Auto Rain Wipers

Shoushi Malouche · 11-07-2006, 07:04 PM

If my 335 comes with auto rain wiper feature does that mean that I can not have access to the self controlled wiper feature, I hate auto wipers and I really hope its not one or the other.

I read the manual but I can make no sense of it, its confusing

Help

Gripster · 11-07-2006, 07:06 PM

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=rain+sensor

TommyBahama · 11-07-2006, 07:08 PM

i think i can use mine w/o it being on auto, but i really have never tried it. the censors work well.

Taittinger · 11-07-2006, 07:09 PM

You can turn it off or on.

///Matt · 11-07-2006, 07:10 PM

you can certainly use it manually. don't worry.

Shoushi Malouche · 11-07-2006, 07:20 PM

How? I looked at the thread and unless I am brain dead ( I may be) I saw nothing about how to turn off the auto feature and make the four position slider switch to change the wiper rate manually.

The rain sensing wipes way too fast for my liking.

I dont have iDRiVe

TommyBahama · 11-07-2006, 07:22 PM

there is a button on the wiper stick. press it and the green button will go off then they are turned off.

idrive has nothing to do with the wipers, one of the few things they left alone.

Taittinger · 11-07-2006, 07:22 PM

You can adjust the speed of the auto-wipe, I think. But if you cannot, push in on the tip of the stalk. It should turn off the little green light indicating auto-wipe on.

///Matt · 11-07-2006, 07:22 PM

I could be wrong here, but the stalk is what determines manual speed..... at least on all the OTHER bmw's in the world it its.

how many clicks up you go determines the manual speed..

Shoushi Malouche · 11-07-2006, 07:26 PM

I guess I was not clear. If I press the button in the auto wiper feature is activated and it decides when it wipes, I don't like that.

On my the wiper stalk there is a scroll wheel that has four positions. I want to be able to use this selection

If I pull it towards me it washes the window and wipes

If I push it down it does a single wipe

If I push it up once it goes to a low constant wipe, press up twice for hyper speed.

How might I press or move the stalk to pick one of the four speeds that it wipes at?

Thanks

Taittinger · 11-07-2006, 07:28 PM

It is supposed to rain all day here tomorrow; I will play around with it then.

TommyBahama · 11-07-2006, 07:29 PM

i do not think you can get those 4 speeds without it being on auto.

just use auto? sometimes i really dont get you canadians.

SGxi · 11-07-2006, 07:33 PM

My understanding is that you can adjust the wiper speed with the scroll wheel when you push it up once to activate the wiper. With the auto mode on, you can adjust the sensitivity of the rain sensor with the scroll wheel (so it'll wipe at a slower/faster speed. That is at least what I gather reading the manual...

Shoushi Malouche · 11-07-2006, 07:35 PM

shit I might have just realized something. I'm a moron I think. If you push the button in and the green light is on the four position dial helps control the speed of the auto wipe.

GregL · 11-07-2006, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbutcher

shit I might have just realized something. I'm a moron I think. If you push the button in and the green light is on the four position dial helps control the speed of the auto wipe.

I think that the roller specifically controls the sensitivity of the auto wipe. ie. how much rain has to accumulate before it peforms a wipe.

hav2flynow · 11-07-2006, 08:52 PM

It rains alot here in FL. My auto works great. Yes, you have to press the button for the auto to be turned on. And Yes you adjust the auto sensitivity by using the dial/lever.

tctic · 11-08-2006, 12:52 AM

I am surprised to see so much confusion over the use of the windsheild wipers.

So, the 335i comes with a rain sensor. Press the button on the end of the right stalk and the rain sensor will be activated. When water drops on the rain sensor, it will trigger the wipers. Now there's 4 setting to the rain sensor. Rotating it downwards decrease the sensitivity/rate of the wipers and vice versa.

For those who prefer manual operations. Press the stalk down once, the wipers would activate once. Press the stalk lightly up once, the wipers are in intermittant mode on traditional cars and the speed of the wipers would be dependent on vehicle speed. In this case, the knob that adjust the sensitivity of the rain sensor would have no effect on the rate of the wipers. Now, if you want the fastest wiper speed, push the stalk all the way up and pass the point of resistance.

If you are in the highest wiper speed mode, press the stalk down once would bring it back to intermittant mode and then press it once more would turn off the wipers completely.

From what I have noticed, the rain sensor (auto mode) does not work perfectly in heavy rain. It's perfect for other conditions but for heavy rain, the windsheild is literally too blurry to see clearlly when the car is stationary. So I'd prefer to use the manual mode when it is raining hard.

PiperD · 11-08-2006, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tctic

When water drops on the rain sensor, it will trigger the wipers.

In actual fact... the sensor is comprised of a sending unit and a receiving unit. Light (infrared?) is sent out into the windshield on an angle, bounces around between in the inside and outside surfaces and is detected by the receiving unit. When the windshield is wet, light escapes due to differing levels of refraction so less light is received by the receiving unit. The less light received, the "wetter" the windshield.

I can't recall which BMW source I originally read this in, however there's a general overiew of the technology at http://www.rainsensors.com.

