Does anyone know if the heated mirrors are on a timer system, or thermostatically controlled? Or are they just a simple on/off arrangement.

If it's the latter is there any sort of overheat protection to prevent the heating elements from failing prematurely?

Thanks in advance.......

As far as I know there's no protection of any sort on them.

As far as I know there's no protection of any sort on them.

Other than the fact they only work when the heated rear window is on.

Other than the fact they only work when the heated rear window is on.

This depends on the year. For me, the rear window does not have to be on.

Other than the fact they only work when the heated rear window is on.

The heated mirrors are wired independantly of the heated rear window.

Some are wired in with the ambient temp sensor and will only come on below a certian temp according to the owners manual, but i've never verified this in the workshop.

I've used mine to heat standing water off the mirrors on fairly average days without the rear window heater being on, so I think mine work on demand regardless of ambient temperature (52 plate)

53 plate VRS estate.

Mine are wired in with the heated rear window.

They only work when a) the heated rear window switch is on and when the electric mirror selector is in the central position ie pointed to that tiny icon of a heated mirror.

03 Elegance Estate 110bhp Tdi

Mine work as said by Duncanj PLUS they can be switched when the rear window heater is OFF by pulling the electric mirror selector towards the heated mirror icon when in the central position.

Like most cars, the amount of heating is fixed at a safe level and results in a hot mirror in summer and a warm mirror in winter.

The heated mirrors are wired independantly of the heated rear window.

Some are wired in with the ambient temp sensor and will only come on below a certian temp according to the owners manual, but i've never verified this in the workshop.

That makes some sense. My 04 mk1 octi only turns the heated mirrors on when the heated rear window is turned on yet SWMBO's fabia seems to turn them on regardless of the heated rear windscreen being turned on.