VW Bora Mirror Heaters Fail in Winter, Fix Options

Had almost the exact same heater element issue on my 2006 VW Jetta last winter. As someone with basic car maintenance experience, I initially thought it would need complete mirror replacement based on workshop quotes. Took it to my regular workshop and they discovered it was just a faulty electrical connection near the door hinge area where the cables run into the mirrors. The issue was causing both mirrors to fail since they share a common connection point. Total repair cost was 95€ for diagnosing and fixing the loose connections. No mirror replacement was needed which saved a lot of money. The repair restored full temperature control to both mirror heating elements and improved vehicle safety for winter driving. What diagnostic codes are you getting specifically? Also, have you noticed any other electrical faults like window controls or mirror adjustment issues? This information would help determine if your problem is similar to what I experienced or if you might be dealing with a different underlying issue. Worth checking if your warranty still covers electrical systems, though that might be expired given the vehicle age. Could save some money if its still valid.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My car was last serviced 3 months ago and has only done 48913km. The diagnostic codes Im getting are U0401 and U0402. No other electrical issues present, windows and mirror adjustments work perfectly fine. The workshop mentioned potential water damage in the wiring harness causing the heater element failure. Warranty expired years ago unfortunately. Just concerned about the high replacement costs since both mirrors are affected simultaneously. Might get a second opinion from another workshop to compare repair options and costs. Did your repair hold up well through subsequent winter seasons? Trying to decide if fixing the wiring would be a reliable long-term solution versus full car mirror replacement.

Having gone through this exact issue with my VW Jetta, I can confirm the wiring fix has held up perfectly through multiple cold weather seasons. Three years later and the mirror heating still works flawlessly. Those error codes (U0401 and U0402) are exactly what my system showed, indicating communication issues with the door modules. This strongly suggests you have the same electrical fault I encountered rather than failed heater elements. The water damage theory makes sense, but in my case, the issue was purely connection-related where the wiring flexes as the door opens and closes. The common failure point for both mirrors explains why they stopped working simultaneously. Getting a second opinion is smart, those replacement quotes seem excessive when the fix might just need wiring repair. A competent workshop should be able to trace the electrical fault and repair the connections for significantly less than full mirror replacement. My total fix cost was reasonable at 95€ and saved me from unnecessary mirror replacements. Just make sure whoever does the repair properly seals the connections against future moisture issues, which is crucial for winter driving conditions.

Thanks for the detailed follow-up. Those error codes (U0401 and U0402) really help confirm this is likely a wiring issue rather than failed mirror elements. Your mileage being relatively low at 48913km also suggests this is probably not wear-related mirror failure. The fact that both mirrors stopped working at the same time matches with what you experienced. The water damage theory from my workshop seems plausible, but the simultaneous failure points more toward a shared wiring connection problem like you had. Getting that second opinion feels like the right move, especially given the high replacement quotes. If its similar to your electrical fault, I could save hundreds compared to full mirror replacement. Vehicle safety during winter driving is crucial, but no point spending extra if the core issue is just wiring. Will check with another workshop next week and have them focus on the door hinge wiring area you mentioned. The temperature control issue needs fixing before the cold weather really sets in, but good to know a wiring repair could be a reliable long-term fix rather than costly mirror replacement.