Miserable Flaky Automatic W/S Wipers...

RayLivingston · 03-03-2019, 10:48 AM

My '07 335i has the (awful) automatic windshield wipers, which are a source of constant frustration. In light rain, they mostly operate FAR too often, wiping a virtually dry windshield as often as every second or two. In heavier rains, they just as often operate FAR too infrequently. Changing the adjustment knob often has almost no effect. The behavior is not even consistent. Sometimes, it screws up and works reasonably well, at least for short periods. The result is I am for every turning the wipers on and off as rain gets heavier or lighter, and using the manual one-swipe action, rather than being able to leave it in auto mode.

Is this normal? Is this system really as bad as what I've seen? At this point, I would dearly LOVE to be able to revert to the old-school non-automatic wipers with an intermittent setting, like on my E46, which have always worked very well. Is there any practical way to do that?

Regards,
Ray L.

nsjames · 03-03-2019, 10:54 AM

it's not great.

try resetting the light modules adaptations.
and make sure that the rain sensor interface to the windshield is consistent. no bubbles in the goo or anything.

but yeah, the system is a disapointment mostly. The rain wiper in our volvo have always just worked exactly like I want them to, but I'm constantly futzing with the BMW one.

Nickco43 · 03-03-2019, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsjames

it's not great.

try resetting the light modules adaptations.
and make sure that the rain sensor interface to the windshield is consistent. no bubbles in the goo or anything.

but yeah, the system is a disapointment mostly. The rain wiper in our volvo have always just worked exactly like I want them to, but I'm constantly futzing with the BMW one.

Wait you can do that? My auto wipers suck.

jwalker87 · 03-03-2019, 01:31 PM

Make sure the windshield is clean. I had my windshield replaced due to a large crack, and until I thoroughly cleaned it (even after several rains), it never worked right. Cleaned the windshield well, and it was back to its old self. Other than that, I've been very happy with mine.

nsjames · 03-03-2019, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickco43

Wait you can do that? My auto wipers suck.

yes.

allegedly it has some sort of time/wear metric that changes it's sensitivity based on wear to the windscreen.

mine was all kinds of insane after a windshield replacement.

but you can initialize it and it goes back to it's base non learned settings.

random youtube video that I didn't watch all the way.

RayLivingston · 03-03-2019, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsjames

and make sure that the rain sensor interface to the windshield is consistent. no bubbles in the goo or anything.

Where is that?

Regards,
Ray L.

RayLivingston · 03-03-2019, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwalker87

Make sure the windshield is clean. I had my windshield replaced due to a large crack, and until I thoroughly cleaned it (even after several rains), it never worked right. Cleaned the windshield well, and it was back to its old self. Other than that, I've been very happy with mine.

It's been very thoroughly cleaned (which made no difference), and is otherwise in excellent condition.

Regards,
Ray L.

Welcome to NBA Jam · 03-03-2019, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayLivingston

Where is that?

Regards,
Ray L.

Top dead center of the windshield. It's a purple prism. Usually if it has bubbles in it, it's due to a windshield guy sticking it back on. If there are too many bubbles, the wipers will go at full speed at inappropriate times. Resetting your adaptations is a good way to make sure that the automatic wipers are operating properly.

Mine operate pretty well. For me it's not often that they operate at an inappropriate rate. If they do, it's usually in misty, humid conditions where the windshield maintains a wet film on it, and is resolved by adjusting the sensitivity.

mecheng77 · 03-04-2019, 09:51 AM

I was able to read that I don't have any codes in my rain sensor, but I was not able to reset adaptations. I did not see that option, were you guys able to?

RayLivingston · 03-04-2019, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I was able to read that I don't have any codes in my rain sensor, but I was not able to reset adaptations. I did not see that option, were you guys able to?

See the video posted above...

Regards,
Ray L.

mecheng77 · 03-04-2019, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayLivingston

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I was able to read that I don't have any codes in my rain sensor, but I was not able to reset adaptations. I did not see that option, were you guys able to?

See the video posted above...

Regards,
Ray L.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayLivingston

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I was able to read that I don't have any codes in my rain sensor, but I was not able to reset adaptations. I did not see that option, were you guys able to?

See the video posted above...

Regards,
Ray L.

I watched it. There is no reset adaptions

nsjames · 03-04-2019, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mecheng77

I watched it. There is no reset adaptions

at the 5:23 mark.
shift f6

resets the module.

Nickco43 · 03-04-2019, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nsjames

at the 5:23 mark.
shift f6

resets the module.

On the bimmergeeks bmw standard tools package there is not a F6 option. I used ISTA D for this.

03-03-2019, 10:48 AM	#1
RayLivingston Lieutenant 140 Rep 445 Posts Drives: '07 335i Sedan Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Miserable Flaky Automatic W/S Wipers... My '07 335i has the (awful) automatic windshield wipers, which are a source of constant frustration. In light rain, they mostly operate FAR too often, wiping a virtually dry windshield as often as every second or two. In heavier rains, they just as often operate FAR too infrequently. Changing the adjustment knob often has almost no effect. The behavior is not even consistent. Sometimes, it screws up and works reasonably well, at least for short periods. The result is I am for every turning the wipers on and off as rain gets heavier or lighter, and using the manual one-swipe action, rather than being able to leave it in auto mode. Is this normal? Is this system really as bad as what I've seen? At this point, I would dearly LOVE to be able to revert to the old-school non-automatic wipers with an intermittent setting, like on my E46, which have always worked very well. Is there any practical way to do that? Regards, Ray L.
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03-03-2019, 10:54 AM	#2
nsjames Brigadier General 2440 Rep 4,330 Posts Drives: 08 328xi Touring Join Date: May 2017 Location: ohio iTrader: (0)	it's not great. try resetting the light modules adaptations. and make sure that the rain sensor interface to the windshield is consistent. no bubbles in the goo or anything. but yeah, the system is a disapointment mostly. The rain wiper in our volvo have always just worked exactly like I want them to, but I'm constantly futzing with the BMW one.
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03-03-2019, 01:31 PM	#4
jwalker87 Major 319 Rep 1,023 Posts Drives: '08 335i, '11 335xi, '01 Z3M Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA iTrader: (2)	Make sure the windshield is clean. I had my windshield replaced due to a large crack, and until I thoroughly cleaned it (even after several rains), it never worked right. Cleaned the windshield well, and it was back to its old self. Other than that, I've been very happy with mine. __________________ 2001 e36/7 M Roadster 5spd 2008 e90 335i 6spd 2011 e90 335xi 6spd 2011 e70 x5 diesel 2010 Ducati Monster 696
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03-04-2019, 09:51 AM	#9
mecheng77 Colonel 1006 Rep 2,243 Posts Drives: 2007 328i / 2014 M235i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: Ontario Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] [0.00]	I was able to read that I don't have any codes in my rain sensor, but I was not able to reset adaptations. I did not see that option, were you guys able to?
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