Automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers
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2019 S560, 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
Automatic rain-sensing windshield wipers
In the two plus years I've owned my C350, I've noticed the automatic wipers a few times coming on and making a single random sweep across the glass for no apparent reason.
Two days ago, they came on out of the blue on a bright sunny afternoon. I actually had to turn them off completely to get them to stop. On the way home I stopped at a gas station and thoroughly cleaned the windshield just in case some dirt had messed up the sensor .... but I doubt that made any difference.
Has anyone else seen this behavior with their wipers?
Two days ago, they came on out of the blue on a bright sunny afternoon. I actually had to turn them off completely to get them to stop. On the way home I stopped at a gas station and thoroughly cleaned the windshield just in case some dirt had messed up the sensor .... but I doubt that made any difference.
Has anyone else seen this behavior with their wipers?
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 283
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From: Toronto, ON
2012 C300 Sport 4MATIC (current) 2006 C280 Elegance 4MATIC (sold)
I'm not experiencing that particular behavior but from day one of owning my 2012 C300 the auto rain sensing wipers have just plain sucked. They go absolutely crazy in light rain or mist but do nothing in heavy rain when in auto mode (knob turned one notch above the off position). I wish there were just 4 to 5 settings and a knob to change the sensitivity like they have in Nissan vehicles. That and the wiper chatter issue that only weekly applications of 303 Aerospace Protectant to the blades can quiet down. Terrible system especially on a Mercedes.
Question though. Do you have a dash cam in your vehicle or perhaps an external GPS? Perhaps those devices can cause interference with the rain sensing system since any of those devices would be mounted near the sensor. Just a thought.
Question though. Do you have a dash cam in your vehicle or perhaps an external GPS? Perhaps those devices can cause interference with the rain sensing system since any of those devices would be mounted near the sensor. Just a thought.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 701
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From: Ontario, Canada
2009 C63 AMG, 2010 C250 4Matic Sport
All the time with a very sand-blasted and pitted windshield at 273k km. The sensor is picking up glare and reflections from all the imperfections in the glass, it's really annoying and I only turn the wipers on if it's actually raining
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From: Milwaukee, WI
2010 C300 4MATIC........ 2011 C63 AMG.............. 2015 CLS400 4MATIC.....
Mine is fine, however the system is far from perfect. I find myself flipping the switch on and off to wipe in light rain.
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2012 C300 4MATIC Sport
Same experience as everyone with my car which only has 16,000 km on it (10,000 miles). Sometimes, the automatic swipes work perfectly and sometimes they go crazy for no reason and sometimes they don't work at all in moderate to heavy rain. I always find myself increasing the sensitivity or going to positions 3 and 4 which are timed swipes. I had the same problem with my 2005 CLK 320. It's a shame Mercedes could not master this system 10 years later.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2017
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2019 S560, 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid
No more weird behavior since my original post and cleaning the area where the sensor's located. Thanks all for the feedback, sounds like this is a known bit of goofiness, so now I know.
BTW, one other thing I noticed is the wipers will make a pass first thing in the morning when even the slightest condensation is present. In my other cars, I'm used to just letting this blow off' as I get moving ... it's neither necessary nor desirable to use the wipers, since a single pass will just smear anything already on the glass. Not sure if Mercedes could have avoided a starting-up 'condensation wipe' but I would have preferred it if they could.
BTW, one other thing I noticed is the wipers will make a pass first thing in the morning when even the slightest condensation is present. In my other cars, I'm used to just letting this blow off' as I get moving ... it's neither necessary nor desirable to use the wipers, since a single pass will just smear anything already on the glass. Not sure if Mercedes could have avoided a starting-up 'condensation wipe' but I would have preferred it if they could.
