[Spacebug]

Does anyone else think their auto wipers are a step behind the speed they should be at for any given level of rain?

[zofinger]

My previous car (VW) had auto wipers and the F30 are a step up. I'm finding them much better in terms of their speed for any given level of rain. You know you can adjust their sensitivity on the stalk right?

[Spacebug]

Originally Posted by zofinger

My previous car (VW) had auto wipers and the F30 are a step up. I'm finding them much better in terms of their speed for any given level of rain. You know you can adjust their sensitivity on the stalk right?

I've not really noticed that the adjustment makes much difference. Do you notice a significant difference?

My wife's Clio sport has auto wipers and they work far better.

[zofinger]

Definitely. I typically have them set to the lowest sensitivity and it's ok for me. With finer rain I have to increase sensitivity.

[Spacebug]

Maybe mine is broken... I could not say I notice any difference.

Will have to look at this a little closer.

Thanks

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by zofinger

Definitely. I typically have them set to the lowest sensitivity and it's ok for me. With finer rain I have to increase sensitivity.

Similar in my 535i. I'm in my 3rd long term BMW with auto wipers, they have all been superb, normally on the lowest setting with plenty of scope for increasing sensitivity if necessary. I'm up in the highlands, so plenty of experience in all kinds of rain.

Key to any auto wipers in my experience, is keep the screen clean, particularly around the sensor area. Worth cleaning with white vinegar to ensure there is no grease residue distorting the light, or the rain drops.

HighlandPete

[elgandashvili]

Originally Posted by Spacebug

Maybe mine is broken... I could not say I notice any difference.

Will have to look at this a little closer.

Thanks

Probably not broken. I feel the same way about mine.

[Doc943]

Same.

[oop north]

The car I had for four days (330d) also seemed always too slow on the auto wipers for my liking

[Spacebug]

Glad it's not just me then, on second thoughts, actually that's not true. I was hoping it was just me and then I'd be able to get them sorted and they'd be usable...

Ah well!

[letsavit]

Yea, I have mine on highest setting and still manually wipe now and then.

[DieselRocket]

I had exactly the same problem with my 330d for the first few weeks - i.e. it always felt like it was running too slow for the amount of rain.

I then had my car detailed and winter prepped, including getting all the glass cleaned and coated with Gtechniq. Since then, the rain sensors have behaved differently and I now keep them on either minimum setting or one up from minimum and all is fine.

So I guess the idea of keeping your screen clean around the sensor works.

[zofinger]

No doubt that if the windscreen is clear (in/out) it helps. Especially removing oils/grease because, as suggested above, that can distort water which I gotta assume can't help the sensor. Hope that helps a little. Other than that you have a tech issue or simply the function doesn't suit your driving needs.

[KyleBerg]

I feel the same with mine though I'd say my car is nearly always pretty clean. But thanks for the suggestion - I will have a closer look at keeping the sensor area clean.

Kyle

[RobUK]

My auto wipers seem fine. I'm pretty fussy about having a clean windscreen plus I 'Rain-X' my windscreen now and then.

[f1swk]

works spot on in mine,must be the screen being clear

[TonyS]

I was told a couple of years ago by a BMW tech (yeah, I know) that the wipers "auto-calibrate" on the first couple of sweeps, so if you're finding them not reacting to the rain well enough, switching them off and on again will force them to re-calibrate.

On my E46 this did seem to work, although it may just be placebo effect. So far my F30 has been fine, but it's worth a try if you've got this problem.

I'd be interested to hear if this has any effect or if it's just snake oil

[BMerman]

Mine was the same sluggish for the first few weeks, but after a few applications of glass polish and rain-x they are fine now

[Doc943]

This crappy weather does build up a film quite quickly so will be extra vigilant on my weekend cleans.

[rjberry]

I've noticed first thing when I go out they are slow to wake up and I usually have to turn them off and then back on. Once they have been given this nudge they usually perform to the point where I don't notice them.

There are times when they are slightly out of sync with my needs but usually just as I'm about to reach for that button they come to life. If I didn't know better I'd swear they were just messing with me

[F30AM]

Too slow and always a step behind. Not as good as the Mercedes we had or my GTI.

[DieselRocket]

Interesting. I was about to complain to my dealer but the detailing put an end to that. It does sound like there might be a general issue on this.

In line with what others have said, my E46 M3 never skipped a beat on auto wipers and both my 5 series were perfect.

Wonder if it's something they can adjust or re-program if they get a lot of customers complaining.