Auto Headlights

[patriot66]

I find the rain sensing wipers inconsistent on both my E86 and F21. Sometimes great, sometimes either operate too frequently or too infrequently. The settings and condition of the screen don't seem to make much difference.

I think the sensor can be recalibrated using Carly and/or INPA

 

[enuff_zed]

If your Z4 is an early E85 with rain sensor it is possible/highly likely that the transparent adhesive pad is delaminating from the windscreen. 20200709_184216.jpgIf so the sensitivity adjustment is defunct and it reverts to just altering the time interval. I bought a new 3M adhesive pad to remedy this on my May'03 car

Well there you go! Just been out to check and looks just like yours. So that'll maybe explain it.
Could you explain more about what exactly you had to do to remedy this? A simple home fix?

I bought a new transparent self adhesive pad on Ebay. I think it was this one :https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123394335324
I then followed this PelicanParts walk-through for replacing the adhesive pad:https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/BMW_Z4M/62-INTERIOR-Interior_Mirror_Replacement/62-INTERIOR-Interior_Mirror_Replacement.htm
Not a difficult job but it is a little bit fiddly. However, you must remove all traces of the old pad and everything needs to be scrupulously clean. No air bubbles. Be VERY careful and take your time

Cheers, I may have to give that a go

 

[patriot66]

Well there you go! Just been out to check and looks just like yours. So that'll maybe explain it.
Could you explain more about what exactly you had to do to remedy this? A simple home fix?

I bought a new transparent self adhesive pad on Ebay. I think it was this one :https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/123394335324
I then followed this PelicanParts walk-through for replacing the adhesive pad:https://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/BMW_Z4M/62-INTERIOR-Interior_Mirror_Replacement/62-INTERIOR-Interior_Mirror_Replacement.htm
Not a difficult job but it is a little bit fiddly. However, you must remove all traces of the old pad and everything needs to be scrupulously clean. No air bubbles. Be VERY careful and take your time

Cheers, I may have to give that a go

 

[kis]

Cheers, I may have to give that a go

I just de-activated mine with carly. I prefer manual... plus I like to use rainex on my windscreen as well. Rainex almost reduces my need for the wipers completely (I used to do lots of motorway driving).

 

[mmm-five]

I just de-activated mine with carly. I prefer manual... plus I like to use rainex on my windscreen as well. Rainex almost reduces my need for the wipers completely (I used to do lots of motorway driving).

No need to code anything, just put the wipers into position 0 (off), rather than position 1 (auto/intermittent) setting.

I've tried loads of windscreen treatments over the years, and found they all fail when you start to get any greasy residue coming off the roads. My car tend to last less than 60 miles of light rain (heavy rain is better as there's more water to crud) before I need to use the washers/wipers to clear the crud off that's not being repelled by the windscreen treatment (Aquapel, Rain-X, Duxbak, Enduroshield, Clearview, etc.). However, despite Rain-X being the original/most well-known, it seems to have not evolved and most of the other options are better/longer lasting.

 

[kis]

I just de-activated mine with carly. I prefer manual... plus I like to use rainex on my windscreen as well. Rainex almost reduces my need for the wipers completely (I used to do lots of motorway driving).

No need to code anything, just put the wipers into position 0 (off), rather than position 1 (auto/intermittent) setting.

I've tried loads of windscreen treatments over the years, and found they all fail when you start to get any greasy residue coming off the roads. My car tend to last less than 60 miles of light rain (heavy rain is better as there's more water to crud) before I need to use the washers/wipers to clear the crud off that's not being repelled by the windscreen treatment (Aquapel, Rain-X, Duxbak, Enduroshield, Clearview, etc.). However, despite Rain-X being the original/most well-known, it seems to have not evolved and most of the other options are better/longer lasting.

My auto wipers weren't working, so when I clicked the wheel up, I'd get one swipe. That's it. So a completely manual wiper... everytime I wanted to wipe, I'd have to pull the stalk. PITA! So deactivated auto wiper, now it works like a non-auto one so if I click it up, it swipes at the "regular" intervals as per what you set.

I've always had good results with Rain-x. Maybe because mines an old bottle
My grandfather always says, old is gold!