[creepy coupe]

Originally Posted by F30Andy

Maybe the management team behind Mini are happy to pay royalties?!

You mean BMW?

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by F30Andy

Maybe the management team behind Mini are happy to pay royalties?!

Didn't the Ford patent run out a few years ago, which is why quite a lot more cars have them now?

[TimMcC]

Originally Posted by Alex440

Didn't the Ford patent run out a few years ago, which is why quite a lot more cars have them now?

Yes

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

The heated screen in Volkswagen group cars doesn't have wire filaments. It has a super thin laminate of silver in there that can be heated and is impossible to see. Apparently it also insulates against heat from the sun in the summer. All for £340 on a Q7. BMW really ought to have something similar.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

I wish I'd had that when I was 18 in 1990. I turned on the wipers in my green Cavalier and snapped the wiper arm as the blades stayed stuck to my screen.

I managed to get around for 3 months of winter and spring with no wipers at all! Managing it in snow made rain seem like a doddle!!

[SteveChester]

I use to have one on a Focus years ago - great bit of kit

[Beancounter_74]

I don't mind the heated front screens and had a few on my cars over the years.
For me, remote operated aux heating is the winner though, had it on my RRSport, blip the car 15 mins before needing to drive from the comfort of the house, make a coffee, go out and car is lovely an warm and windows cleared

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Alex440

The heated screen in Volkswagen group cars doesn't have wire filaments. It has a super thin laminate of silver in there that can be heated and is impossible to see. Apparently it also insulates against heat from the sun in the summer. All for £340 on a Q7. BMW really ought to have something similar.

However much would replacement screens cost though? Normal heated ones are crazy expensive as it is, which is mad on what is effectively a consumable part!

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by teaston

However much would replacement screens cost though? Normal heated ones are crazy expensive as it is, which is mad on what is effectively a consumable part!

Don't know, always claimed windscreens on insurance.

[ronime]

Originally Posted by Alex440

I wish I'd had that when I was 18 in 1990. I turned on the wipers in my green Cavalier and snapped the wiper arm as the blades stayed stuck to my screen.

I had a Reed Green Mk2 Cav in the late '80s. Very much like this beauty: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...ier-updated-12

I learnt to drive in my dad's Mk2 in 1984.

I had the heated screen on a Mk1 Focus Zetec and then on a Mondeo Zetec and I found them extremely useful in winter. The heating elements went mostly un-noticed. Very low sun on a summer's evening was probably when they were most noticeable.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by ronime

I had a Reed Green Mk2 Cav in the late '80s. Very much like this beauty: http://forum.retro-rides.org/thread/...ier-updated-12

I learnt to drive in my dad's Mk2 in 1984.

I had the heated screen on a Mk1 Focus Zetec and then on a Mondeo Zetec and I found them extremely useful in winter. The heating elements went mostly un-noticed. Very low sun on a summer's evening was probably when they were most noticeable.

My Cavalier was almost identical, apart from it was metallic green, sort of. The paint was turning to power and every wash quite a bit fell off.

I should by really have had it impounded, rest was pretty rotten too, all round the windows, leaks into the boot. Windscreen wipers not working, exhaust blowing, handbrake not working, tyre tread questionable...it really wasn't a safe car. My friends called it the Millenium Falcon because everything was falling off, but the tyres squealed a lot round corners making it seem faster than it was.

[isleaiw1]

Originally Posted by Alex440

My Cavalier was almost identical, apart from it was metallic green, sort of. The paint was turning to power and every wash quite a bit fell off.

I should by really have had it impounded, rest was pretty rotten too, all round the windows, leaks into the boot. Windscreen wipers not working, exhaust blowing, handbrake not working, tyre tread questionable...it really wasn't a safe car. My friends called it the Millenium Falcon because everything was falling off, but the tyres squealed a lot round corners making it seem faster than it was.

So upmarket - my first car was a mk1 Cavalier 1600 GL in white with red velour interior (and dash- must be where BMW got the idea)

I learnt to drive in an Austin Princess 1800 HL in a lovely dark red colour...

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by dopper99

I dont have any problems in my car provided its a light-ish frost. Like this morning, fire the car up, blowers on full, get out, lock the car and come in the house for 5-7 mins.

Go back out, all clear.

I'm sure the neighbours don't mind the car idling on the drive.

That's a cruel thing to do to your neighbours with the awful racket the car makes on a cold start.