MB-BOB

Had the opportunity to drive in the wet yesterday. (I usually reserve my beater Probe GT "the Roller Skate" for rainy days.)

I'm quite pleased with the rain sensor wiper system that comes with the sunroof. I've heard others say that earlier versions wiped too often, or not enough. However, for my driving style, I think the sensitivity is just about right.

What do you think?

Synergy

I'd say mine is just a TAD too sensitive, but frankly, I'd rather have it that way than not enough.

Of course, I JUST took delivery on mine on Thursday, so I haven't had that much time in it. But most of it HAS been in the rain

Overall, I'm REAL happy with the car, and the Rain Sensor seems to work just about right for me. I don't know how MB could adjust it to be perfect for everyone.

Flashman

I wish it would optionally close the sunroof/windows when it detected rain.

young

i agree w/ flashman. i think a feature to close all the windows/moonroof w/ 1 button or automatically w/ the rainsensor would indeed be nice to have on the C230K coupe. you guys in the sedans have that button tunnel mode :thumbup:

o2bsurreal

Yeah I agree - the ability to close the windows with one button, but not the roof really bugs me. On the other hand, the rain sensor is incredible, and I've been happy with it so far too. I think it is set to be 3 wipes behind so that when the rain slows down, or you drive into a garage, it takes 3 wipes to take that change into account. This is understandable since you wouldn't want things like overpasses and such causing your wipers to cut off. I'd leave them on all the time if they wouldn't activate and do a single wipe on a dry windshield when you turned the engine back on.

justme

Could be wrong, but I recall that if you push the "Recirc" button on the HVAC controls in the 230K, it shuts everything up. You could use that as a quick shortcut.

o2bsurreal

On mine it does the windows, but not the roof.

Vic55

Its a great feature IMO but it does have its little quirks. There are times when it wont speed up but the rain is just pounding away and then there are times where it waits to long between sweeps allowing a nice amount of drizzle to build up.

Overall it is very functional. Here in California it seems to rain hard for several miles and then it slows downs, then it stops, and all of sudden it just starts pounding out again. With the sensor I don't have to keep adjusting an intermittent wiper dial/switch.

MB-BOB

That's a really good point, o2B... I don't need to be reminded that I have the sensor "on" every time I start the car. The "dork-o-meter" pegs off the scale when that happens in sunny weather, right? Instead, I'd like to set it and forget it, let 'em come on automatically when it starts to rain, rather than wait for me to turn the stalk from Off to Intermittent.

I don't understand why MB programs it that way. Any ideas? Any "Norway" settings to customize the preferences, etc.?

MarkL

I like the rain sensor a lot. In case you weren't aware, many other cars with this feature provide an adjustment for sensitivity, similar to the typical intermittent wiper operation. But, instead of adjusting the time interval, it adjusts the "wetness" sensitivity.

This example, plus the fact that you can't turn off the dimming rearview mirror, makes me wonder if MB is trying to "simplify" the car's operation a tad too much. It's OK to give me the choice.

As for the sunroof closing via "recirc" (oh no! not again), the C230's roof won't close w/ the windows since the roof lacks a "one-touch" close function like the sedans.

As for the wipers doing one wipe to remind you -- what if you entered a car wash with the "sensor" mode on? Not good. Maybe they hope you'll remember you've got it on if they remind you when you start out.

lee2375

I have the rain sensing wipers on my CLK and I love them. Takes the work out of trying to figure how to use wipers in drizzle (which happens a lot here in Houston).

young

are you sure about that? just kidding. that's what i meant in my first post...

btw, which car doesn't have the sensor (someone voted for wish i had one)? an older car? do all new models come w/ it?

tommy

Um, the ccoupe doesn't come with one standard. Included in c2 and c5 (I think). Are you sure that you bought a c230? c240 as well, and it looks like c320 (sedan and wagon), which is kind of surprising. Hell, it looks like most of them don't have it standard, though it looks like it's mostly packaged with the sunroof. What's the connection between a sunroof & a rain sensor? Doesn't that seem contradictory? Kind of like packaging a/c with an icemaker.

MarkL

For some reason, it looks like they do all the "window" stuff in a package. C2 on the sedans includes the sunroof, rain sensor, and electric sunshade for the rear window . Something for each major glass surface!

Hey, if you notice one of the new Lexus ES300 ads, they have an exact duplicate of the MB sunshade -- they show it moving up into position.

patronus

I have the Rain Sensing Wipers on my 01 C240. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so there is plenty of opportunity to test this feature!

I have noticed one glitch in the system. When the wipers begin to wear, especially in the area of the passenger wiper that wipes over the sensor, they streak. If there is still a streak across the sensor when the wipe cycle finishes, the sensor calls for another wipe, even though the rest of the windshield appears clean and clear.

Just like the single wiper MB models, they work well with new wiper blades, but as the blades wear, performance drops off quickly.

SoCal240/6

I only got them because I had to to get the sunroof,

but,

I have to admit, I like them a lot. I didn't think I would, because I thought they would not work right (you know, like start going like crazy at the first drop of rain).

But they work very, very well. The sensor is very "smart" and does a good job of determining when to trigger the wipers, and what speed to use.

Pretty cool!

Richard

I find them great - the only time they "get it wrong" is driving in the sunshine thru heavy trees which cause small amounts of sunshine to flash on the sensor.

- My wife had a ML430 until yesterday without this feature, and if you every went thru a huge puddle you'd end up with gallons of water on the windscreen and not be able to see while you fiddle around to find the wiper switch (and Im used to a CLK55 with the feature)
. - As of Friday she has a ML500 with rain-sensing wipers (and parktronic, another nice option, which I beleive is vital on the ML where you can't see reasonably large children walking behind the car ...)

Richard

vinmanc32

Someone earlier mentioned how nice it would be if the windows detect rain but the next best thing is the tunnel mode feature that closes all windows and sunroof and recirculates air. I go through a fair number of tunnels regurlarly so it comes in handy. I dont think I will miss the rain sensor wipers although they would be nice to have.

young

dood, i totally forgot the panoramic moonroof was optional it just feels like it belongs w/ the coupe

jswedberg

Not to rain on your parade (get it? yuck yuck) but the manual
(in my car at least) sez not to leave the rain sensor wipes
engaged when it's not raining. Otherwise it will wipe once
when its dry, and risk scratching the windshield.

E 4.3

COOL!!! Does the E-Class do this? If so, how?

amginfo