S320- does it have a heated screen

[humungus]

Hi
I have an otherwise well specced (year 2000) S320L bought about a year ago- is it possible that it does not have either a heated front screen or heated mirrors though?

I can find no refenece in th emanual to either, although I was assured when getting a new windscreen some months ago that it was a heated screen

I'm confused!

BW
Hugh

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Mirrors are heated, a small heater pad on the back of the mirror glass, standard in most cars. Usually reliable, if not working check on the fuses.

I cannot comment on the windscreen though.

 

[DJ7623]

it was my belief that Mr Henry Ford had patented the use of heated front screens for up to 30 years - and that vehicles other than in the Ford stable (Jaguar, Volvo, Land Rover etc) were unable to offer the facility.

 

[philmayfield]

I have a similar car. The exterior mirrors are heated when the ignition is on and the temperature is sufficiently low (no requirement to switch on heated rear window). It does not have a heated front screen. If the mirrors are not demisting check the fuses -F13 in engine compartment left and F39 in engine compartment right.

I do have a heated front screen in a Discovery and it's an extremely useful extra.

 

[Arnie]

I am not too sure about the "S", but heated screens are made by applying a thin metalised coating to the glass and it will then look slightly tinted.. You can also do a rough check by moving your mobile phone into the windcreen area and see if the signal strength indicator decreases due to the shielding effect of the metal film... (however, the bluish heat-reflecting (climate) windcreens also use a metal film).

Also, some screens have a heated area just for where the wipers park and this is done with the more obvious etched wires, common on rear screens.

 

[OlafMaxwell]

I remember my dad having a Daimler Sovereign back in 1971 with a heated windscreen. Funny, he bought it after having trouble with Mercedes over a faulty alternator.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

I think that the heated windscreen is an option that would have been worth paying for but I have been told that those nice people at FORD want far too much for the patent and nobody wants to pay to offer it.

I had a FORD once. had the device too. spent many an hour sat looking out of my frost free windscreen peering into the distance waiting for the breakdown man to turn up. finally gave up on the only FORD i ever owned when they recalled it for a new brake master cylinder, the car was new to me and was 8 months old when the recall came through. 3 months later the new, uprated, replacemnt master cylinder failed. luckily i was not driving fast and it 0530 and nobody was around so i didnt hit anything when the stopping pedal didnt stop the car.

drove around in a Grand Cheerokee 2 weeks later. never buying a ford again ever.

Is this a ford forum??

 

[OlafMaxwell]

Well, my nice E class had the stopping pedal go to the floor on the M6.....did look good up on a tow truck.....Merc dealer fixed it....took 2 weeks.....new ABS pump...5 months later....stopping pedal goes to floor again.....Merc refuse to cover it.

That's why they build Mercs tough...so they can withstand the rigours of being up and down off tow trucks.......and protect you when your brakes fail at 70mph.

 

[SLinKyjoe]

That also explains the switch for the alarm..........maybes i shall buy a different car next time.....

now let em see, Tigra, 206CC, Megane cabrio, diehatsue! copen or that lexus job.........nope gonna be a merc....