What are these slots for?

[Bumper]

Hey all. I have a July/Aug 2017 build MS. On the back of my rear view mirror pedestal, I have some vertical slots and I would like to know what they are for. I went to my SC and many of the inventory cars don't have them. There is also a little hole on the back of the mirror itself that looks like a sensor. The folks at the SC could't tell me what they were. See attached image.
I want to install a DashCam but don't want to cover up anything important.

 

[JohnnyG]

The sensor on the back of the mirror is a light sensor. You don't want to block that.
I have no idea what the slots are for. I've noticed it on some cars and not on others, but I haven't taken the time to draw a correlation. For example, my 2015 has them, but it's a much different housing design than yours.

 

[CHG-ON]

Cooling of the cameras would be my bet

 

[JohnnyG]

Cooling of the cameras would be my bet

I originally thought that too, but in both the AP1 & AP2 setup, the slots aren't in the camera housing cover, they're in the rearview mirror mounting stalk. The other reason why I veered from the cooling camera thought is because the slots are facing forward, into the radiant heat from the windshield. For cooling, the backside of the housing, closer to the cameras and less radiant heat source, would work better.

 

[MorrisonHiker]

Can you post a picture from the front (showing rear view mirror) as well? Also, do you know if you have APH3?

 

[demundus]

I originally thought that too, but in both the AP1 & AP2 setup, the slots aren't in the camera housing cover, their in the rearview mirror mounting stalk. The other reason why I veered from the cooling camera thought is because the slots are facing forward, into the radiant heat from the windshield. For cooling, the backside of the housing, closer to the cameras and less radiant heat source, would work better.

but that would be "unsightly". my bet is cooling as well

 

[JohnnyG]

but that would be "unsightly". my bet is cooling as well

Like I said, it's not in the same housing, and nowhere near the actual camera(s). Also, cooling louvers need to be at the top of your device you are trying to cool, as heat radiates up. Passive louvers at the bottom do little good unless you also have passive louvers at the top for the heat to escape through.

That said, I'm not saying it can't be channeling air for cooling something, it just wouldn't make much sense for the cameras that are located in the top housing at the back of the top housing.

 

[cgiGuy]

Crack that baby open and let's have a look!

 

[Bumper]

I do not have AP3. There isn't really anything to see on a front pic as it's just the mirror glass. When I opened up the housing, it became very clear.... JK, I have no intention of doing that

 

[appleguru]

Weight and material savings ;-P

Every gram counts toward efficiency and margins!

(No idea; my Dec 2016 AP2 does not have the slots)

 

[JohnnyG]

Just to add more data, I have a loaner 75D sitting in my driveway with a build date of 05/17. It does not have the slots.

 

[JohnnyG]

And more interesting info....
Here's a quote from another thread:
"... I initially tried to order it [mirror-mounted dash cam], however the seller informed me that Tesla had revised the housing for the Model S AP2 mirror several times affectind how well it fit . He had me remove the housing and send him the part number...."