Heated front screen?

[Deleted member 113659]

Seen heated front screens in loads of cars...

Ford
Land Rover
Mini

Are they not all Ford Connected companies Stu? Seen them in Volvo's too. (Ford)

Just a guess.

And if I'm wrong then why don't all manufacturers copy them.

There must be a reason because it's a belting idea and there's no doubting how useful they are.

 

[poormansporsche]

Some owners have been known to smash the screen and submit a fraudulent insurance claim for stone damage, as Quickclear screens are expensive replacement parts and many insurance policies offer a low excess (deductible) for windscreen damage.

Disgusting behaviour by Ford owners. You would never catch a Mercedes owner doing such a thing even with older Mercs screens having a tendency to delaminate.

 

[StuartK]

Are they not all Ford Connected companies Stu? Seen them in Volvo's too. (Ford)

Just a guess.

And if I'm wrong then why don't all manufacturers copy them.

There must be a reason because it's a belting idea and there's no doubting how useful they are.

Dunno mate but I have to say it's a fantastic feature to have!

 

[renault12ts]

Ford own the rights.

 

[toffee-pie]

Yes. You can just see the electric elements running vertically. Defrosts the screen in seconds. They are not the same as the Ford ones, a bit thicker perhaps. MINI have had them for quite a few years, since 2003 perhaps? Obviously not as long as Ford have been doing them. I remember seeing a Sierra XR4 in 1984 with it fitted.

I consider it to be a must have option, and it came as part of a visibility package, inc rain sensing wipers, auto dim rear view mirror, and heated screen.

If MINI can fit them, are they a different design?

MB probably don't want to pay a loyalty fee to Ford for using their technology / patent.

 

[whitenemesis]

You can get heated screens in special protection E class models, so theoretically one could have it in any E class

 

[Rding]

Its one thing I will miss from my Ranger even though some of the elements didn't work it was still great on a winters morning.

 

[Ditch]

Ill be delighted to hear that other companies have the heated window technology.

Its the one thing I did miss when I parted with my Mondeo .

I don't know when Ford acquired a patent but perhaps other companies have had licenses to use them or pre-empted the patent?

I'm also a little confused regarding this patent as heated windows have been around for donkeys years on aircraft. Ive never flown in a Ford (no not even a cossie)

 

[400ixl]

BMW got Mini when they bought and asset stripped MG Rover Group. Ford got Land Rover Jaguar when BMW sold them as part of that asset stripping, but nothing to do with Mini.

BMW took the Rover 200 replacement concept and kept it as the Mini and the RDX60 Rover 400 replacement concepts and created the 1 series. They also kept a lot of the technology (although shared) from JLR for their X series 4x4's.

 

[Yugguy]

Aye the patent expired for the heated front screen technology a few years back so others can have them now. I'll miss the one I had on the Focus once winter rolls around again.

 

[Sjmw]

Heated screens were good, I had a few Fords years ago with this feature.

Also fitted to early 90s Range Rovers.

Start the engine on a frosty/snowy day, put heated seats and heated front/rear screens/mirrors on. Drink cup of tea, 5 minutes later and you're ready to go :bannana:

Think that the newest Range Rovers also had/have heated steering wheels, and a pre-heater that could be set by remote control, warms the car up before you even go outside! Can't be certain on the second point but I do remember the heated steering wheel.

Will

My Disco 4 has a heated screen and steering wheel and the pre heater can either be controlled by a timer (one off or same time each day) or a remote control (that works up to about 1/2km away). Brilliant on icy mornings as a clear screen and toasty interior awaits!

The Swedish market Volvo pre heaters can be controlled by iPhone, which is even better

 

[uumode]

I'm probably the only person who doesn't want a heated front windscreen due to the interference patterns you can see in sunlight. (or maybe they have got better now).

 

[Hawkwind]

BMW got Mini when they bought and asset stripped MG Rover Group. Ford got Land Rover Jaguar when BMW sold them as part of that asset stripping, but nothing to do with Mini.

BMW took the Rover 200 replacement concept and kept it as the Mini and the RDX60 Rover 400 replacement concepts and created the 1 series. They also kept a lot of the technology (although shared) from JLR for their X series 4x4's.

The final rape of the great British automotive industry

 

[def90cars]

Seen heated front screens in loads of cars...

Ford
Land Rover
Mini

My dad's Fiat Panda (2015 model) has one


As for all the assess strip comment's.

1. Land Rover drifinelty not asset stripped... still going strong and market leading)
2. MG/Rover - asset stripped of what? Honda copies? Mess-up in the 70's by old guys and the lack of new models.
3. MINI - good job BMW got it.... it would be bust now otherwise.

 

[400ixl]

The asset stripping was of the combined entity that BMW bought in the British Leyland Group. Some parts were kept by BMW and other parts sold off. That is asset stripping, not asset stripping of the then asset stripping. Although that happened to MG Rover with the RDX60 becoming the BMW 1 series.

Honda only pulled the IP of their parts when MGR was bought by the Chinese in 2005/6.

 

[st13phil]

There were two high value items BMW took away from their ownership of Rover: Land Rover's 4WD technology and knowledge, and Honda's manufacturing engineering expertise. Both have proved instrumental in BMW's subsequent rise.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

I'm probably the only person who doesn't want a heated front windscreen due to the interference patterns you can see in sunlight. (or maybe they have got better now).

It was still a problem even on my other half's new fiesta. The other problem is when some of the elements stop working - that said, it is a brilliant system in the winter. Hopefully other car manufacturers can use the system soon. Mercs version of a heated front windscreen, I.e. Front blowers on full blast just isn't the same.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

It was still a problem even on my other half's new fiesta. The other problem is when some of the elements stop working - that said, it is a brilliant system in the winter. Hopefully other car manufacturers can use the system soon. Mercs version of a heated front windscreen, I.e. Front blowers on full blast just isn't the same.

Can you please change your signature picture to something that'll make me less jealous?