S70Houston

Is there a way to adjust the sensitivity of the rain sensor?

When switching my wipers on to the first setting, which according to the manual is dependent on the rain sensor, my wiper will only regularly engage when there are big rain drops or when there is a considerable amount of water hitting the windshield, i.e. following a vehicle on the Freeway.

When there is only a mist of rain without heavy/bigger drops, it seems that the wiper takes forever to clear the windshield and I constantly need to push the wiper manually on the stalk to give it one wipe to clear the windshield.

- Can this be adjusted?
- Is a new sensor needed?
- Maybe this normal (as I would hope not, on my wife's BMW it works nearly perfect).

Thanks for the help.

Plutoe

You drive a fourteen year old car and the sensitivity of the sensor is not electronically adjustable----what about the condition of your wiper blades----are they less that 6 months old----


Have you asked your wife to grab a spray bottle, bend over the hood and spray the windshield sensor area-----what happens with varying degrees of vigor!!

S70Houston

Thanks.

No, I have not tried to spray the sensor with a spray bottle, excellent idea.

I would however think that the condition of the blades should have obsolutely nothing to do with when the wiper engages.

Plutoe

I would look at your third paragraph---there you weren't concerned with engagement--you seemed to be concerned about the quality of the wipe!!--engagement has nothing to do with the quality of wipe!!

S70Houston

Hmmmmmm???? Let's re-write this third paragraph, as I did not think that a question about a rain sensor could turn into a schooling of the English Language.

Well, it is my second language, and I try my best, .....

"When there is only a mist of rain without heavy/bigger drops, it seems that the wiper takes forever to ENGAGE, IN ORDER FOR THE BLADES TO MOVE SO THEY clear the windshield and I constantly need to push the wiper manually on the stalk to give it one wipe to clear the windshield.

BETTER??????

ENV²

Mine is the opposite, it usually swipes too much on auto setting.

rapidoxidation

Nothing that isn't red is in any way helpful. Some would say the last paragraph is fight'n words.

S70Houston

Thanks for that rapidoxidation.

I don't know about you, but I have noticed these kind of responses quite often on this forum.

I am part of a BMW Motorcycle Forum, where I have NEVER received anything but honest, straight forward input and advice.

Some of the things that are said on this forum at times are exactly what you have described.

Again, thank you.

kjb55

He plays these games regularly. I share the experience where mine is too sensitive. I spent time with an MB star and aftermarket Texa unit to try and find a setting to adjust. No luck. It works better in W203s and I looked into swapping sensors - but didn't think that would be possible.

arto_wa

Mine started working much better after changing blades.

kurtismayfield

Plutoe
MBWorld Fanatic! <--Key word.


There are a lot of them here. Some of them try to breathe fire now and then but none of them actually bite! You will quickly learn whom to ignore.


Originally Posted by Plutoe

"You drive a fourteen year old car and the sensitivity of the sensor is not electronically adjustable."


Hmm "electronically adjustable" ??? fuzzy talk


According to Machack (benzworld), with the Star
system, the sensor can be 'recalibrated'. He offers his services for a fee.


By the way, your "second language" skills are far better than most members "primary skills"!! Perhaps there is jealousy involved?!


You did notice that everyone else understood your first version of paragraph three...'nuff said.


Merry Christmas

S70Houston

Thank you, greatly appreciate your kind words.

Merry Christmas to you as well.

joseph-aaron

You nailed it
Merry Christmas Kurtis and & S70

S70Houston

Thanks, the very same to you.

Frederick NL

Ancient thread, I stumbled over it (I’m an alien here, from the R230 sub forum. And Dutch, to make things even worse). Having said that, I would think that the quality of the blade would interact with the sensor as much as it would with the sight of the driver. Problem solved. Eh? On the contrary, when the window stays messy, the sensor-info would be reason for a wipe, right?