Rain Sensor Pic

[Kimberley6208]

Hi! Does any one have a picture of what the rain sensor is suppose to look like from the outside of the windshield? I am not sure if it is working improperly due to operator error or senor/windshield problems.
Thanks!

[LeMansX5]

Its the thing behind the rear view mirror and stuck to windshield.

[X5Sport]

This do you?

This is a 05 E53 with a Climate Comfort windscreen, auto wipe and auto lights fitted.

[Kimberley6208]

Thank you for the picture!
My sensor from the outside looks kind of purple and a little cloudy from the glue that it is attached on the windshield. The glue does not look perfectly smooth either. Could that interfere with the sensor working?

[xnsf]

which part of it?

if you break open the the module from the inside, the sensor is just a tiny square shaped thing. if you have something obstructing the sensor, the infrared may not work properly

[Kimberley6208]

The box that is attached to the window has a sticky kind of glue to attach to the window. That is what looks purpleish & cloudy. I could peel that layer off with my finger, but I'm not sure what would keep it attached to the window if I removed it.

[X5Sport]

I had a broken screen changed abut 18 months ago and the supplier fitted the wrong type. He scraped the sensor off the old screen and tried to glue it back, but the 'sensor window' was cloudy. Not surprisingly it did not work and the auto wipers did not function at all and they had to pay out for me to have an OEM (BMW logo in bottom left corner as you look out of the screen on a UK model) screen fitted - which worked perfectly. Unless the bonding is completely clean and optically clear the sensor simply will not work. It uses an infrared beam and measures the scatter off the glass and how it changes when rain is on the glass. If it can't see a change, it will not trigger the wipers.

Has yours had a screen change or screen bonded sensor change? See if you still have a genuine BMW screen. My first replacement was a Pilkington screen and the sensor mount was a different shape. The 'window' for the sensor is the colour shown above (it's an IR Filter, hence the colour) but is completely clear. My dealer tells me if the screen bonded part of the system fails, they have to change the screen. He may speak with forked tongue though!! I have no sign of any glue or other bonding agent around mine, certainly nothing I could 'peel off'. Sounds like someone bodged the job.

[Kimberley6208]

Thank you for that great information!!! I just bought my x5 several months ago & the wipers have not worked properly on intermitant. I realized that I had the rain sensor from reading the posts on this web site. I am not sure what the "screen" is, but I am sure that i need to peel off the cloudy glue & find a way to mount it to the window. That is probably what you are talking about as the screen. I am going to work on it this afternoon & see what happens. I truely appreciate your help!

[SuperGreg]

Originally Posted by Kimberley6208

Thank you for that great information!!! I just bought my x5 several months ago & the wipers have not worked properly on intermitant. I realized that I had the rain sensor from reading the posts on this web site. I am not sure what the "screen" is, but I am sure that i need to peel off the cloudy glue & find a way to mount it to the window. That is probably what you are talking about as the screen. I am going to work on it this afternoon & see what happens. I truely appreciate your help!

I think your problem is that someone installed an aftermarket windshield that DID NOT come with the rain sensor already attached, and they tried to re-install the old one. Look at the drivers side bottom of your windshield. What brand is it? If it's PPG or BMW you are good yo go. Sounds to me like your ONLY solution is to get a new OEM windshield installed, which will come with the new rain sensor already installed.

Just my 2¢

[X5Dawg]

Originally Posted by Kimberley6208

I am not sure what the "screen" is

"screen" = "windshield"