Quote:

From what I have noticed, the rain sensor (auto mode) does not work perfectly in heavy rain. It's perfect for other conditions but for heavy rain, the windsheild is literally too blurry to see clearlly when the car is stationary.

No e90/92 here (yet) however my wipers have happily kicked into high gear during severe downpours. At vehicle rest they do switch into an intermittent mode. The most annoying thing though is that it seems to calculate wiper speed/delay based on how wet the windshield was at the last wipe, versus how wet it is now. So if a wipe occurs, then a truck splashes water on the windshield, I have to wait a full cycle before the next wipe - then the delay is decreased and the next-next wipe occurs more quickly.

Hopefully resolved in the e90/92.

txusa03 · 11-08-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbutcher

I guess I was not clear. If I press the button in the auto wiper feature is activated and it decides when it wipes, I don't like that.

On my the wiper stalk there is a scroll wheel that has four positions. I want to be able to use this selection

If I pull it towards me it washes the window and wipes

If I push it down it does a single wipe

If I push it up once it goes to a low constant wipe, press up twice for hyper speed.

How might I press or move the stalk to pick one of the four speeds that it wipes at?

Thanks

here is the sequence i think.

do this first and see how fast it moves back and forth:
If I push it up once it goes to a low constant wipe, press up twice for hyper speed.

When it it moving back and forth, use the scroll and adjust the scroll up or down and see how that affects the speed of the wiper. Hope that helps.

CarbonE39m5 · 11-08-2006, 12:05 PM

the sensors work really good, i have the 2007 escalade and they suck in the truck. but my E92 coupes auto windshield wipers are very impressive. and yes you can use them without auto, just dont click the Auto button in...

-Matt

arbitrage · 11-08-2006, 05:22 PM

I think the OP want the setting that is only available without having auto wipers. This is when the little dial changes the intermitent speed. With auto wipers you loose this feature and are stuck with auto (with different sensitivities), wipe once (pull down), low speed (push up), and crazy MF speed (up twice). If you don't have auto sensor then one of the settings is an intermitent setting and the little dial controls the speed but as I said this is not available with the auto sensor and this is what the OP wants.

To the OP: Sorry, just get used to auto, it actually works amazing in my experience!

Shoushi Malouche · 11-08-2006, 07:45 PM

Thank You!!!

That is exactly what I was asking for, I hate the fact that I have to have a bunch of sensors tell me when to wipe my windows.

It rained all day here today and no matter what one of the four settings the scroll wheel is on when the auto feature is activated it always wipes way to often.

Plus I have found that the wipers are quite loud when they reach their full extension at the top of the wipe, next time it rains listen to how much clunk and noise comes form the things.

Bad move on BMW's part not allowing a driver to select what frequency to have the wipers wipe.

