What a stupid design.....on both my cars, the outside door mirrors are heated from the factory, and they are "ON" all the time whenever the key in on or engine running. They are not tied into the rear window defogger system as most all the cars made are, but they should be!! There is no switch to turn them off either. I think it's a bad design, takes it's toll on the electrical system to have them on when not needed, plus it puts wear & tear on the mirror heating elements as well

Both my cars have the outside heated mirrors, both have the auto-dimming inside rear view mirror, both have heated headlight washers, and both have electric outside mirror adjustment

I did a search for finding a way to disable the heating elements in the door mirrors, looks to be if I pull fuse F35 in the passenger compartment fuse box, that might stop the door mirrors from being heated all the time. Problem is, the headlight washers might also be stopped from working, no biggie, I never use them anyway.

Also, the electric outside mirror adjustment may also be interrupted, along with the inside auto-dimming feature may be stopped as well if I pull that fuse.....not sure if I can live with those two items not working, but I'll find out tomorrow.

I looked for a "relay" to pull for the heated mirrors, didn't find one, figured it couldn't be that easy......I suppose if all the accessories mentioned above quit working when I pull that fuse, I may have to pull the door cards and find the wires or the connector to the heating elements in the mirrors and disconnect them at that point......we'll see

Bryan (still a stupid design to have them on all the time)

 

Lots of stupid designs on these cars. Feels good to get it off your chest doesn’t it?

 

Pull the mirror glass off gently and disconnect the heater wires and tape them up, I doubt you'll get a code from this.

 

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/r...-s-hat/tYVGHfB

you could probably pick the wire out of the plug OR add a switch somewhere on the controller

 

Knowing my luck lately with this car, I would probably end up breaking the mirrors trying to get them off......I'm not gonna chance it



I agree that might be a possibility, but not knowing where the "controller" is and how hard it would be to pull the power wires to the mirrors.....I don't want to take a chance on that either

I did pull the F35 fuse this morning, and yes, my heated door mirrors don't heat up now, but like I suspected, the inside auto-dim mirror, the electric door mirror adjustments, and the heated headlight washers also don't work with fuse removed.......

So I think I'm gonna pull the inner door card off and see if I can see a heated mirror plug to disconnect or if a wire plug is accessible, maybe pull the heated mirror wire out from there

I just don't like the idea of these mirrors being "ON" all the time

Bryan

 

By "controller" i meant where the mirror controler and heated seats reside so you mount your new switch for the heated mirrors. You may pick another location.

Looking at the wiring diagram, you need to located that wire that goes to the heater and splice the new switch. My background is 2nd gen, so i connot pin point exact location of connectors amd wires, perse'.

 

It feels scary at first, but I've never heard of one breaking.
+1 that "always on" is silly, and ridiculous in a car with a complex BCM.

 

I've swapped out mirrors at least a couple of times on both sides (trying out OEM Euro and aftermarket mirrors). It's really easy. Point the mirror to maximum inwards and upwards, reach in with your fingers and pull. Ridiculous to pull the door cards to disconnect them.

The official instructions specify a plastic lever but I just used my fingers: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/r...nsoles/FmziWmk

BTW, it's the windshield washer heaters (not headlights) that are wired in the same way. The reason for all of this was undoubtedly to cut cost. They did change it for the 2nd generation MINI.

 

I learn something new every day. How are they triggered on 2nd Gen?
My wife's F54 owners manual says they're always on when the engine is on.

 

Bryan
I don't have a wiring schematic for your car.
Logically you should be able to find & disconnect the mirror heating wire from the fuse box & re-connect it to the rear window heater wire.
You might need to upgrade the fuse, but I doubt it.
I think this is a more 'normal' wiring method on most cars.

 

The R56 Owners Manual says the mirror heating is triggered by outside temperature.

Available here: https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/r53-cooper-s-hat/

 

Having the door mirrors "ON" should have been tied in with the rear window defogger switch.....I agree that this is the way most cars are wired.....

After reading the link that rkw posted about the "proper tool" to use in removing the mirror glass......I decided that I'm not going to chance removing the mirror....the door card is going to be removed to try and disable the heated mirrors

Bryan

 

Suit yourself, but pulling the door card won't get you anywhere. There is a multi pin connector at the door, and a connector at the mirror. Short of cutting one of the heater wires (black), there's no there, there. If the mirror is too risky you can look up details on removing the mirror caps using plastic knives to pull the mirror cover. Once removed you can see the wires connected to the outside of the mirror and disconnect/tape one or both. Another alternative is to remove the mirror (a couple of allen bolts) and get to the mirror side connector.

 

OPERATION HEATED DOOR MIRROR DISABLE IS A COMPLETE SUCCESS!!

I tried to remove the glass from the mirror, it was not coming off.....things were creaking and cracking, but the mirror was still attached....not gonna mess with it anymore

So I pulled the door cards, reached up and pulled the electrical connector from the bottom of the mirror, released the plastic latches to separate the connector into the two pieces, slide the wire catch slide out, remove the heated power wire inside the connector, it's green with a yellow stripe, put the electrical connector back together, taped up the power mirror wire to the harness, install connector back onto mirror, re-install door card. Repeat for other door.

Heated power mirrors are now totally disabled for as long as I own the car. If I decide to sell the car, I will give the next owner the option of having me put the one wire back into the connector, or leave it as is. I will also do this to my '04 R53 as well

Bryan (quick pictures below)

 

You can access the same connector by removing the mirrors, a bit less work.

 

The mirrors actually come off super easily, make a little noise, but no biggy. I actually paid $$ to buy a new heated mirror when my passenger side quit. Different strokes....
I find they clear the dew in the morning very quickly and keep the rain drops off as well as snow. You will likely find that your windshield washer heaters are always on too. Better get after those...