Winter rituals..

[Reck]

I've been spoilt in the past with modern heating systems and front windscreen filaments. This'll be my first winter with the E21 so I'm interested to know how you guys cope. I tried out my rear window heater when it was steamed up the other day, took about 10 mins to clear a little patch in the middle.

So, for those who drive our E21's in all conditions.. What is your morning ritual like in the winter?

[e21-Mark]

I use that anti-fog stuff you can buy for crash helmet visors. I rarely have to de-mist the screen.

[Reck]

Didn;t know about that, ta. Wheres the best place to get it?

[e21-Mark]

Halfrauds or any other motoring store I guess? Motorcycle shops too.

[Reck]

Use rain-x now and again, they make some stuff for anti-fog. Might give that a go.. No mention on how often it needs applying though?

[e21-Mark]

Every 3 or 4 weeks seems to work.

[nas80]

i tried that anti fog stuff when i bought the donor car as it had a tiny leak in the heater matrix so kept on fogging up the screen, seemed to work pretty well.

I also used that rain x as the donor also didnt have working wipers this also seemed to do the trick very nicely!

[petroscf]

Last winter I fitted a new rear screen...Fairly cheap (non BMW one)... So anti mist is again working just like....new!!!!
A small issue occurs when trying to de-mist the front screen, in the center (parts left and right demist fairly quickly with air blow, but the middle part takes some more time), which gives me hope that a vent duct out of place might be my dash problem as people suggested in the other thread
( http://www.bmwe21.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12264)
which means that it seems easier to fix than if it was indeed something broken in there

[Reck]

Do the back window defrosters deteriorate with age?

I think somethings up with my blower vents aswell, the 'direction' selector doesn't turn to the 'o' setting (still directs Up or Down, or Up/Down), the fresh air slider doesn't seem to do anything either. And I only seem to get hot air through under acceleration - doesn't seem to be moving much through when stopped (suspect a loose/slipping fan belt though).

Rather than scrape frost off every day I'm thinking of getting a car cover now to throw on at night.

[murran]

i usually start the car up and leave it for 10 mins in the morning to warm up a bit.
lol ive only got about 5 bars across the back window that work.

also mmmmmm studded tyres!

[E21meister]

Drove through the rain (as described in my recent thread) and the heating/demist/wipers didn't miss a beat. the rear screen is OK, but needs a few more long periods with current going through the filaments to get it working properly.
I don't use rain-ex or any of that cobblers; just use a domestic multi-surface cleaner on your glass and make sure the glass surface is clinically clean; smooth clean glass will make rain bead.
Also, if you have a nice set of original BMW mats, give them the winter off and buy a cheapie set of rubber mats, think of all the crap you'll be dragging into the car on wet/snowy/slushy days.
Murran: I'm tempted to get studded tyres for my 5.5x13 steelies; would be real interesting when the snow & ice hits...

[Jeroen]

Some other winter preps:

- check fan belt condition and tension
- check coolant quality (antifreeze, also for wiper fluid)
- give your door seals some attention (talcon powder, silicone spray, whatever)
- give your door lock some oil to prevent it from freezing

[petroscf]

....has winter already arrived up there?....
Down here we are still going to the beach for swimming.....

(on the other hand, if I remember correctly, 1st January 2010 we had 25 degrees celsius, a totally ill thing and "white" christmas is sooooooooo rare in Greece... )

[e21-Mark]

It's Autumn here in the UK and currently pouring with rain.

I've just bought a new battery seeing as Winter is just around the corner.

[E21meister]

Some other winter preps:

- check fan belt condition and tension
- check coolant quality (antifreeze, also for wiper fluid)
- give your door seals some attention (talcon powder, silicone spray, whatever)
- give your door lock some oil to prevent it from freezing

But surely everyone has these on their maintenance schedule anyway, huh?