A5 2015 mirror melted and ‘sensor’ behind mirror

1068 Views 9 Replies 4 Participants Last post by lewisdoesstuff, 3 mo ago

Jon T

Hi All
New to this group, wondering if anyone has experienced this?
I have 2015 A5 TDI 109 S Line.
Mirrors are heated and folding.
Travelling on motorway yesterday noticed drivers side mirror glass was vibrating a bit, then heard a crackle and a pop/crack sound. Looked in mirror and it was going black and surface was uneven.
When I got into slower traffic I felt the ‘glass’ and it was still very warm (after 45 mjns of driving).
Turned mirror controller to left mirror (always left in middle/defrost position). Stopped getting hot.
I presume the element in the glass has broken down.
Removed ‘glass’ which was now more like rubber !!!
On the back of the glass there are the two cable connections with spade fittings for the demister but there is also something small, with two very small wires running to it. Have made numerous enquires and nobody can seem to tell me what it is. Im thinking it is sensor or thermostat ???
Mirrors are not self dimming and do not have any driver assistance icons.
See photo attached with part circled.

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Dadar

· #2 · 4 mo ago

That is the connector for the auto dimming function to which you don’t have on your mirror glass.

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Jon T

Discussion Starter · #3 · 4 mo ago

Dadar said:
That is the connector for the auto dimming function to which you don’t have on your mirror glass.

Thanks Dadar
I changed the glass last night and realised this was a female connector plug when I removed it and could see inside that there were two terminals. Thankfully I don’t have auto dimming mirrors as Audi said a new glass is £300. Non dimming one was still £90.
Drive safe 👍🏻

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lewisdoesstuff

· #4 · 3 mo ago

What part did you need to get this fixed?
I'm pretty sure I've just had the same happen, although I thought the glass had fell out when I heard it. Mine looks almost the same as yours

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Jon T

Discussion Starter · #5 · 3 mo ago

lewisdoesstuff said:
What part did you need to get this fixed?
I'm pretty sure I've just had the same happen, although I thought the glass had fell out when I heard it. Mine looks almost the same as yours
View attachment 185179

I bought a new glass. Audi didn’t have one in stock and would take a couple of days. Fortunately my local VAG specialist could get it next day and as they use the same parts, price would be the same, fitted myself in about 5 mins.
have realised that in my car when the inside adjuster is in the ‘neutral’ position (between left and right setting) the mirrors automatically warm up, so I think it just got silly hot.

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lewisdoesstuff

· #6 · 3 mo ago

Jon T said:
I bought a new glass. Audi didn’t have one in stock and would take a couple of days. Fortunately my local VAG specialist could get it next day and as they use the same parts, price would be the same, fitted myself in about 5 mins.
have realised that in my car when the inside adjuster is in the ‘neutral’ position (between left and right setting) the mirrors automatically warm up, so I think it just got silly hot.

Yep, I've just had one delivered and fitted that, only £30 so can't complain.

I was the same with the mirror heater switch, so I'll be leaving that off to one side from now ahahah

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TonyP

· #7 · 3 mo ago

Need to check the manual, but my mirrors won't heat up unless the switch is in the middle and the rear window defroster is on...

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lewisdoesstuff

· #8 · 3 mo ago

Yeah, I think that's the case; can't remember if I had the back heater on when it happened, more than possible though.

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Jon T

Discussion Starter · #9 · 3 mo ago

lewisdoesstuff said:
Yeah, I think that's the case; can't remember if I had the back heater on when it happened, more than possible though.

I tried tonight. Rear window switch off and when mirror joystick moved to neutral/12 o’clock mirrors started to warm up. Neutral position does have a demister icon above. Only other position for joystick is 6 o’oclock which folds mirrors or left and right. Not sure if demister position has a time off function, maybe that’s why they overheated ???
Will be leaving it at left or right position from now on though.

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lewisdoesstuff

· #10 · 3 mo ago

Jon T said:
I tried tonight. Rear window switch off and when mirror joystick moved to neutral/12 o’clock mirrors started to warm up. Neutral position does have a demister icon above. Only other position for joystick is 6 o’oclock which folds mirrors or left and right. Not sure if demister position has a time off function, maybe that’s why they overheated ???

Will be leaving it at left or right position from now on though.

Hmm, seems bizzare that it'd be able to get hot enough to melt the adhesive, it's possibly temperature/humidity dependant?

I'll definitely be doing the same by leaving it off for now, but i may put a multimeter to the heater leads and see when they turn on/off and what kind of power it's drawing

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