[Blackhawk36]

I have a 2007 335i. Just had the windshield replaced and at first the automatic wipers didn't work at all. Well actually when I pushed in the button on the end of the stalk the light turned green and the wipers swept once. After that they didn't work at all no matter how hard the rain came down. A few days later in the next rain storm the automatic wipers worked but not like they did before. They would come on and sweep once every six seconds. There was no variability at all. My question is.....Is it possible the responsible module registers an out of range value from the sensor and defaults to and intermittent settings. Does anyone know? Thanks,

[Jeremy]

Same thing happened to me. You need to take it into the dealer and have the sensor recoded because it was disconnected during the windshield replacement.

[rrpeinha]

If you have a cable you can re-initialize yourself, otherwise you'll have to find someone with DIS that can do it for you or take it to the dealer. Here's the instructions. There is no way to manually "re-calibrate". The car has to be "instructed" by software to reinitialize the sensor.

Initialization

Due to the optical process, the rain sensor has to be adapted to the windshield. This adaptation takes place at initialization.
Requirement for faultless initialization is that the windscreen glass is dry, clean and free of defects in the area of the rain sensor.
The initialization is performed using the service function ”Initialize rain sensor” in the BMW diagnosis system. In the service function, the adaptation values in the rain sensor are deleted. This is followed by adjustment of the sensor system to the windshield based on the following sequence:
Switching off the rain sensor
Switch off terminal 15 and terminal R
Switch on terminal R and terminal 15 and wait 10 seconds.
In the 10 seconds waiting period, the new adaptation values are determined and stored.
Initialization of the rain sensor is necessary:
After replacing the windshield
Fitting a used rain-driving light sensor
Note: A used sensor must be coded beforehand!

[alexwhittemore]

Assuming your 2007 means out of warranty>you had a private glass place do the replacement, they probably didn't know how to properly reseat the mirror and thus sensor. It's based on frustrated total internal reflection, so if you don't have the correct adhesive and a 100% perfect seating of the sensor on the glass, the sensor will just read bunk data and never work properly.

The sensor probably needs recalibration too, but if it isn't seated properly that's never going to work on its own.

[Blackhawk36]

Originally Posted by alexwhittemore

Assuming your 2007 means out of warranty>you had a private glass place do the replacement, they probably didn't know how to properly reseat the mirror and thus sensor. It's based on frustrated total internal reflection, so if you don't have the correct adhesive and a 100% perfect seating of the sensor on the glass, the sensor will just read bunk data and never work properly.

The sensor probably needs recalibration too, but if it isn't seated properly that's never going to work on its own.

The windshield was new OEM with the sensor attached and installed by Safelight. Looks like I will need to get the adaption done. A friend of mine has the cable. I'll let you all know if it works.

[alexwhittemore]

Ahh, that should do it then

[Blackhawk36]

Dropped the car at Safelight. They told me the sensor was not connected correctly to the "box" behind the rearview mirror. Said it is fixed. I'll have to wait for rain to verify.

[alexwhittemore]

Originally Posted by Blackhawk36

Dropped the car at Safelight. They told me the sensor was not connected correctly to the "box" behind the rearview mirror. Said it is fixed. I'll have to wait for rain to verify.

... Got a bucket? Or a gatorade bottle?