Rain sensing wipers, why, why, why ...
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 663
Likes: 49
From: Bucks Cty, PA
2015 gl450
Rain sensing wipers, why, why, why ...
It's maddening. Intermittent to nuclear in about 8 seconds, everytime.
I've spent some time cruising this forum and this seems to be a common issue across many MB models. That just blows my mind.
Anyway, is it a simple reprogram at the dealer level?
Have few small issue that need to be addressed and I hate taking a car in for service, but things are adding up that shouldn't be adding up.
Thanks.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 356
Likes: 13
From: San Francisco, CA
'16 GL550, '12 C350
I'm not sure there's a fix for this, it seems to be a safety feature. Mine will do the same but it doesn't bother me because it's been fairly accurate and goes nuclear when it should.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 68
Likes: 14
2014 GL450
The feature works pretty well for me. It gets a little confused at times by morning mist if I park outside. It seems to think the windshield still is slightly wet even after clearing it.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 814
Likes: 9
15 GL550
Same here, never had any problems. I think some cars must have sensors that are defective. I keep mine on the slowest auto setting and they pretty much always work as they should. Every once in a while, they'll wipe once on a clear sunny day right after I start it up, but that's about it.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 663
Likes: 49
From: Bucks Cty, PA
2015 gl450
There is most certainly something wrong with the sensor on my vehicle as I never see the slow speed wipers, let alone an intermittent wipe, unless I'm stopped or under 10 mph.
We'll see what the dealer has to say.
We'll see what the dealer has to say.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 255
Likes: 8
GL350
You can force it to slow or fast I believe. On the stalk the two dashed line settings are sensing slow/aggressive, and the solid ones are manual slow/fast. Don't know if that helps.
The feature works pretty well for me. It gets a little confused at times by morning mist if I park outside. It seems to think the windshield still is slightly wet even after clearing it.
The feature works pretty well for me. It gets a little confused at times by morning mist if I park outside. It seems to think the windshield still is slightly wet even after clearing it.
If I'm not mistaken, the point of the rain sensing ability is for the car to detect how much water is present and decide how often a wipe is needed, thus taking that control completely away from the driver. In reality, what this turns into is a huge annoyance that causes me to turn off the wipers completely and do the needed wiping manually by pushing the button on the end of the stalk to get one swipe when desired.
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Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Colorado, USA
2016 GL450
I haven't found my '16 GL450 wipers to be hyper. About the only time I seem them kick in to a really high speed is if the rainfall is heavy, or if I'm just starting out and accumulated drops roll off the roof and over the sensor. The wipers calm right down after that.
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Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 255
Likes: 8
GL350
Each to their own. When the rain is very light and I want a swipe maybe every 10 or 15 seconds, the (retarded) "brain" controlling the wipers swipes nearly continuously. Just let me handle my own wipers, please. It's a tough, dangerous and exhausting job, but I live on the edge and am up to it.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 663
Likes: 49
From: Bucks Cty, PA
2015 gl450
That's how I imagine it is designed to work. Unfortunately, that's not what mine does. Not even close.
Member
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Colorado, USA
2016 GL450
Just made a trip half-way across the US, and it was amusing when the wipers came on when I splattered an insect in the area of the sensor. Better than a co-worker that has a Range Rover with sensing wipers and had bird droppings make a direct hit to the sensor, to only be smeared across the windshield.
If you have control issues, just manually select your wiper speed.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 255
Likes: 8
GL350
But that's the problem. With intermittent mode, you can't effectively select the interval. The damned sensor is determined to get every last drop of water no matter how small and to do so seemingly even before it hits the glass. Even in very light sprinkles, the sensor swipes the wipers almost with no hesitation, let alone stops, between swipes.
Somebody at MB needs to teach the sensor the meaning of intermittent.
Somebody at MB needs to teach the sensor the meaning of intermittent.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 800
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
2014 GL 450
I'm glad I'm not the only one with this issue! The wipers work as they should for about the first hour of driving. After that, they seem to wipe constantly, regardless of how fast the rain is falling or the speed of the vehicle. If I shut the car off & then start it back up, the windshield wipers behave as they should. I guess I just have to "reboot" the car every so often.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 50
Likes: 8
GL450
After I read this post, I made a post to check (rainy in Seattle yesterday) and my wipers seem very adaptive to the amount of rainfall. They seem to be doing the right thing. There is usually a light sprinkle in Seattle, so it should never go nuclear. They seem to work!
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
GL 450
Same Issue
Just got my used 2016 GL450 and I absolutely LOVE this vehicle....except for the wacky wipers. I haven't driven any long distances in the rain but the wipers start off normal and then go to warp speed in less than a minute, even in light rain. There are so many buttons and features on this vehicle that I thought maybe I was just doing something wrong. I guess I will just need to live with this, as this post seems to say there is no remedy. I will just continue manually turning them on and off.
