side mirror lenses

[AnteGTI]

hey guys i was looking through the ecs tuning catalog, and am buying new side mirror lenses (right and left) but i dont understand the difference between heated and non-heated and is blue tint better than no tinit or clear/grey tint? and the prices vary a fair bit, between 20-60$(american) pair mirror. Any help most appreciated.

Ante.

[Manaz]

Heated mirrors have an integrated element in them so that the glass warms up and defogs/melts any ice/snow that forms on them. It doesn't get very warm, just warm enough to deice/defog. Not really needed in Australia I imagine unless you live in an Alpine climate (and as much as we up north like to give Victorian's ****, it's not all blizzard cold down there!).

Not sure that blue tint's legal in Australia, you'd have to check the ADRs. Make sure if you're ordering mirrors that you get ones suited to our mirror sizes (different markets have different sized mirrors to satisfy the local requirements), and that if you get assymetric mirrors where one is convex (to minimise the blind spot) that you specifically get RHD mirrors (as having the drivers mirror "warp" the view is bloody annoying - something I experienced on a hire-car Kia Rio!).

[Treza360]

Blue tinted mirrors reduces the dazzle and glare from headlights quite considerably. Opposite opinion to Manaz, I would also highly recommend the aspherical (wide angle) glass. Once you get used to these, it makes spotting cars in your blind spot much easier, of course head checks are still advised but they're great.

In terms of heated and non heated, your best bet is to check whether or not your stock mirrors are heated or not. Easiest way to do this is to pop out the glass and see if there is wiring and the element there. Alternatively, turn on your demister and see if the glass gets warmer. I think only the GTIs and R32s came with heated mirrors (R32s for certain).

Cheers,
Trent

[AnteGTI]

yeah theyre heated lol, was wandering wat them 2 wwires on each side were for, coz the motors still worked and everything seemed to be plugged in and i couldnt find where they went haha

[Treza360]

I'd get the blue tinted, aspherical heated mirrors then. Aspherical on both sides as well.
Cheers,
Trent
Edit: Oh wait that's what I did buy anyway.

[ben]

Not sure that blue tint's legal in Australia, you'd have to check the ADRs.

My '01 bora has the blue tint mirrors from when it was purchased new, so I imagine they are legal. Definitely nice too if they arent much more pricey...