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      10-29-2012, 05:30 PM   #1
Horsey
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Automatic Windscreen Wipers

I am really disappointed with the automatic windscreen wipers on the X3.

I have the speed adjustment set at max, but still the screen seems to be really badly occluded before the camera decides to activate the wipe.

It's getting to the stage where I have given up using the auto setting and control it manually.

Frustratingly, on my wife's 3 year old 135 it works fine!

Any suggestions?
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      10-29-2012, 06:05 PM   #2
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Hello Horsey

I've had no trouble at all with my '13 35i. The wipers work just as well as they have on my previous BMWs. If there is that much difference, take it to the dealer and have them take a look. It could be a bad sensor or the adjustment wheel on the wiper arm is not sending the proper signal.

The issue I've always noticed with the auto wipers is they don't always do well when a light mist or drizzle is falling. Rain is no problem, but mist has to accumulate quite a bit before wiping, since the system works by 'seeing' the amount of refracted light. If the drops are not big enough, there is a longer delay before the wipers fire.
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      10-29-2012, 07:38 PM   #3
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There should be a sensitivity adjustment, isnt there?
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      10-29-2012, 08:20 PM   #4
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For auto wipers to work properly one should adjust the sensitivity and not the speed. I think Horsey was adjusting it correctly but used a term speed setting. If it doesn't work properly, take it to dealer, I have absolutely no issues.
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      10-29-2012, 09:33 PM   #5
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I raised this issue a long time ago. I agree with the OP. I can be driving at a steady pace with the same amount and intensity of rain hitting the windshield and the wipers can go from intermittent to steady wipe at slow speed to very fast steady speed. What gives???? If I take it to the dealer and try to replicate this good luck..I'd never be able to. So what do you think the dealer is going to say..."it's operating normally'. So I guess I just have to live with it. But I may try asking the dealer about it when I go in to see if they can fix the squeaking passenger seat The wipers and the automatic headlights are my only two biggest complaints....otherwise it's a great vehicle.
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      10-30-2012, 03:28 PM   #6
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They work fine for me, the only annoying thing is you have to switch them on. On my last car they stayed on auto on startup, is there a coding option somewhere?
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      10-30-2012, 03:56 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troggy1969 View Post
They work fine for me, the only annoying thing is you have to switch them on. On my last car they stayed on auto on startup, is there a coding option somewhere?
+1 fine for me nearly 2 years in but would prefer they remember that on/off setting
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      10-30-2012, 04:26 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by troggy1969 View Post
They work fine for me, the only annoying thing is you have to switch them on. On my last car they stayed on auto on startup, is there a coding option somewhere?
We never looked into coding aspect of it.
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      10-30-2012, 06:18 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sfax View Post
+1 fine for me nearly 2 years in but would prefer they remember that on/off setting
I used to have Auto wipers on my last car, but if you left Auto wipers on the car had a very annoying habit of doing a single swipe when you started the car up. Not good on a frosty day.

BTW- does anyone know if the wiper 'park' area is electric element heated? Again on my last car it was because the area is below the vent heated section of the screen.
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      10-30-2012, 06:38 PM   #10
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The wipers are also speed sensitive, so the faster you are going, the more sensitive the system becomes. Could it be that those of us who see odd function here are seeing it related to their driving speed? It could be another data point to discuss with the dealer.
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      10-30-2012, 06:57 PM   #11
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Auto wiper is nor car speed dependent though it gives that feel cause higher the speed more rain water will fall on the windscreen and sensor will see more water to increase speed of the wipers.
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