rain obscuring wing mirrors

**john sharples** · 13-01-2007,12:13 AM

we have had about ten audis of all marques through our hands and never had one we find as dangerous in heavy rain. This is a oct 2004 a3 2 litre diesel.
The problem is that in heavy rain at motorway speeds the wing mirrors are completely obscured by rain being shed along the side windows. I have had no specific help from my dealer, who is sympathetic, and customer services who say they have never encountered the problem before.
I have checked out the latest model to see if there has been any modification but both appear to have the identical gutter arrangement up each side of windscreen which is presumably to collect the water and shed it over the roof.
It is not helped by the right hand drive as the wiper swipes all water into the drivers gutter and thence along the side window.
I would welcome any comments as i am at a loss as what to do short of changing the car or restricting outings to sunny days.

**RJS_90q** · 13-01-2007,06:21 PM

My uncle complained of this same problem on his A3 too.

Have you thought of trying Rain-X which is a glass treatment? The idea is that water runs away more easily and you could try it on your side window. Halfords probably stock it. You should ask for comments on this product before using it as there are mixed reviews but usually related to its use on the front windscreen when wipers are used where it can go hazy and make it difficult to see.

Just a thought but it may help ?

Has anyone got any experience of using Rain-X ?

**alfiejts** · 13-01-2007,07:42 PM

Absolutely - Rain-X is the answer (or Halfords own make "rain repellant").

I always use it on my side and rear windows as a matter of course. It makes it so much easier to see out in bad weather.

I put it onto my new A3 as soon as I got it without even thinking about it and didn't think any more of it.

Then I drove a "courtesy car" A3 along the motorway in heavy rain and noticed the torrent of water that runs off the windscreen across the drivers window, right in front of the door mirror - so you can't see it properly.

The Rain-X causes the water to bead and you can see right through it.
I hadn't realised what a beneficial effect it ws having until I realised how bad it was in the un-coated courtesy car.

**RickT** · 13-01-2007,08:57 PM

This only occurs to me on the motorway...A4, B6.. but it runs in the middle of the window...so can still see the mirrows..

RicKT

**john sharples** · 13-01-2007,10:00 PM

Thanks guys I'll give it a try - it might just in crease the wife's lif expectancy!!! John

**RJS_90q** · 13-01-2007,11:30 PM

You are very welcome - let us know how you get on.

**McShannock** · 05-11-2009,04:25 PM

all u need is a set of wind deflectors for the front windows.
there round £50 or so!
problem solved

**slimbaldy** · 06-11-2009,05:40 PM

Well it seems to stop me smoking in the car when it's raining because it just pours inside onto the door electrics. So it's a bad thing in one way but my mrs will say different.....

**prolfe** · 08-11-2009,09:37 PM

Rain X is the way forward, the Halfords one though, cheaper and just as good.

My crappy old company car, Laguna II had a little plastic nobbly bit near the mirror and it repelled the rain up and down diagonally away from viewing the mirror. Simple and effective.

**maninthestreet** · 10-11-2009,12:26 PM

I noticed this when I had an A3 for a test drive a few weeks ago - it wasn't raining, I just used the windscreen washers. When I stopped and checked, I couldnt see how the water was managing to get over the raised gutter/edge on the driver's side of the windscreen that is meant to direct any water up onto the car roof - can anyone explain this??