Is my rain sensor and windshield installed correctly?
 

My windshield was replaced.
My rain sensor was not working other than swiping once when turned on.
Safelite is returning Monday to check it out.

I am pretty sure when i saw the new glass it did not have the lens attached and the tech glued the purple lens to the new windshield (although they did ask if I had rain sensor when I made the appointment).

the lens is NOT centered and there is a round clear "hole" that is NOT covered with the rain sensor - should that little light hole be covered?

ALSO, the rubber on the 2 sides of the windshield are just sitting ON TOP of the windshield but it looks like maybe there is a grove that should hook under??

THANKS!

Weather strip is supposed to sit on top of the windshield.
Sensor seems to be slightly shifted from it's spot,but those clear spots are for the light sensor.Why don't you check from the front side if the light sensor is fully or partially covered by the tinted part ?

Thank you.
From the front the clear spot is slightly covered.

So the box that is the rain sensor also has a light sensor?
For the headlights?

Should that rain sensor lens/box should cover the whole clear spot?

THANKS!

Primarily it's for the self dimming mirrors,but if you have auto head lights option then also for that.

Is your rain sensor sensitivity turned down? It's the dial on the right stock. All the way up would be the most sensitive.

Yes, turned up - checked the manual and consequentially learned that to re-activate the rain sensor after turning off the car you can "turn serrated dial 7 briefly". I was always clicking it back down to position 0 (off) then back to position 1 (rain sensor). Not that its a big deal....

NOW I learned what that clear spot is for, still not knowing if it should be completely covered?? Mine is only partly covered, thus the lights will click on sooner (less light)?

Theoretically,it should.As well as mirrors dimming less due to a wrong reading of exterior and interior lighting conditions.

Windshield replaced - blue lens is glued on at factory and was the same - NOT centered and NOT fully covering the clear spot.

Problem not fixed so glass company will replace the circuit box. They say it has happened before - blown from handling?

Can you take a picture of the RLS lens from the exterior? This is mine. Original BMW windshield from the factory on an 04. I don't believe that hole is used on RLS from 2002 on. The light sensing is combined on the main sensor area which is why its alignment is not necessary. You can see the light sensor toward the RH side of the sensor (LH in the pic)

http://i.imgur.com/TuTPJHh.jpg

Thanks for the photo, yes, mine looked the same except NOW the gel pack is bubbled and ruined. When the tech replaced the windshield for the 2nd time he had a hard time getting the sensor to clip on and had to push very very hard. When they went to change the sensor and tried to removed it they had to pull very very hard and ruined the adhesion and now you can see bubbles.
They are ordering a new factory BMW windshield and will replace it once again. I have to commend Satellite they are defiantly going the extra on there own (I have never had to argue or demand).
just waiting for the rain to stop to make an appointment.
I keep asking, "has this ever happened before" and they are kinda vague and there openness to keep replacing lends me to think it happens frequently on after market windshields.

Yes it has happened before. I can't count how many Safelite or (insert glass shop name here) horror stories I have seen on the boards. Factory is the way to go on most BMW's. With factory glass, the RLS lens is bonded at the factory. The sensor should very easily clip into place. I hope the installer realizes there are two sliding-locking clips on the RLS sensor.

Yes, all 3 installers I delt with knew how to slide the clips. I was also told the lens was bonded to the windshield at the factory. The brand of replacement was Pilkington glass. I MISS my rain sensor and my headlights auto on are not working correctly.

It's possible, through some freak accident, that the RLS has went bad. They can go bad. It may need replaced and the new one coded.

As a last-ditch effort, try unplugging the negative terminal on the battery for 15 minutes and reconnecting.

There is where the chain of logic got broken - when they tried the new RLS it was on the lens that got pulled too hard and bubbled so not sure if the failure was due to the bubbles or another bad lens. They reinstalled my original RLS but I asked if they could also have on hand the new RLS when the new BMW glass is installed.
I was not aware (nor do I think they) that a new RLS needs coding?

Yes. The Rain Light Sensor must be coded. It will arrive "uncoded" and the wipers will most likely revert to standard intermittent operation and the auto headlights will probably go on and off with the ignition although they may work even though the sensor is uncoded. I can't remember.

Can you take a hi-res picture of the front of the sensor area? I am wondering if they are putting the wrong windshield in with the wrong lens.