Hard Time Seeing Rain sense LED Indicator

Barry45RPM · 07-21-2010, 10:38 PM

Anyone else having a Hard Time Seeing theRain sense LED Indicator on the wiper stalk? Once I turn the wipers on in the auto sense mode, I can't see the Lit LED because it is blocked by the steering wheel. I try to turn the wheel to the right or left a bit to see if it is lit, but the car veers into the next lane. How uncharacteristicly poor ergonomics design of the Germans. The LED should have been placed on the top of the Stalk.

Vaaaan · 07-21-2010, 10:57 PM

Yeah but I don't turn the wheel I just lean over..

Instead of moving the light I think it would be better if the button stayed partly depressed after you push it, that way you wouldn't even have to look for a light. Only downside would be that if you turned off the car with it on it would still be on when you start it again, which isn't much of a downside.

MOCKBA · 07-21-2010, 11:02 PM

Ask a passenger to tell if it is on. Most cars do not have such indicator at all, so I do not blame BMW.

Bayerische_rakete · 07-22-2010, 12:04 AM

Shouldn't have to peer over my steering wheel like some grandma driver

ronster · 07-22-2010, 01:43 AM

I also always wonder if it's on... this is what I do... press the button, if the wipers move, it wasn't on previously... if the wipers stay, it was on previously.. and press the button again to activate it... it's dangerous to look for the LED when driving...

felixdahousecat · 07-22-2010, 02:22 AM

Generally if it starts raining and nothing happens, I push it again...
A LED almost becomes redundant unless you are washing your car and going through rain storms at the same time....

jeremyc74 · 07-22-2010, 07:12 AM

It's poor placement without a doubt. It makes you wonder if they actually ever used the feature after they designed it. It's a glaring fault you notice the first time you try it.

fwmcb · 07-22-2010, 07:22 AM

Yeah I find it a pain in the ass also, had a non sport pack 328i as a loaner one time and you could see the indicator plain as day. I wish they had the old jag system that simply stayed on all the time.

Brando384 · 07-22-2010, 08:02 AM

I agree with the rest of you. I just put 1650 miles on my car during Euro Delivery and it rained for a bit on one of the days. I immediately noticed the fault the second I tried to use the system.

Otherwise, the 128i with 6 speed manual is a dream!

Barry45RPM · 07-22-2010, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by felixdahousecat

...A LED almost becomes redundant unless you are washing your car and going through rain storms at the same time....

I don't know if its the same in this BMW, but in my Benz the Rain Sense is allways inoperable when the car is in Neutral or Park, so you don't have to worry about destroying your wipers in a car wash.

Glad to see others are noticing this quirk... I brought it up because the German auto engineer is always so sure they have thought of everything when designing a car. The LED IS redundant if you can't see it.

Duckw · 07-22-2010, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronster

I also always wonder if it's on... this is what I do... press the button, if the wipers move, it wasn't on previously... if the wipers stay, it was on previously.. and press the button again to activate it... it's dangerous to look for the LED when driving...

+1. Minor annoyance, simple fix.

ronster · 07-22-2010, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barry45RPM

I don't know if its the same in this BMW, but in my Benz the Rain Sense is allways inoperable when the car is in Neutral or Park, so you don't have to worry about destroying your wipers in a car wash.

I doubt it's the same in this car. The rain sensor still operates when the car is off with the key fob in the slot. I think I saw the wipers move before I pulled the key when the car was off...

07-21-2010, 10:38 PM	#1
Barry45RPM Second Lieutenant 14 Rep 219 Posts Drives: 2007 MB E550, 2010 128i Conv Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Ft. Lauderdale FL Area, USA iTrader: (0)	Hard Time Seeing Rain sense LED Indicator Anyone else having a Hard Time Seeing theRain sense LED Indicator on the wiper stalk? Once I turn the wipers on in the auto sense mode, I can't see the Lit LED because it is blocked by the steering wheel. I try to turn the wheel to the right or left a bit to see if it is lit, but the car veers into the next lane. How uncharacteristicly poor ergonomics design of the Germans. The LED should have been placed on the top of the Stalk.
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07-21-2010, 10:57 PM	#2
Vaaaan Private 6 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2009 Jet Black 135i Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Yeah but I don't turn the wheel I just lean over.. Instead of moving the light I think it would be better if the button stayed partly depressed after you push it, that way you wouldn't even have to look for a light. Only downside would be that if you turned off the car with it on it would still be on when you start it again, which isn't much of a downside. __________________ 2009 135i 6MT /// Jet Black \\\ Savanna Beige /// Premium \\\ M-Sport /// Active Steering \\\ Heated Seats /// Premium Hi-Fi \\\ iPod/USB adapter
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07-21-2010, 11:02 PM	#3
MOCKBA Captain 54 Rep 870 Posts Drives: 135 convertible Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SFBA iTrader: (0)	Ask a passenger to tell if it is on. Most cars do not have such indicator at all, so I do not blame BMW. __________________ 535i/HUD Kamerton brings me true sound fidelity
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07-22-2010, 12:04 AM	#4
Bayerische_rakete Enlisted Member 0 Rep 30 Posts Drives: 128i coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	+1. Poor ergonomics on their part. Shouldn't have to peer over my steering wheel like some grandma driver
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07-22-2010, 01:43 AM	#5
ronster Lieutenant 16 Rep 421 Posts Drives: 2011 1M VO Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I also always wonder if it's on... this is what I do... press the button, if the wipers move, it wasn't on previously... if the wipers stay, it was on previously.. and press the button again to activate it... it's dangerous to look for the LED when driving... __________________ 2011 1M VO stripper 2009 AW 135i M-sp (sold) 2002 SG MINI Cooper (sold)
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07-22-2010, 02:22 AM	#6
felixdahousecat Private First Class 8 Rep 121 Posts Drives: Join Date: Feb 2008 iTrader: (0)	Generally if it starts raining and nothing happens, I push it again... A LED almost becomes redundant unless you are washing your car and going through rain storms at the same time.... __________________ ________________________ 2008 128i -Sapphire Black HiFi Premium Cold Weather Park Distance Control
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07-22-2010, 07:12 AM	#7
jeremyc74 Banned 76 Rep 5,970 Posts Drives: '08 135i Montego/Terra Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Evansville, IN iTrader: (0)	It's poor placement without a doubt. It makes you wonder if they actually ever used the feature after they designed it. It's a glaring fault you notice the first time you try it.
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07-22-2010, 07:22 AM	#8
fwmcb Major 31 Rep 1,107 Posts Drives: 2015 F30 328i X-drive Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: NB iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 128i [0.00]	Yeah I find it a pain in the ass also, had a non sport pack 328i as a loaner one time and you could see the indicator plain as day. I wish they had the old jag system that simply stayed on all the time.
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07-22-2010, 08:02 AM	#9
Brando384 New Member 26 Rep 22 Posts Drives: X3 M40i, Audi TT Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Buffalo, NY iTrader: (0)	I agree with the rest of you. I just put 1650 miles on my car during Euro Delivery and it rained for a bit on one of the days. I immediately noticed the fault the second I tried to use the system. Otherwise, the 128i with 6 speed manual is a dream!
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