Do you have the rain sensor? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

VanCooper · 18th June 2002, 11:07

I remember when it started raining on the NorCal drive last November, somebody came on the radio and told everybody to turn on their rain sensor but my father's car didn't come with a rain sensor...I was left a bit confused when I found out I was the only one in the bunch that didn't have the rain sensor

Even Greg with his 2000 M5 had it (so as everybody else with a 2000). So I wonder if this is a canadian model only thing or is it a "one off" car without the rain sensor that we have

P.S. Specify your model year as well

Gustav · 18th June 2002, 11:14

I thought that was standard?

tfung · 18th June 2002, 12:54

how do you turn on the rain sensor? I thought it just turns on when you have the wiper set on automatic mode....

MBrown1003 · 18th June 2002, 13:34

My '00 540i/6 has the rain sensor, as does my '02 M5. My '01 Volkswagen has it, too!

You can tell if you have on the E39 by how your interior rear-view mirror is mounted. If it is mounted to a tear-drop shaped assembly that's attached to the windshield, you have the rain sensor. From the outside, you'll see a small rectangle that's a dark blue -- that's the sensor itself. Interestingly, the sensor is MUCH smaller and less awkward looking on my VW.

To activate the rain sensor, you need to change any setting on the wipers. If you just leave the stalk in the auto position all the time, the wipers won't come back on by themselves. You have to either change the sensitivity or turn the system off and back on to activate the sensor and wipers.

Pelle · 18th June 2002, 13:53

I think it's standard in Europe
-99 M5

//Pelle

HotWheels · 18th June 2002, 16:01

My 5/02 Build M5 has it, although sometimes it seems it doesn't go quite fast enough, even in the most sensitive setting.

rvacha · 18th June 2002, 16:21

I think there is a thread in which it was determined that Canadian M5s do NOT come with the rain sensor as standard - you might want to do a search on this

Good Luck

atomic80 · 18th June 2002, 16:51

US Models all get the rain sensor as standard equipment with their M5's. Ironically, they're an option on Canadian M5's just as they are over in Europe.

-MVI- · 18th June 2002, 18:28

Quote:

Originally posted by atomic80
US Models all get the rain sensor as standard equipment with their M5's. Ironically, they're an option on Canadian M5's just as they are over in Europe.

It seems to differ from country to country, here in Finland the rain sensor comes as standard.

MAH · 18th June 2002, 19:23

I do not understand why the rain sensor would be an option in Canada. I can understand it being an option in Southern California.

.

They have different shaped rain drops in Canada?

Mark

M PHATIC · 18th June 2002, 19:49

The reason that it is not standard on Canadian M5's might have something to do with their laws regarding headlights and wipers.