Rain Sensor
 

The rain sensor in my recently acquired E70 does not work.

It does seem to calibrate correctly with an Autologic, (all three values at or very close to 1200.) It does not show any faults.

When I got the car, the plastic cover on one side of the mirror support was missing, so that's a clue that something could be amiss or was tampered with. Doesn't the sensor come with the windshield? Is it possible that the windshield was replaced with the wrong one? One thing I noticed, was that there only appears to be one "eye" in the round sensor window. Another similar X5 I looked at had a second "eye". Certainly my headlights turn on automatically as they should.

If the determination is that everything is correct, but my sensor is bad, can it be replaced? Or do I have to replace the windshield? Any ideas?

Ok, problem solved. Apparently when the windshield was changed for the PO, someone did a half-assed job, and left out a critical step. When the rain sensor gets attached to the windshield, a special gel must be applied to the back. Mine had no gel. I got advice from the manufacturer of the windshield in my car, and they suggested a Gold Glass Group GGS 901 CP product.

I was referred to a local distributor, ( a vast building filled with windshields and trim), and they supplied me with a hypodermic filled with special gel. Once applied, based on ambient temperature, you calculate a set up time, then stick the sensor to the glass and clip it in. $25 for a single use tube of the stuff wholesale. And I had to practically beg them to sell to me, not being a glass installer.

It rained on the way home....rain sensing wipers worked perfectly.