Rain Sensor Wipers

L

Lotus1

Member
Cheshire
Hi folks,

Has anyone had problems with their rain sensor wipers? When I put the stalk into the automatic position the wipers do one sweep...then nothing. If I then adjust the sensitivity setting, again I get one wipe then nothing... I'm thinking loose connection or faulty sensor. Any thoughts?

Steve
 
It does that when you switch the rain sensor on, once across and then stops, each time you adjust the sensor it moves again, I assume this is to set it,, but should start working when its starts raining, otherwise you do have a problem.
 
RustyZ4 said:
It does that when you switch the rain sensor on, once across and then stops, each time you adjust the sensor it moves again, I assume this is to set it,, but should start working when its starts raining, otherwise you do have a problem.
Click to expand...

Sorry - I should have said that this what they do when it's raining!
 
mine are not sensitive enough. The dealer replaced the windscreen for a bubble in the sensor... ever since then they have not been sensitive enough, no matter what I set it to. I think it's a dealer setting to alter sensitivity, not something we can do, and am not gonna let Stratstone have any of my money!
 
sp3ctre said:
mine are not sensitive enough. The dealer replaced the windscreen for a bubble in the sensor... ever since then they have not been sensitive enough, no matter what I set it to. I think it's a dealer setting to alter sensitivity, not something we can do, and am not gonna let Stratstone have any of my money!
Click to expand...

I get nothing even when it's pouring with rain so, if it is a sensitivity problem, it's way off :?
 
Lotus1 said:
I get nothing even when it's pouring with rain so, if it is a sensitivity problem, it's way off :?
Click to expand...
Are you resetting it?
You can't leave it in the rain sensor position.
When you need it you need to go to OFF, then back to rain sensor setting.

...It's to prevent inadvertent wipe in a car wash, or on a frosted/frozen windshield.
 
I would say to check the sensor behind the mirror for bubbles. If there are any, the sensor is not going to work.
 
pvr said:
I would say to check the sensor behind the mirror for bubbles. If there are any, the sensor is not going to work.
Click to expand...

I think this is probably the answer PVR - there is a bubble although it's only at the edge of the sensor. The car is in for its MOT this week so I hope they don't fail it on this...I guess it would be a hard thing to test...unless it's raining!

Steve
 
I had a bubble under my rain sensor and they still worked, although occasionally they were a bit hit and miss, but they never stopped working completely. Sounds terminal TBH :(
 
I've got the same problem (wipers don't work even with heavy rain with auto on).
I even have another issue: AUTO Headlights switch lights on even with full sun! :| :headbang:
The whole thing happened after BMW servicing about one year ago (they replaced the alternator) :thumbsdown:
 
same issue here, i've got a bubble behind mine. I've heard the best bet will be a "damaged" windscreen and a call to autoglass via your insurers as the new screen comes with the sensor ;-)
 
mine does the same thing.. push stalk up once and it wipes. then rotate the wheel from I to II and it wipes again.

i dont even bother with the auto wiper setting because i dont drive the Z in the rain or snow. so therefore i leave it on OFF
 
hugepiece said:
same issue here, i've got a bubble behind mine. I've heard the best bet will be a "damaged" windscreen and a call to autoglass via your insurers as the new screen comes with the sensor ;-)
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan! Glad to hear it's not just mine playing up...now, where's that hammer :P

Steve
 
Had the same problem with the auto wiper mode. A new expensive windshield with new sensor was out of the question, so I went to the my local BMW garage and reprogrammed the wipers to be manual. The manual mode with three positions on the small positioner inside the stalk works fine. Price for the reprogramming? Approx $80,-
 
I got a new windscreen from the dealer because of air bubbles between the screen and the sensor causing the auto wipers to quit. Seems to be a common problem.
 
Just done a search on this problem, as it seems I'm also suffering from a faulty rain sensor and came upon this post. http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/247857

Ok it's for a E38 7 series, but I wonder if the sensor is the same? It would stop the need to have the whole windscreen replaced.

Is the only reason the BMW dealer is saying a whole new windscreen is needed is the same reason the guy who posted that how too thread got told by his BMW dealer he would need a whole new screen? Maybe we just need to know the correct part number if the 7 series one is no good for us?

A search on realOEM.com comes up with this part http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&btnr=61_1626&hg=61&fg=15

and the 7 series post links you this part on realOEM.com http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=GH83&mospid=47531&btnr=61_0169&hg=61&fg=15
 
I have also found this http://equalizer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=estore&Product_Code=CMO503&Category_Code=01f

and this on my internet travels http://equalizer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=estore&Product_Code=BRS368&Category_Code=01f

plus this site too http://www.gggcorp.com/sensors.htm

Could this be the answer to the problem of needing to replace the whole screen...I'll have to get out and take the plastic cover off mine this weekend.
 
no fit state said:
I have also found this http://equalizer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=estore&Product_Code=CMO503&Category_Code=01f

and this on my internet travels http://equalizer.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=estore&Product_Code=BRS368&Category_Code=01f

plus this site too http://www.gggcorp.com/sensors.htm

Could this be the answer to the problem of needing to replace the whole screen...I'll have to get out and take the plastic cover off mine this weekend.
Click to expand...

Very interesting...

Surely if it's possible to remove the sensor, there's no need to buy a new one - all you have to do is clean it up and re-fix to the windscreen :? Can't be as easy as it sounds :P

Steve
 
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