bmwe21.net forums

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?

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

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

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

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?

Every 3 or 4 weeks seems to work.

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!

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

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.

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!

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...

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

....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... )

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.

Jeroen wrote: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?