Maybe my rain sensor is broken

11-07-2006, 07:04 PM	#1
Shoushi Malouche Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 241 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Auto Rain Wipers If my 335 comes with auto rain wiper feature does that mean that I can not have access to the self controlled wiper feature, I hate auto wipers and I really hope its not one or the other. I read the manual but I can make no sense of it, its confusing Help
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11-07-2006, 07:06 PM	#2
Gripster Captain 147 Rep 981 Posts Drives: E93 M3 Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego iTrader: (5) Garage List 2013 BMW M3 [0.00]	http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=rain+sensor __________________ *2013 M3 (E93)* - ZPP/ZCW/DCT
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11-07-2006, 07:08 PM	#3
TommyBahama Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 258 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Umass iTrader: (0)	i think i can use mine w/o it being on auto, but i really have never tried it. the censors work well.
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11-07-2006, 07:09 PM	#4
Taittinger Major 57 Rep 1,019 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue E92 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i Cpe [0.00]	You can turn it off or on. __________________ '07 Monaco Blue 335i ordered 9/4 built 9/21 shipped 9/28 arrived 10/12 at dealership 10/18 vroom 10/19 christened 11/3...
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11-07-2006, 07:10 PM	#5
///Matt United States Marine 318 Rep 2,748 Posts Drives: 2007 Dodge Ram 1500 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (8) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	you can certainly use it manually. don't worry.
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11-07-2006, 07:20 PM	#6
Shoushi Malouche Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 241 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	How? I looked at the thread and unless I am brain dead ( I may be) I saw nothing about how to turn off the auto feature and make the four position slider switch to change the wiper rate manually. The rain sensing wipes way too fast for my liking. I dont have iDRiVe
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11-07-2006, 07:22 PM	#7
TommyBahama Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 258 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Umass iTrader: (0)	there is a button on the wiper stick. press it and the green button will go off then they are turned off. idrive has nothing to do with the wipers, one of the few things they left alone.
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11-07-2006, 07:26 PM	#10
Shoushi Malouche Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 241 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I guess I was not clear. If I press the button in the auto wiper feature is activated and it decides when it wipes, I don't like that. On my the wiper stalk there is a scroll wheel that has four positions. I want to be able to use this selection If I pull it towards me it washes the window and wipes If I push it down it does a single wipe If I push it up once it goes to a low constant wipe, press up twice for hyper speed. How might I press or move the stalk to pick one of the four speeds that it wipes at? Thanks
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11-07-2006, 07:28 PM	#11
Taittinger Major 57 Rep 1,019 Posts Drives: Monaco Blue E92 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 335i Cpe [0.00]	It is supposed to rain all day here tomorrow; I will play around with it then. __________________ '07 Monaco Blue 335i ordered 9/4 built 9/21 shipped 9/28 arrived 10/12 at dealership 10/18 vroom 10/19 christened 11/3...
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11-07-2006, 07:29 PM	#12
TommyBahama Second Lieutenant 11 Rep 258 Posts Drives: e90 330i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Umass iTrader: (0)	i do not think you can get those 4 speeds without it being on auto. just use auto? sometimes i really dont get you canadians.
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11-07-2006, 07:33 PM	#13
SGxi Major General 158 Rep 6,805 Posts Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Toronto iTrader: (17) Garage List 2007 328xi [0.00]	My understanding is that you can adjust the wiper speed with the scroll wheel when you push it up once to activate the wiper. With the auto mode on, you can adjust the sensitivity of the rain sensor with the scroll wheel (so it'll wipe at a slower/faster speed. That is at least what I gather reading the manual... __________________ MY07 A22 E90 N52Nxi
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11-07-2006, 07:35 PM	#14
Shoushi Malouche Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 241 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	shit I might have just realized something. I'm a moron I think. If you push the button in and the green light is on the four position dial helps control the speed of the auto wipe.
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11-07-2006, 08:52 PM	#16
hav2flynow Private First Class 9 Rep 172 Posts Drives: 2013 Mineral White 328i Sport Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vero Beach, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 F30 328i Sport ... [0.00]	It rains alot here in FL. My auto works great. Yes, you have to press the button for the auto to be turned on. And Yes you adjust the auto sensitivity by using the dial/lever.
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11-08-2006, 12:52 AM	#17
tctic Major 38 Rep 1,238 Posts Drives: BMW E90 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	I am surprised to see so much confusion over the use of the windsheild wipers. So, the 335i comes with a rain sensor. Press the button on the end of the right stalk and the rain sensor will be activated. When water drops on the rain sensor, it will trigger the wipers. Now there's 4 setting to the rain sensor. Rotating it downwards decrease the sensitivity/rate of the wipers and vice versa. For those who prefer manual operations. Press the stalk down once, the wipers would activate once. Press the stalk lightly up once, the wipers are in intermittant mode on traditional cars and the speed of the wipers would be dependent on vehicle speed. In this case, the knob that adjust the sensitivity of the rain sensor would have no effect on the rate of the wipers. Now, if you want the fastest wiper speed, push the stalk all the way up and pass the point of resistance. If you are in the highest wiper speed mode, press the stalk down once would bring it back to intermittant mode and then press it once more would turn off the wipers completely. From what I have noticed, the rain sensor (auto mode) does not work perfectly in heavy rain. It's perfect for other conditions but for heavy rain, the windsheild is literally too blurry to see clearlly when the car is stationary. So I'd prefer to use the manual mode when it is raining hard.
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11-08-2006, 12:05 PM	#20
CarbonE39m5 Lieutenant 36 Rep 540 Posts Drives: E92 335i/ 08' 528i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Naples, Florida iTrader: (4)	the sensors work really good, i have the 2007 escalade and they suck in the truck. but my E92 coupes auto windshield wipers are very impressive. and yes you can use them without auto, just dont click the Auto button in... -Matt
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11-08-2006, 05:22 PM	#21
arbitrage First Lieutenant 14 Rep 371 Posts Drives: 07 335i coupe Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Whitehorse Yukon Territory Canada iTrader: (0)	I think the OP want the setting that is only available without having auto wipers. This is when the little dial changes the intermitent speed. With auto wipers you loose this feature and are stuck with auto (with different sensitivities), wipe once (pull down), low speed (push up), and crazy MF speed (up twice). If you don't have auto sensor then one of the settings is an intermitent setting and the little dial controls the speed but as I said this is not available with the auto sensor and this is what the OP wants. To the OP: Sorry, just get used to auto, it actually works amazing in my experience! __________________ Ordered June 3 '06: E92 335i Saph Blk, Jade Grey lthr, poplar grey trim, 6spd, Sports Pkg, CA. Update Sept 29 '06: Got the car...It rocks!! Update Sept 08: Moved to Whitehorse and had to buy out of my lease. Miss the car a lot. Will return to BMW family in a couple of years.
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11-08-2006, 07:45 PM	#22
Shoushi Malouche Second Lieutenant 26 Rep 241 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Thank You!!! That is exactly what I was asking for, I hate the fact that I have to have a bunch of sensors tell me when to wipe my windows. It rained all day here today and no matter what one of the four settings the scroll wheel is on when the auto feature is activated it always wipes way to often. Plus I have found that the wipers are quite loud when they reach their full extension at the top of the wipe, next time it rains listen to how much clunk and noise comes form the things. Bad move on BMW's part not allowing a driver to select what frequency to have the wipers wipe. Maybe my rain sensor is broken
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