Rain sensor sensitivity

[phuksi]

The automatic wiper rain senror... It says in the manual that the sensitivity can be adjusted by the dial. Should that actually do something? I would imagine if you adjust it to less sensitive the glass would get more wet before it wipes. If you adjust it to more sensitive it would try to keep the glass cleaner.

No matter what setting I use, it keeps wiping exactly the same. To me the rain seemed rather 'constant' and was quite light. And the wipers wiped almost dry glass way too often.

Any experiences?

- p

[LVGirl]

hmm ... its been raining here all day & my wipers were set on low & seemed to adjust well to the rain .... they wiped faster when it rained harder - then slowed again when the rain did ...

[phuksi]

Yep it does that. However, I would imagine the sensitivity would adjust how much the rain amount needs to change in order for the wiper frequency / speed to change. Or something like that...

[xx3]

for me the sensitivity changes how sensitive the sensor is to minute drops of rain. Not even rain, but water lifted from the road. On the highest click the sensor will keep wiping with water from the road that is lifted from other cars.

With it down lower it won't. On all three of our cars its always worked perfectly.

Maybe you have bubbles in your sensor? This was a common problem when BMW first started fitting the sensors to cars...

[phuksi]

I was expecting something like that. I could not tell the difference between those 5 settings.

Thanks, p

[mane]

I have also wondered this issue couple of times. It seems that sometimes when it drips, I have tried to find more sensitive level for the sensor when its already at the max..

[rickp]

Let's not forget that it is a sensor and as such, water droplets must be in front of the sensor in order for it to send a command to wipe.

There is never a perfect distribution of rain drops on the windshield so there could be times when there's more water in your view than on the sensor itself.

If only there was a rear window rain sensor...

[Mindfull]

Originally Posted by rickp

If only there was a rear window rain sensor...

Oooooh. Doesn't seem like it'd be that hard to mod, does it? (I know, famous last words, right?!) Wonder if a relay could be installed, wiring the sensor cue to the front wipers back to the rear wiper... The detail to handle would be what if sensors are active and the rear wiper is activated by hand, the relay would have to be able to switch over to manual without causing any probs in the circuits. I'm up to my ears in other mods right now, but that seems like an interesting one, too! Anyone want to give it a shot?

In terms of the front wipers, I agree it's just the nature of a sensor. Making it too sensistive would be even more annoying. Mine are adequate at any given time, with the sole exception of light misting that obscures the windshield but doesn't trigger. Within 1 or 2 secs of thinking about manually upping the wipers, the sensor kicks in. No complaints here.

[rickp]

and while were at have an ambient light sensor for the navigation. So when it's dark, the nav is dimmer. When it's light, nav is brighter.

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by rickp

If only there was a rear window rain sensor...

I hear ya! I wish it existed.......doesnt sound like a difficult thing for BMW to make.

If the lowest setting is still too sensitive, you can probably get sensitivity adjusted at the dealer (?)

I know that in light snow the sensor tends to overreact, but it seems okay in rain.