Audi S5 Mirror Heater Fix: Common Causes & Solutions

Having some experience with car electronics, I faced a similar issue with my 2014 Audi S4. The mirror heating system failed during critical winter driving conditions, which raised immediate vehicle safety concerns. Initially thought it was the heating element, but the workshop discovered it was actually a damaged wire connection to the mirror. The cable had worn through due to repeated mirror adjustments over time. They found this after running a diagnostic test similar to your error message. The fix involved replacing the wiring harness and checking all connections to the car mirror system. Total cost was 95 Euro for parts and labor, which seems standard for this type of repair. To help provide more specific guidance, could you share: Have you noticed any other electrical issues with the mirrors? Does the mirror adjustment still work normally? Did the issue start suddenly or develop gradually? Are both mirrors affected or just one side? This information would help determine if youre dealing with the same connection issue I had or if its potentially something different in your case.

Thanks for sharing your experience. My S5 has 79306 KM on the clock with the last service completed just 2 months ago. The mirror adjustment works perfectly fine, and the issue only affects the passenger side rearview mirror. The heating stopped working suddenly during a cold spell. The electrical fault seems isolated to just the heating function. No warning lights on the dash, but the onboard diagnostic system flags an error specifically for the mirror heating circuit. Based on your repair experience, I will have the wiring connections checked first before considering a complete mirror replacement. Since winter driving conditions make this a safety concern, I think its best to address this promptly, especially if its just a wiring issue as in your case.

Thanks for the additional details about your S5. Since we share similar Audi models, my experience might be particularly relevant here. The isolated passenger side issue and sudden failure actually strengthens my initial suspicion about the wiring connection being the culprit, especially since your mirror adjustment is working fine. In my S4 case, the rearview mirror heating also failed abruptly on one side during cold weather. The fact that your car recently had service work might be significant, sometimes these connections can be inadvertently disturbed during routine maintenance. Given the heating element is only malfunctioning on the passenger side and the error code is specific to the heating circuit, this mirrors my situation almost exactly. The repair should be straightforward and likely wont require a full mirror replacement. Quick tip from my repair: Ask the technician to check the wire routing near the door hinge area. In my case, this was where the wire had worn through. The heater element itself was perfectly fine. The repair cost should be similar to what I paid (95 Euro), assuming its the same issue. Much better than replacing the entire mirror assembly. Would you mind updating the forum once its fixed? It would help confirm if these Audi models share this common weak point in the mirror heating system wiring.

Based on all the helpful input, Im going to schedule a repair appointment next week. The similarity between our cases is quite striking, same brand, similar model years, and identical symptoms. Since vehicle safety is a priority, especially with winter approaching, I cant risk having compromised visibility due to fogged up mirrors. Im particularly relieved that it might just be a wiring issue rather than needing a complete rearview mirror replacement. Will definitely check the door hinge area wiring as suggested. The 95 Euro repair cost seems reasonable compared to replacing the entire mirror assembly. I appreciate the detailed troubleshooting suggestions and sharing your repair experience. Will update the forum once its fixed to help other Audi owners who might face similar car electronics issues with their mirror heating systems during cold weather conditions.