VW Polo Mirror Heater Fix: DIY & Workshop Solutions

Had a similar issue with my 2005 VW Golf TDI last winter. With moderate experience in car electronics, I first thought it was a major electrical fault, but it turned out simpler. The workshop diagnosed a faulty cable connection between the mirror heating element and the main wiring. The cold weather had caused some corrosion in the connector, breaking the circuit. They cleaned the connection points and replaced the damaged wiring section rather than doing a complete mirror replacement. Total cost was 95€ including diagnostic and repair work. The fix took about an hour and has worked perfectly since then, even in freezing conditions. Much cheaper than replacing the entire mirror unit. What trim level is your Polo? Some models had different wiring setups. Also, does the issue affect both mirrors or just one side? This info would help determine if you are dealing with the same problem. Before going to a workshop, check if your fuses are intact, it is a common failure point during winter driving. The fuse box location should be listed in your manual.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My Polo has completed 139792km and just had its annual service last month. Both mirrors are affected, and it is the Comfortline trim. The issue emerged suddenly during a cold snap, affecting vehicle safety especially during night drives. The fuses look fine, I checked them first when the electrical fault appeared. The workshop quote seems reasonable compared to a full mirror replacement. Good to know the fix might just be connection-related rather than needing new mirror units. Will get it checked soon before winter driving conditions worsen.

Good to hear back about your Polo issue. The simultaneous failure of both mirrors actually strengthens my suspicion about the wiring connection. In my Golf case, when both heaters stopped working, it pointed to a central electrical fault rather than individual mirror heating elements failing. Since youve recently had service work done, check if anyone worked near the door panels, sometimes mirror wiring gets disturbed during maintenance. The cold weather often just exposes existing weak spots in the electrical system. The connections for mirror heating typically run through the door hinges, which is a common failure point due to constant movement and exposure to winter conditions. A proper workshop should be able to test the continuity at these points. Though my repair was straightforward, Id still recommend getting it fixed soon. Cold weather driving without proper mirror defrost can be risky, especially on early morning commutes. The 95€ I spent was worth the peace of mind during winter months. Let us know what the workshop finds, always helpful to build up repair knowledge for these common heater element issues.

Thanks everyone for the detailed feedback. This turned out to be even simpler than expected. Took it to the workshop yesterday, they found a damaged wire in the door hinge area, just as suggested. The temperature control module was sending signals correctly, but the electrical fault was in the connection point. Total repair cost was 85€ including labor. They reinforced the wiring with additional protection against cold weather wear. Both mirrors now heat up perfectly when activated. Much cheaper than the 300€+ quote I got for complete mirror replacement. Really glad I asked here before accepting the first repair quote. Winter driving should be much safer now with properly functioning mirror defrost. The workshop also mentioned this is a common issue in older VWs, especially after extensive use.