[chris_gla]

Does anyone find themselves having to use manual wipe as the rain sensor isn't sensitive enough?
Also, is there no backup with a plain old timed intermittent wipe?
The manual is pretty vague "Set interval time or sensitivity of the rain sensor"

I'm having ongoing issues with clever wipers- dealer has checked twice and said there's nothing wrong but I'm getting other oddball effects like when I press wash, sometimes I get a wipe at the same time, sometimes not. Manual seems to suggest it should always wipe when I press wash?...

[xenon]

The thumbwheel adjusts the sensitivity - on its most sensitive setting it wipes too frequently IMO (I have it in the middle) so if you're finding yours isn't wiping enough on the most sensitive there may be an issue with it.

The wipers will wipe when washing after 1.5s of holding the washer fluid. This allows you to do a quick dab of the washer without wiping to establish if the fluid is frozen, for example.

[ammo23]

I have the same gripe with the auto wipers...in light rain they hardly ever clear. In heavy rain they're not quick enough!

I can't say I've noticed a wheel for setting the sensitivity...my stalk has the wiper up once for intermittent and twice for fast :

[snipnoob86]

i too have issues, i also had similar issues with my previous a6 so i thought it was just a trait of the feature. i have noticed that the whole auto wipe system seems to be speed dependant. so if in slow or standstill traffic they will hardley wipe atall. but get some speed up and they waft around everywhere on same settings.

rather annoying

[xenon]

Originally Posted by ammo23

I have the same gripe with the auto wipers...in light rain they hardly ever clear. In heavy rain they're not quick enough!

I can't say I've noticed a wheel for setting the sensitivity...my stalk has the wiper up once for intermittent and twice for fast :

The wheel is in the stalk!

[chris_gla]

The 1.5 seconds is interesting- where did you get that little gem?
I know some cars only activate the headlight wash if you hold the stalk more than 1.5 seconds but have never heard of it affecting the wipe-with-wash!

My thumbwheel seems to make little difference to sensitivity.

From the other comments it seems pretty annoying that "clever wipers" seems to be trending back to manual wipe!!!

Originally Posted by xenon

The thumbwheel adjusts the sensitivity - on its most sensitive setting it wipes too frequently IMO (I have it in the middle) so if you're finding yours isn't wiping enough on the most sensitive there may be an issue with it.

The wipers will wipe when washing after 1.5s of holding the washer fluid. This allows you to do a quick dab of the washer without wiping to establish if the fluid is frozen, for example.

[chris_gla]

I wonder if this is without "comfort pack"?

I push the end of stalk for intermittent/ rain sense and a green light comes on, pushing up is only for on/ fast.

Originally Posted by xenon

The wheel is in the stalk!

[rich100]

I've found this since day one. Mine are set to the highest sensitivity but in all honesty the frequency is still useless and for the most part seems to just do it's own thing irrespective.

Shame there isn't a simple intermittent setting, I think bmw have tried to be clever here with a process that likely didn't need fixing.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by rich100

Shame there isn't a simple intermittent setting, I think bmw have tried to be clever here with a process that likely didn't need fixing.

BMW auto sensing wipers do work perfectly, I've had three different generations of models (as long term cars) all with perfectly working auto sensing wipers. Never had issues with BMW demo or hire cars either.

My own cars have had good sensitivity control, all speed influenced and in heavy rain will 'up a gear' to slow continuous, or even full speed if necessary, all done automatically.

I'll add a caveat, screen must be clean and no grease around the sensor area. Good washer fluid with high concentration helps if the screen gets contaminated, a few wash-wipes soon get it all back to proper function.

Don't forget if you do want an additional wipe (for whatever reason), just flick the stalk downwards for a single wipe. That action doesn't disengage the auto function.

If they don't work correctly, screen clean first, any further issue there could be a sensor fault, or wipers require to be re-initialised.

HighlandPete

[BMWSKI]

Mine are rubbish compared to my old (cough cough) Merc...

[workshybum]

Mine work seamlessly. They work so well in fact, that despite the horrible winter we've had here I haven't had the need to use anything other than auto wipe with the rain sensor. I rarely have to even adjust the sensitivity.

[robbiep]

I've had these on 5 or 6 BMWs now, and never had an issue with them.

It might be a case of RTFM, if people haven't even noticed the wheel on the stalk.

[xenon]

I've never had an issue either. Switch to auto and that's all I've ever done with them.

[rich100]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

BMW auto sensing wipers do work perfectly, I've had three different generations of models (as long term cars) all with perfectly working auto sensing wipers. Never had issues with BMW demo or hire cars either.

My own cars have had good sensitivity control, all speed influenced and in heavy rain will 'up a gear' to slow continuous, or even full speed if necessary, all done automatically.

I'll add a caveat, screen must be clean and no grease around the sensor area. Good washer fluid with high concentration helps if the screen gets contaminated, a few wash-wipes soon get it all back to proper function.

Don't forget if you do want an additional wipe (for whatever reason), just flick the stalk downwards for a single wipe. That action doesn't disengage the auto function.

If they don't work correctly, screen clean first, any further issue there could be a sensor fault, or wipers require to be re-initialised.

HighlandPete

Thanks a lot Pete.

I am Using bmw screen wash and I think it's the right composition so I don't think that's the issue.

Tbh I haven't really used the auto function that much. From fairly early on I found the system to be unreliable and pretty much ignored it in favour of using the manual options that you outlined. I have got used to this and it isn't a big issue for me would just prefer a standard intermittent I think. Possibly didn't persevere enough I wasn't aware of the vehicle speed factor.

Perhaps the sensors do need checking , I'll ask the dealer to have a look when it's next in.

[ammo23]

Originally Posted by xenon

The wheel is in the stalk!

Ignore my statement regarding not seeing the wheel!...

However, I didn't think the thumbwheel would adjust the speed of auto wiper, only when in manual!?!

[xenon]

No it adjusts the sensitivity of the rain sensor.

[k44ENT]

My rain sensor seem to be a bit all over the place some days and others they work fine. I take it the brake drying function is linked to it? The other morning after a prolonged period on the motor way in the rain without using the brakes the car pulled a little to one side during the first brake application as if one side was wetter than the other. The wipers were on auto (green button illuminated).

[Mr NSB]

I tend to have my sensitivity turned down as I do not like the fast wipe speed which means I have to press the stalk down for a single manual wipe occasionally normally when it is light rain.

When the vehicle comes to a halt the wipers will automatically go to an intermittent wipe setting until you move off again.

[dopper99]

I always use the auto wipers and leave it on the most sensitive setting. I think they are 95% fine and have to occasionly manually flick a wipe.

[Slipperyshoe]

Agree that the F30 auto wipers seem good most of the time. The ones in E90 were not so great. A word of warning- once I had the screen replaced on my old E90 the auto wipers were shockingly bad. I guess it is something to do with the UV protection in the screens (or maybe that they left a bit of silicone over the sensor!).

[JB14]

What are wipers?

Get some glass sealant and you'll hardly ever need your wipers again.

[HiBee]

Originally Posted by JB14

What are wipers?

Get some glass sealant and you'll hardly ever need your wipers again.

Yep.

As long it is getting topped up regularly. I've found Angelwax H2GO a good repellent. Not expensive either.
My Max Protect glass sealant is now long gone.