How to use Rain-sensor wipers?
 

I have rain sensor on car on 2002 BMw x5. and i hav eno idea how to use it,when i push once down it wipes once. when i push once up,it slowly wipes every 7-10 seconds or so,then it has 2 other more faste rmodes. so ho wot activate rain sensor and how do i know that it working?

Just turning the wipers on starts rain sensing, if you have it. The harder it rains, the faster they will go.

it has some other shifter (they call them rain sensor sensetivity levels). what is that for? which one should i go for?

that is the first setting, in which YOU set how fast the wipers will go. Move up a notch to the "low" setting of the wiper control and that is when rain sensing will take over.

Below are 3 pages straight from the Manual on windscreen wiper operation. This should clear it up for you.

thanks

Who would have thought that the manual would have that sort of information!! :rofl: :bustingup

Rain sensor only works in pos 1 (the first setting as you put it). The dial controls the intermittent speed.

Low and Fast wipe does not use the sensor (pos 2 & 3 respectively).

how to use rotary dial #7 on pics ABove? i had it raining hard today and buttom #7 was in position I ,and it still wipers were wiping with 7 seconds interval and not faster :-( any ideas? i even put lots of water on window fast and no reaction,until 7 seconds passed and then he wiped :-(

1) Make sure the sensor area is clean. Its installed near the rear view mirror.

2) Place the wiper lever in position one. This will activate the sensor.

3) Adjust the rotary dial to the speed you like. The further you turn the dial up/forward the faster the wipes will go DEPENDENT on how much the sensor is obstructed AND vehicle speed! So, even if you have it turned all the way up/forward and splash water on the sensor it won't wipe very quickly - IF you stopped the X to splash the water. :rofl:

Hopefully, I didn't confuse you more.

I always put it in position 1,so as you said i activated rain sesnor. But it always wipe with same speed no matter what,about 7 seconds or so interval. rotary speed usually in II. So how to test out a rain sensor????

Just to confirm but are you saying even when you're at highway speed and it's raining cats and dogs it doesn't wipe fast enough? I just want to make sure you understand its vehicle SPEED dependent too. The faster you drive your X the faster the wipe.

can't say it,didn't try. the only thing i tried is to put a lot of water unexpectedly and he ignored it :-( but car was in park

when was raining hard i had wipers on fast in position 3 all the time

That's what I was trying to tell you before. You can't really test its maximum wipe speed when the vehicle is stopped. Next time its raining get on the highway and turn the dial all the way.

I don't know the max speed for the sensor wipe but I'm pretty sure its faster than 7 seconds.

lmfao there's a manual!?!? :rofl:

Thanks,will try

Be nice. English might not be this person's first language or he/she doesn't quite understand the manual. :stickpoke

I've read plenty of instruction manuals where I could not make heads or tails of some things - I like pictures better! :D :rofl:

Thats right. English is my 2nd language,and manual is in weird explanation sometimes. Plus its my first Bimmer

From my experience when it is raining and the rain-sensing is turned on and the car is parked it won't go but every 10 seconds or so. Can't really say I haven't timed it.

It typical Oregon weather I leave it on rotary dial on 1 or 2 for city driving. Once I hit the freeway its typically 3-4.

However, my point is, I like to ease drop when I am at the dealership of what things people are complaining to their SA about. One of them was complaining about their rain-sensing wipers weren't working properly. The SA told them they had a device that can test the wipers, and the wiper blade position to see their effectiveness and then they can make any tweaks necessary.

So, can somebody confirm or deny such a testing device exists? :popcorn: Or was the SA just blowing smoke? I figured it was smoke.:stickpoke But if there is an issue with your wipers you may want to stop by the dealership and see if they can fix it.

EDIT: After reading this Sobi6111 there is really no useful information in there for you, so you can probably forget it!;)

Probably GT1.

Position 1 for mine does not work. It only wipes once when I activate it into that position, but no more. Is there something wrong with my sensor?

probably,as mine wipes every 7-10 seconds or so

Did you try it on the highway and when its raining?

In those conditions, and the rotary dial on the highest setting, mine will wipe just like pos 2 - normal slow wipe with no stopping.

Try playing with the dial and at different speeds in the rain. If that doesn't work, then probably something is up with your sensor.

I've done that before. Maybe something wrong w/my sensor... Will try again when rain comes. :explode:

Thanks Twin

I understand how the rain sensor works and all and I leave it in position 1 all the time but if it starts raining the wiper don't activate automatically until I toggle the dial (#7).

Is this normal? After I touch the dial it does work as per the manual and etc.

Just thought leaving it in position 1 would always active the wipers if it started raining?


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It is normal Mr. R. Next time you cycle the ignition switch you will need to remind it of the intermittent wipers by either your toggling of the speed switch or toggling the wiper stalk off then back on.

Not sure why BMW did this but I like it because if I roll through the car wash and forget to turn off my wipers, they don't turn on potentially destroying my wiper arms in the process.

DITTO all of the above. Once the ignition has been turned off...the rain sensing wiper position needs to be retoogled to prevent the wipers from initiating if you go through a car wash.

I bet 99% of owners forget to turn the rain sensing wipers OFF after it stops raining...thus if programmed to remain on upon the next start up...BMWs name would be cursed every time a BMW went through the car wash and the wiper blades got snagged off the car when the water and brushes start...thus not only tearing the blades off...but probably putting some really nice scratches in the paint as well as cars coming through the wash behind you. :wow:

And it's probably a no-win argument because the other half of BMW owners that never go through an automated car wash get pissed that they have to re-engage the rain sensing wipers. So BMW probably decided to err on the side of owners that would experience damage. :thumbup:

Ah ok just checking that is the normal operation. I would be the half that sees automatic car washes as the gateway to hell lol


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I hand washed mine for 12 years. I loved doing it (kinda) but it always took a good 1 to 2 hours and always got pissed when it rained the next day. For the last few years I have a monthly unlimited plan at the Auto Spa and never drive a dirty car anymore, ever.