VW Virtus Mirror Heater Failure in Cold Weather Fix

I had a similar issue with my 2018 VW Polo last winter. I have some experience working on basic car maintenance, but electrical faults like this needed professional help. The mirror heating stopped working during cold weather driving and showed the same error light. Initially thought it was the heating element, but the workshop found it was actually a loose connection in the wiring harness leading to the mirror. The repeated mirror adjustments over time had caused some wear on the cables. The fix involved mirror replacement on the driver side since they had to access the internal wiring. Total cost was 95€ for parts and labor. The workshop tested all connections in both mirrors to ensure no similar issues would develop on the passenger side. To properly diagnose your specific case, could you share: Whether both mirrors are affected or just one side, If the mirror adjustment controls still work normally, The exact error code from the car computer, If you notice any other electrical issues with the mirrors This kind of electrical fault is pretty common in VW models from that generation, especially during winter driving conditions. Getting it fixed before moisture causes more damage is important for vehicle safety.

Thanks for the input. My latest service was 2 months ago at 87835km. After checking both mirrors more thoroughly, I found that the passenger side mirror still adjusts but has no heat, while the driver side has completely failed, no movement or heat function. The error code shows P0472 and there is indeed a slight crackling sound when trying to adjust the driver side rearview mirror position. This points more towards an electrical fault rather than just the heating elements. The car electronics seem fine otherwise, with all other power functions working normally. Given this feedback about wiring issues, I will have the workshop check the entire mirror wiring harness rather than just replacing the heating elements.

Thanks for the additional details. Your symptoms match exactly what I experienced with my VW Polo, especially that crackling sound when adjusting the mirror position. That noise was also my first indicator of wiring damage rather than just a faulty heater element. Since both mirrors are showing different behaviors and the driver side has complete failure, this strongly suggests the wiring harness issue has progressed further than mine did. The crackling sound combined with error code P0472 typically indicates corrosion or damage at the wire connection points where they enter the mirror housing. When the workshop fixed my car mirror setup, they found moisture had gotten into the driver side housing through the deteriorated wire grommet, causing electrical faults beyond just the heater element problem. The complete loss of mirror adjustment you are experiencing is a classic sign of this. My repair costs ended up being reasonable at 95€ because they caught it before the internal mirror components were damaged. Given your more extensive symptoms, you might want to budget for potential replacement of the entire driver side mirror assembly and wiring harness. During cold weather operation, a properly functioning mirror heating system is crucial for safe winter driving. The workshop should definitely perform a full diagnostic on both sides since the passenger mirror is showing early signs of the same issue.

Based on the crackling noise and complete failure on the driver side, it seems like I am dealing with a more serious electrical issue than just faulty heater elements. The cold weather has likely accelerated the problem, making both side mirrors act differently. The error code P0472 combined with the complete loss of driver mirror functions definitely points to wiring harness damage. I appreciate knowing that moisture intrusion through damaged grommets can cause this cascade of electrical failures in the car mirror system. I will schedule a workshop visit to have them check the entire mirror assembly and wiring on both sides. While the passenger side rearview mirror still adjusts, the lack of heat function suggests it may have early signs of the same issue. Better to address both sides now before winter driving conditions make things worse. Given the feedback about repair costs, I will budget around 200€ since my case seems to need more extensive work than just the basic 95€ repair. Having properly functioning heated mirrors is worth the investment for safe winter driving.