Rain Sensing wipers speed

[bgsquad]

Hi guys,

I searched the forum about it, but couldn't get a confirmation, so i thought i would ask you about it.

When i am in the rain sensing mode, the behavior is very satisfactory for me, but when the rain starts to pour really heavy, the wipers shift to continuous wiping at the regular speed, but never escalate to the fastest speed (the speed when you pull it all the way up). Can the fastest speed be triggered by the sensor? if yes, why i am not getting it, what could be the problem? and if no, then, well, it's a dumb thing by BMW, cause when it suddenly pours like hell or you dive in standing water, it's really bothering to have the slow wiping speed...

Thanks for your feedback

[nietodp]

The speed is supposed to adjust to the amount of rain. The little dial button adjusts the sensitivity. If adjusting the senstivity button does not have any effect, or if the wipers don't automatically speed up or slow down based on the amount of rain when set in the auto setting - you may have an issue with the windshield itself delaminating. (This happened to me).

Windshields are two pieces of glass pressed together with a film in the middle to prevent shattering in case of breakage. If it starts to separate where the rain sensor is located, then it impacts the ability to judge how much rain is hitting the windshield. If that is the case, you would have to replace your windshield in order to fix.

[mike8493]

My rain sensor will adjust the speed from intermitten to fast with no other adjustment from me.

[Weasel]

They only go to regular speed on auto... only goes to high speed manually. I kinda wish they went to full speed on auto too...

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by weasel56

They only go to regular speed on auto... only goes to high speed manually. I kinda wish they went to full speed on auto too...

Really? On both my E90 and the X3, they will go to the fastest speed, although not often (since I use the second-least sensitive setting). Usually this is only during a severe Thunderstorm (prob shouldn't be out on the roads in the first place) or when I overtake a tractor trailer spewing out road spray.

[Imola R]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

Really? On both my E90 and the X3, they will go to the fastest speed, although not often (since I use the second-least sensitive setting). Usually this is only during a severe Thunderstorm (prob shouldn't be out on the roads in the first place) or when I overtake a tractor trailer spewing out road spray.

Mine also will go to high speed in rain sense mode. Not very often, like you said, just when overtaking trucks with the road spray.

[Weasel]

May be a software difference from the newer vehicles to our pre-facelift vehicles (I never researched it myself). BMWs software and technologies seem to advance as fast as cell phones and home computers in what they do.

[motordavid]

Me four: on our '01, the rain sensor will send the wipers to
lightning fast wipe, equal to highest speed on manual setting.
BR,mD

[Weasel]

Well, if your 01 goes to full wiping speed, then I think it wouldn't be a software difference... Next time I pull mine in the shop I'm gonna look around with the computers, maybe the sensitivity can be set with car and key memory like the auto headlights, I forget since I haven't been in there in so long.

[bgsquad]

it doesn't make sense, if i have a hardware issue, then it wouldn't function properly in all conditions except going full speed... and in case it is a software issue, can it be re-programed? and how?