So i bought the car with (and still have) like rusting side mirror glass. I was wondering why I only see this on audi/vw and if i go see a 1988 foxbody mustangs mirrors are clear? Also can you replace just the glass for the mirror or do you have to replace the whole side mirror assembly like i had to do on my explorer?

 

i see it on a lot of bmw's too, no idea why

its probably the whole mirror, goto a junk yard or something and get a cheap one

 

Im assuming it has something to do with that almost like blue tint that german cars have in the mirrors. I think its a conspiracy to sell more mirror assemblys since no one sells just mirror glass.

 

Its the heating element crapping out in the mirror. Buy a replacement mirror.

 

OEM / Performance Parts for Audi, BMW, Mercedes Benz, Mini, Porsche & Volkswagen - ECS Tuning

I would go a junk yard and get glass, the same thing is on my driver side mirror, some brown stuff that looks like rust.

Makes no sense since I don't have heated mirrors as far as I know.. I dont have heated seats or door locks from the cold weather package I know that..

 

I dont even think i have heated mirrors i dont have heated anything else. Anyway by mirror do you mean i can buy just the glass and i dont need a full new mirror assembly like ford made me do when just the glass on the power mirror broke. Edit: what is this " anti dazzle feature" listed on the mirrors on that link above?

 

Just get the glass. If you are pre-facelift, you can use B5 Passat and C5 A6 mirror glass as well as A4 glass. The brown is the defroster fluid in the mirror burning from continuous power on the defogger. When you replace the glass, avoid that in the future by not plugging in the two small wires on the lower outer corner of the back of the glass.

Antidazzle is the bluish coating on the glass so headlights don't hit your eyes as hard in the reflection.

 

Is that only true for pre-facelift cars? Are the mirrors different (asside from the nemo mirror) on the facelift cars? Since I have a facelift car, can I get glass from a B5 Passat?

 

Facelift glass is shaped differently than pre-facelift (even the full-size glass). Here's pre-facelift:



Here's facelift:



The main difference is the edge closest to the window. Preface is vcloser to vertical, and facelift is angled to match the "lean" of the window. B5 Passat and C5 A6 glass match the preface A4 glass. A B5.5 (facelift) Passat or later A6 might match yours, but I don't know for sure.

 

Facelift glass is shaped differently than pre-facelift (even the full-size glass). Here's pre-facelift:



Here's facelift:



The main difference is the edge closest to the window. Preface is closer to vertical, and facelift is angled to match the "lean" of the window. B5 Passat and C5 A6 glass match the preface A4 glass. A B5.5 (facelift) Passat or later A6 might match yours, but I don't know for sure.