Can you recalibrate "auto" wipers?

[tfunk88]

Hi, is there a way to recalibrate the auto windshield wipers so they aren’t so sensitive? I’m frustrated BMW took away the intermittent feature as the auto is so sensitive I might as well have regular wipers on, even on the least sensotive setting.

I do have BimmerCode, hopefully there’s something in that

[shimmy23]

haha! i feel like mine aren't sensitive enough!

[tfunk88]

Really? Man, I wish I had that issue. Mine seem to wipe as soon as there’s even a little mist on. If it’s sprinkling they quickly go as fast as if I had the wipers turned on 🤦‍♂️😂

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by tfunk88

I’m frustrated BMW took away the intermittent feature as the auto is so sensitive I might as well have regular wipers on, even on the least sensotive setting.

What do you mean by “intermittent” being taken away? Only asking because I can press downward on the wiper stalk and get a single pass of the wiper blades at my choosing.

My 2014 f15 has multiple wiper action and I’m lost as to how one can’t find a satisfactory setting. Because if any of the regular or fast wiping doesn’t work, there’s the auto wipe option that has a sensitive dial, then there’s the MANUAL wipe that you can use if none of the regular wipe features is too much or too little…you can active a single wipe whenever you want.

If the sensitivity dial doesn't‘ adjust the auto wipe…perhaps your sensor isn't working correctly.

Wiping actions:

• Normal wipe
• Fast wipe
• Auto wipe (with increase/decrease sensitive dial)
• Single wipe (just press downward on the wiper stalk whenever you need the glassed wiped
• Rear wipe

[tfunk88]

There used to be an intermittent setting instead of auto. Where you could actually choose the wiper speed from slow to almost normal speed vs auto sensing. On auto, with the dial in the least sensitive “slow” position, my wipers might as well be in the on position as the wipers quickly ramp up when there’s even a little mist on the windshield.

I’m aware of the single wipe function, and that’s usually what I use, but I’d rather not do that for a 4hr drive through rain 😉

Anyway, messing around with BimmerCode it looks like there’s a way to adjust the sensitivity in both normal and expert modes.

[Ascotgrun]

You may have a rain sensor issue. On the lowest sensitivity my auto wipers don't come on frequently as you are experiencing.

Try auto with highest sensitivity and see if there is a difference.

[tfunk88]

There is, they basically go into high speed mode if there’s moisture on the windshield.

Don’t get me wrong, if there’s nothing on the windshield they don’t swipe. But as soon as there is a little bit of misting they go. I might as well have them turned to normal.

[Qsilver7]

Thanks for the clarification. I do wonder though...if there's something off/wrong with your sensor. In Auto mode...my wipers act like your description of the old intermittent mode....but better...because it doesn't wipe on any short/long timed interval...but only when the windshield has moisture on it...and only wipes based on the sensitivity level that is set.

If I have AUTO wipe turned on and the sensitivity level is turned to its lowest point...the windshield will mist up a lot (really would need to do a manual wipe to see clearly).

[tfunk88]

Yeah, something may be off with mine. Even on the “slow” setting they will go to max speed with steady, but not heavy, rain. What’s also weird is the wipers will go with just a little bit of moisture, even on the “slow” setting, but the lights don’t turn on sometimes even when I think they would. And from what I could find they are kind of connected in a way.

Anyway, I used BimmerCode to set it to “insensitive”, vs normal, sensitive, and very sensitive. Unfortunately it was set to “default”, which I would assume is “normal” but I don’t know with 100% certainty. Will see how it goes now 👍

But unfortunately/fortunately we’re not predicted to get rain for a while 😂

[Ascotgrun]

Break out the hose.

[tfunk88]

Ha I thought about that but it has a different program for when the car isn’t moving. When I stop at a light the wipers slow way down or stop in auto and normal mode

[tfunk88]

So, using BimmerCode I set the sensitivity to “insensitive”. We got some unexpected showers so I got to try it out. It definitely helped, but it still goes too fast at highway speeds. Oh well, it’s better, at least 👍

[Dan_Q]

I'll be curious if a resolution is reached on this one. My auto wipe function also has the same frequency regardless of if I put it in the most or least sensitive setting. If it is on and there is precip, it only seems to operate at the "normal" wipe frequency. Forces me to use the manual single wipe most of the time unless the precip is coming down in the exact amount for the normal wipe frequency to be about right. It rains infrequently where I live and it's rarely hard, so the frequency I most commonly need is at the low end of the range. Please post if you find this annoying enough to find a solution. I haven't found it annoying enough to look into but if you find a solution, I'd love to fix this annoyance myself.

[unluky]

This sounds like my Audi. My old Z4 has as you described - I could turn the auto on and off, but my F15 is auto or regular wiping. BUT my auto works pretty good on it and I keep my windshield rainx'd - so at highway speeds I don't use them at all normally.

My Audi? Terrible. It does not matter what sensitivity I put it on - it is way too slow. And If I am saying it's slow - it is really slow as I hate fast wiper settings. Water will be rolling down the windshield before it will kick on. BUT in the MMI on my Audi - I can turn it off and make it just a normal intermittent wiper and the sensitivity switch becomes a speed switch.

I like having the option for both, I agree with you on that.

[tfunk88]

Originally Posted by Dan_Q

I'll be curious if a resolution is reached on this one. My auto wipe function also has the same frequency regardless of if I put it in the most or least sensitive setting. If it is on and there is precip, it only seems to operate at the "normal" wipe frequency. Forces me to use the manual single wipe most of the time unless the precip is coming down in the exact amount for the normal wipe frequency to be about right. It rains infrequently where I live and it's rarely hard, so the frequency I most commonly need is at the low end of the range. Please post if you find this annoying enough to find a solution. I haven't found it annoying enough to look into but if you find a solution, I'd love to fix this annoyance myself.

Yep, using BimmerCode and setting it to “insensitive” definitely helped, though it’s not perfect.

[Qsilver7]

We had rain on 11/1/2023...and I'm going to assume that something is wrong with the rain sensor for those that are having issues with the adjustment not doing much of anything.

When in Auto mode...the sensitivity dial in the lowest mode would allow for a lot of rain droplets to remain on the windshield...then do a wipe...and allow a lot more rain droplets to remain before wiping again. In fact, it was hard not to initiate the single manual wipe because too much rain was still on the windishield.

As I dialed up the sensitivity...the auto wipe would operate more frequently...with the highest sensitivity setting still not wiping as fast or constant as if in the regular low or high setting.

Again, based on how my wipers worked...I'd say something is wrong with your rain sensor if you are not getting multiple wipe selections to adjust for the amount of precipitation falling.

[tfunk88]

The adjustment def made a difference even before I set the sensitivity to insensitive, but it was insane fast on “FAST” and on “SLOW” it was less fast, but still too much…for me.

Now it’s much better…before even when set to slow it would ramp up to high speed if there was decent rain. Now it’ll only ramp up to regular speed. I’m happy with the change.

[Qsilver7]