wires, or a transparent film of metal applied evenly over the glass; that one appears tinted like an astronaut's helmet visor (which is coated with gold).

Ford had the bright idea to leave a little rectangular window in their "Insta-Clear" windshields so your radar detector would still work, but I'd bet a portable GPS would still have some trouble acquiring satellites, a cell phone wouldn't work as well, and an EZ-pass may not work at all...

 

I used the open spot to hold a spare fuse, there is no danger of blowing stuff up, as there is nothing connected beyond that point in the circuit.

From what I have gathered through informal sources, the reason why there is no heated windshield in the US is because the metallic overlay shows up darker than most, and thus falls under window tinting regulations in most states.

 

Hi i opened up the fuse box today. The F30 fuse is missing, want to know what it is for, the diagram only says instrument cluster.