I drove my e in the rain for the first time today...it was more of a mist than an actual rain. With the wipers on low intermittent, the wipers ran continuously and about the same speed as if I had the switch in full low speed. It seems much too sensitive because the way it's set, there seems to be no value in intermittent at all. Is this normal for a 2011 e?

The wipers also chatttered badly...although the car was built in July. I'll be visiting my dealer tomorrow about that problem.

 

I've owned three cars now with rain sensors...one Japanese and two German.I've found the feature to be *very* imperfect on all three and,as a result,I expect nothing of value from the feature.I long for the old fashioned intermittent wipers.Same thing with the ability to control my own headlights if I wish.MB seems to think that I have an IQ of 60 or something!

 

I have found that it does seem more sensitive to mist than to rain showers and will run more frequently. It works pretty decent other than that. Also, *in my opinion*, the wipers on my E are more prone to chatter than on other cars I have owned.

 

I like it and have no issues.......the dew in the mornings is a bit annoying....but it wipes until it's gone, pretty good feature.......

but you know, to each his/her own

 

maybe i am lucky so far but i dont seem to have that problem.
In fact i keep forgetting that the switch is on intermittent since it never comes on unless it starts to rain.

 

Mine work fine with no chatter.

 

They ran a hose and then turned on the wipers...no chatter. I think that the ultra sensitive automatic wiper switch turned on the wipers too quickly in a mist/very light rain and the windshield was actually not wet enough. If it happens in a heavier rain, I'll go back again....

 

If you have visited a car wash where they spray on "wax," that may be the cause of your "chatter." Wax does not belong on a windshield, at least most kinds found at those car washes.

OTOH, if you are not into spending hours washing and waxing your car, and don't like spending $60+ to have a detail place do it, then the car wash place is a rational place to get it done. (A shot from the windshield washer often ends the chatter.)

 

Second car I have owned with auto wipers. Work great and really appreciate them. I think the sensor is on the windshield behind the mirror. Amount of moisture there influences when they come on. BTW, there appear to be two settings for automatic.

 

I never experience any chatter but the wipers occasionally get confused and go full speed under light rain for a brief period. My somewhat limited experience with BMWs with the same feature is that theirs works a bit more consistently.

 

When it's cold/humid enough to "dew" the windshield, my auto wipers tend to get unintelligent. They start wiping off the dew, and will go forever until I turn them off. They're being "stupid" because there's no reason for wipers to be activated in that case (dew takes care of itself, and I'm talking not even wet, just a light damp), and it ends up smearing the dust/dirt on my windshield, forcing me to have to clean it.

Otherwise, it works great, it just doesn't know how to handle a dew situation well.

 

Compared to the Lexus GS350 I previously owned, the rain sensing wiper system is without a doubt, WORLDS BETTER!!!! I have my set to low intermittant. The system in my opinion wipes away the water just as I think it needs to be, whether it is just misting or a monsoon like down pour. I also like how the wiper speed adjusts automatically to vehicle speed.

As far as the chattering, more than likely need new wiper blades. I have Bosch Icon's on all my vehicles. Highly recommend them.