[partisan]

2013 E70 with automatic wipers.
I recently picked up this vehicle and so far so good, until I drove it in the rain for the first time. There was no intermittent setting. I guess automatic wiping is the only way to have intermittent but my sensor doesn't appear to be working. It just wipes once then never again. I read on here about the sensor not being installed right so I looked at mine and it doesn't look like the one I have seen in other threads.

Pictures- http://imgur.com/a/K0kDS

Does anyone have thoughts on how to troubleshoot this? I see the wipers and lights are combined into one sensor so I'm not sure pulling the fuse as I have read elsewhere will work.
http://www.bmwmotorsports.org/pdf/e70/05a4_E70 Wipe-Wash System.pdf_a__a2_

 

[tim330i]

Sorry for the delay getting your thread approved.

 

[Doug Huffman]

E70 Wipe/wash System, 20 pages PDF

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1epIteFE7i-cWhPN09MSTRIREU

There are three sensor systems combined into one LED/infrared-diode detector assembly.

Your photograph images suggest that the assembly has been haphazardly disassembled and out of alignment.

Intermittent is enabled only while the vehicle is stationary by flicking the stalk up not past the point of resistance. Once moving, the speed of the vehicle determines the frequency of the wipes.

Enabling automatic wiping is indicated by the LED on the stalk and a single acknowledgement wipe.

 

[partisan]

I managed to fix this over the weekend. For anyone else with the same problem here is what I found.

The unit I have is actually 3 sensors in one. Rain/driving lights/solar. The driving lights sensor is the large one with the lip near the middle. The rain sensor is smaller and above that. I don't know where the solar sensor is. When I unplugged the sensor my wipers worked in intermittent mode but my automatic lights didn't work. They just stayed on all the time. After some research I realized there should be a gel in the sensor that fills the entire circular body but leaves a hole for the light sensor. I watched some videos where people filled it using a liquid silicon. I also called BMW about this but they just wanted to replace the entire sensor and/or windshield. I was preparing to get the silicon when I had a lucky break. I found a gel pad from another BMW on a classifieds site. I bought this and crossed my fingers.

Its a gel pad with glue on both sides. I first stuck it to the sensor and tried to push as many bubbles out as possible. It didn't fit perfectly but fit well enough. I then pushed the sensor back into its bracket. I don't know if I did something wrong but I got lots of air bubbles. I was pretty sure I had messed it up but plugged it back in and tried it anyway. Fortunately it was a rainy day so I went for a drive and success! It worked! Perhaps it would work better with less air bubbles but it works fine enough for me. I didn't re-initialize anything.

Here is a picture of the part I bought- http://imgur.com/BGVQP27
Brand: Precision Automotive
Manufacturer Part Number: rsk2731

I paid $20. No idea if that is a good price.

 

[ard]

Im guessing the windshield was replaced and whoever did it failed to properly reattach the sensor.

Safelite?

 

[partisan]

Yeah the windshield was replaced. Pilkington glass. I don't know who did it. Car is new to me.

 

[Doug Huffman]

HUD requires non-parallel surface glass. BMW body stiffness requires proprietary windshield locating jigs for precision placement and particular adhesive with 24-hour no disturbance setting time - means no pressure changes, no body flexing from driving and temperature controlled environment.

Nothing matters very much, everything matters a little.