Anybody here got the heated front screen?

[Teflon]

... and if you've got one, what do you think of it? I've used them before on Ford Mondeos and the results were fantastic - the screen cleared really quickly.

Last night was the first frosty evening so I turned on the screen heater on my Passat and it was RUBBISH. The rear screen cleared at a normal rate but the front didn't do much until I turned the hot air on. The switch was lit up, I could hear the relay click in, but the screen heater was as much use as a one-legged man in an arrrss kicking competition.

At least the fine wires in the windscreen make pretty coloured patterns when the sun shines, so I've got something to show for my money.

Any good experiences?

[henley_regatta]

... and if you've got one, what do you think of it? I've used them before on Ford Mondeos and the results were fantastic - the screen cleared really quickly.

...

Any good experiences?

I've got one. Bought the car in March so I've not really used the heated windscreen yet.

With 2 exceptions: When we had the snow over Easter. Given that there was ~2 inches of snow on the windscreen I'll give the system a "pass" on that one; it was a LOT quicker to scrape the stuff off.

And last week I used it to help clear frost. And was impressed: in the time it took me to turn the thing on, get out of the car with my scraper and do the Driver's side, the Passengers side had melted free of the windscreen and just fell off. If I'd sat in the car and waited ~30 seconds with the heated windscreen on, I reckon the wipers would have cleared the frost away.

And before you point it out, I know the element is supposed to be used to de-mist the inside but I've not needed it for that yet. I just wanted to pass on some positives with other uses

[ledburyloafer]

used it over tha last couple of days, excellent, cleared the ice in less than 2 mins, it is also brilliant for demisting teh car though!

[Trapper]

There was a thick layer of ice under 2" of hard snow this morning, by ice I mean ICE hitting it with a scraper did not make any impression. I used the heated screens front and rear, the rear cleared in less than a minute but the front took longer but gave me time to squirt the sides and clear these. Then the front ice/snow just fell off cleanly.

I had left the wipers in the 'service' position and the one on the right took a lot longer to release than the one on the left, I assume the elements do not go fully to the right.

I thought it a bit slow but the elements must be fine so are less visible, so the finer the element the longer the warm up time.

[firefly2008]

I have it too... its great option but be warned you have to buy it for the Passat as part of a package that includes heated washer jets and front seats. whilst this is lovely, it does increase the cost some-what!! it is basically the same system as Ford have, as they decide at the moment who they give it to (until the patent restriction runs out). The system runs top to bottom over most of the screen, but not the extremes each side. where you see the lines is where you get clearing.

having had 3 Mondeos and a Focus, I couldn't live without it in winter. that said, surprised it is still only an option for VW.

[henley_regatta]

I watched She Who Must Be Obeyed get into the car from the warmth of our house this morning. We're soft southern shandy drinkers down here so the ~ -2 / -4 C weather is sub-artic to us.

In the time it took her to scrape the driver's door window, the windscreen had defrosted enough that the wipers would have shifted the frost. About 45 seconds after starting the car?

By the time she finished the passenger's window, the windscreen was wet, not icy, across all of the glass.

2 flicks of the wipers once she'd got back in and you'd never have known it was sub-zero outside. No more than 2 minutes after starting the engine.

Shame we can't have the system on the side windows at this rate. I dunno; VW still expect us to use manual labour on them? *tsch*

[firefly2008]

Funny enough I left the house to walk the kids to school and chuckled at the wife chiselling the ice off her BMW 3 series (as she couldn't be bothered to put it in the garage last night) just to get into it! came back, started my car, hit the buttons and by the time I had strapped 3yo in the back the front and rear windows were done.

I did forget tho' that vw mirror heaters are not connected to the rear heater button, so had to wait another 30 secs once i had hit the button for those!

[firefly2008]

Those with the heated front screen may be able to help with another small problem I have... the wife found that the Passat has dual zone climate, all very nice, except now I can't put it back to single (ie control both sides from drivers side).

One the 'standard' car, the climatronic has a 'DUAL' button, lower centre dial, that allows you to select 2 zone or single zone control. With the heated front screen button replacing the demist option (top left dial button), I now have an 'OFF' button lower middle...

So how then do I re-sync the two controls (if at all). I have tried lots of fiddling... the Manual (3.1) does not comment on this option

whilst not an emergency, I am baffled as to how to solve this dilemma When I got the car the drivers side dial controlled both temps, so I must be able to return it to its pre-wife state! thanks

[henley_regatta]

Hold down "Auto" until it bongs and the temps synchronise left & right.

I'm sure that's in the manual; I can't think I found it myself without help....

[firefly2008]

Hold down "Auto" until it bongs and the temps synchronise left & right.

I'm sure that's in the manual; I can't think I found it myself without help....

Thanks for that, I shall try it shortly. I tried every combination of holds and presses, but knew someone here would know the answer

much appreciated