r_liebo

Whenever my wipers are set on automatic mode, about once every two days I get a few phantom wipes within the first 5 minutes of driving, on a bone dry windshield. Sun is shining, not a cloud in the sky, and there go the wipers.

It seems to be random. Perhaps a buildup of pollen on the windshield is triggering the sensor? Don't notice anything, but perhaps something is there.
This isn't a huge issue, but it really renders the auto-wiper feature unusable, since my understanding is that consistent dry wipes aren't good for the wipers or the windshield.

Anyone else have this problem, and if so, is there a fix from MB or a home fix?
Other than this problem the rain-sensing wipers work great, and I love this feature -- shame to let it go to waste.

victor20170

I usually have that feature off, unless it starts raining.

prodigy1387

same here, i never have it on unless it starts raining. i did leave it on once to see if i could, and it did the same thing - randomly wiped the windshield, so i turned it off.

GDawgC220

same thing happens on our w220...within the first few minutes of driving with it in auto mode, it'll swipe once or twice.

I asked the dealer once while we were in for service...apparently they can reflash the rain-sensing software or something like that? They say it may be the software gone nuts :p

mctwin2kman

It is actually not supposed to be left in Auto mode with the windshield drip. When it wipes a dry windshield you are just asking for trouble as you drag the dirt and debris across a dry windshield you will scratch the glass. And yes mine wipes if accidentally left on oncde at startup.

CitronC230K_03

i never turn on the rain sensing wipers unless it starts raining. then turn them off. this is what is instructed in the owners manual, also dont leave the rain sensors on when you take your car to the car wash.

Saprissa

I saw a BEEMER doing that in a car wash the other day...
pretty funny !
Would of been even better if the alarms was going off too !

DL_AMG

The Rain Sensor is behind the windshield behind the rear view mirror, not on the wipers.

Keep it turn-off if not raining to save your windshield.

HITMAN

Mine does it if i forget to turn them off.

on my moms jag you never have to turn auto on or off they seem to be smoother and never do dry wipes

CitronC230K_03

my friends GTI is that way you never have to turn them off as they wont wipe when you turn on the car if it isnt raining. mine will wipe once when i turn on the car if the auto rain sensing wipers are left on, whether its raining or not. it doesnt bother me that i have to turn on the wipers when it rains, i dont have to adjust them or anything. besides doesnt rain the much in so cal anyways.

Narcissus

If you leave it off until it rains what's the point of getting it anyway

What I found to be causing this phantom swipe is actually tree or post shadows tricking the sensor... Near my place there is a huge tree and whenever I go by it wipes, this happens only around 11:00 - 14:00 when the sun is way up there....


According to my SA the startup swipe is normal when you leave it on auto.


cheers

HITMAN

The point of having them is they control the speed. And if people are to lazy to turn them off and on thats sad

Narcissus

The only problem is that even if it's pouring outside it will never go to max speed...

HITMAN

i noticed that when i was in a really bad storm in spring. They didnt seem to be going fast enough so i did have to put them on max manually

CitronC230K_03

the first month i had my car we were having really bad rain storms in san diego. the hardest i have ever seen it rain. i was going like 30 mph on the freeway, anyways i had to put it on max manually. other than that the wipers seem to work fine. maybe an extra wipe here and there but never have to worry about them going fast enough except that one weird week of rain.

mctwin2kman

It is to replace intermittent speed. You still have to manually select Max Speed. Although they will travel just as fast as the low setting!!! How lazy are you people that you need a totally automatic wiping system with only one setting?? I actually like the rain sensing wipers so I do not have to constantly adjust my intermitent speed everytime I come to a stop or the rain slows or speeds up. It is great and that is what it is designed to do!

CitronC230K_03

i do too. they are very convenient and i dont have to adjust for the rain like i used to on my VW.