Rain Sensing Wipers

BlueZ4AZ · 03-21-2011, 12:26 PM

1.5 years and 18,000 miles on the car and I decided to drive in the rain today for the first time. The car needed a wash anyway, so I figured what the heck. I did it just to say I used my rain sensing wipers.

I used my rain sensing wipers and they work.

Officer Dibble · 03-21-2011, 01:16 PM

Yes, but one has to switch them on everytime!

tranquility · 03-21-2011, 03:34 PM

Technically, the sensor is located near the windshield, not the wipers. Great feature, in any event.

SquireG · 03-22-2011, 09:20 AM

Yes, but, Officer Dibble is correct. You have to turn the wiper sensor on every time you want to use it. Would have been far better and more convenient to have the sensor actually sense when it is raining and turn the wipers on automatically. That is how it works on my Lexus....go figure. Nice try BMW.

Memphis1 · 03-22-2011, 10:32 AM

^^ so what do you do in a car wash?? hope none of the guys get their fingers whacked by the wipers??

mcbeee · 03-22-2011, 10:45 AM

I turn the ignition off, wouldn't want to gas the other folks in there...

Memphis1 · 03-22-2011, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcbeee

I turn the ignition off, wouldn't want to gas the other folks in there...

I was being a smart ass to squireg. Cuz he says lexus cars have the auto wiper on all the time and BMW is Just trying...

tranquility · 03-22-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Officer Dibble

Yes, but one has to switch them on everytime!

I like that option because sometimes the sensor is not 'accurate' enough and I want to have it manually faster, for example.

Officer Dibble · 03-22-2011, 01:24 PM

I have to agree with "tranquility", on my SLK that used to be the problem. It was very unpredictable. It is not a real bother to tap on it when needed, but would have been nice touch to have an AUTO or Manual switch(like the lights).

mcbeee · 03-22-2011, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Memphis1

I was being a smart ass to squireg. Cuz he says lexus cars have the auto wiper on all the time and BMW is Just trying...

So was I

I don't mind having to turn them on...it lets me feel that at least I'm in control of "something"

SquireG · 03-22-2011, 04:21 PM

I guess I'm still bitter over the crappy base sound system and being on my third hpfp. But, I would have preferred that there was a setting to leave the sensor in an on state like the auto headlights. That way, when it rains, the wipers come on. And for the record, the wife drives the Lexus.....

mcbeee · 03-22-2011, 05:25 PM

Mine is getting a new HPFP next tuesday, I haven't cracked my 296's yet and my wipers work fine....life is good

as long as it stops snowing before Monday..

Dr Stig 2 · 03-22-2011, 05:38 PM

You can adjust the sensitivity of the wipers with the scroll on the wiper stalk.
Roll it to make it wipe more often (with less rain on the sensor)
I find you can get to a happy point where it wipes as often as you expect.

marcw · 03-24-2011, 01:11 AM

I have to say the wiper sensor definitely has its quirks. Being in rainy Oregon gives me lots of days to experience its quirkiness. I have played with the sensitivity and it still seems to have a mind of its own. Sometimes it's wiping way too slow leaving so much water on the windshield that I need to engage it manually, then other times with barely a dribble on the windshield it wipes so fast like it wants to burn out its motor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

You can adjust the sensitivity of the wipers with the scroll on the wiper stalk.
Roll it to make it wipe more often (with less rain on the sensor)
I find you can get to a happy point where it wipes as often as you expect.

lux good · 03-24-2011, 04:09 AM

I picked my Zed up in June '09 on a rainy day, and the wipers have been working away on auto virtually every day ever since!!!.....you gotta love the UK weather.....not!!

Nice to see to you got away without using the auto wipers for so long!!

03-21-2011, 12:26 PM	#1
BlueZ4AZ Go SU 34 Rep 902 Posts Drives: 2009 Z4 sDrive35i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ iTrader: (0)	Rain Sensing Wipers 1.5 years and 18,000 miles on the car and I decided to drive in the rain today for the first time. The car needed a wash anyway, so I figured what the heck. I did it just to say I used my rain sensing wipers. I used my rain sensing wipers and they work.
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03-21-2011, 01:16 PM	#2
Officer Dibble Enlisted Member 2 Rep 49 Posts Drives: sdrive35is Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	Yes, but one has to switch them on everytime!
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03-21-2011, 03:34 PM	#3
tranquility sportscars only 3436 Rep 3,258 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Technically, the sensor is located near the windshield, not the wipers. Great feature, in any event.
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03-22-2011, 09:20 AM	#4
SquireG Private 8 Rep 54 Posts Drives: Z4-SDrive35i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida iTrader: (0)	Yes, but, Officer Dibble is correct. You have to turn the wiper sensor on every time you want to use it. Would have been far better and more convenient to have the sensor actually sense when it is raining and turn the wipers on automatically. That is how it works on my Lexus....go figure. Nice try BMW.
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03-22-2011, 10:32 AM	#5
Memphis1 Lieutenant Colonel 95 Rep 1,838 Posts Drives: Z4 SDrive 35i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	^^ so what do you do in a car wash?? hope none of the guys get their fingers whacked by the wipers?? __________________
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03-22-2011, 10:45 AM	#6
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	I turn the ignition off, wouldn't want to gas the other folks in there... __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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03-22-2011, 01:24 PM	#9
Officer Dibble Enlisted Member 2 Rep 49 Posts Drives: sdrive35is Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	I have to agree with "tranquility", on my SLK that used to be the problem. It was very unpredictable. It is not a real bother to tap on it when needed, but would have been nice touch to have an AUTO or Manual switch(like the lights).
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03-22-2011, 04:21 PM	#11
SquireG Private 8 Rep 54 Posts Drives: Z4-SDrive35i Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Orlando, Florida iTrader: (0)	I guess I'm still bitter over the crappy base sound system and being on my third hpfp. But, I would have preferred that there was a setting to leave the sensor in an on state like the auto headlights. That way, when it rains, the wipers come on. And for the record, the wife drives the Lexus.....
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03-22-2011, 05:25 PM	#12
mcbeee Lieutenant 5 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '09 Z4 s35i & '03 Z4 3.0i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 Z4 3.0i [5.00] 2001 Z3 3.0i [0.00] 2009 Z4 s35i [7.00]	Mine is getting a new HPFP next tuesday, I haven't cracked my 296's yet and my wipers work fine....life is good as long as it stops snowing before Monday.. __________________ Member ZSCCA 2009 Z4 s35i with Dinan Stage II software, Sport and Exec packages, 19" 296 rims , a stubby and mud flaps '03 Z4 3.0i Sterling Grey (Hers) '01 Z3 3.0i Sapphire Black, M sport package (Mine)
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03-22-2011, 05:38 PM	#13
Dr Stig 2 Criminally Insane 57 Rep 1,464 Posts Drives: Like a Demon! Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 BMW Z4 35is [10.00] 2013 BMW X5 30d [0.00]	You can adjust the sensitivity of the wipers with the scroll on the wiper stalk. Roll it to make it wipe more often (with less rain on the sensor) I find you can get to a happy point where it wipes as often as you expect. __________________ Dr Stig 2010 Z4 35is 2011 X3 30d M Sport Australia
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03-24-2011, 04:09 AM	#15
lux good Banned 25 Rep 291 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive 23i & Q5 2.0 TSFI Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: England iTrader: (0)	I picked my Zed up in June '09 on a rainy day, and the wipers have been working away on auto virtually every day ever since!!!.....you gotta love the UK weather.....not!! Nice to see to you got away without using the auto wipers for so long!!
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