I thought the rain sensor wiper feature was just a gimmick. However, after having occasion to use it, I feel it is one the M5's best non-performance features. It's just really nice not to have to constantly fiddle with the wipers in light to moderate rain/snow. You really feel like, "You have arrived." Only caution is that you need to remember to switch it off before going through the car wash. (no flames please).
yes, I like both very much. I share thoughts with Mitch.
My only nit with the auto dimming interior mirror is sometimes at night the light from a car behind me is still a little too bright and theres no way to control this. with the old fashioned "flip" mirrors this usually wasnt much of a problem. but this is a minor nit.
I'm with Mitch, I thought the wipers wouldn't be that big of a deal but when I'm driving another car I really miss it. The mirrors were another unexpected surprise. Both would be on my must list.
Great features but agree with the comment that at night the rear view can be a bit too bright. I easily solve that problem by activating my rear sunshade! Works great!
Both features are nice, but they're both a bit too automatic for me. The rain sensors don't always square with my preference for wipe frequency. Sometimes, for example, the there is enough mist on the windshield to be annoying, but not enough to cause the wipers to wipe. But there's no manual intermittent setting to override it. You either turn it off or suffer. The mirror also has no override, and works by comparing the light coming in from the front of the car to that from the back. So if there is insufficient contrast, you get blinded and there's nothing you can do, at least as engineered into the car. There is, however, a workaround. The front light sensor is in the hole at the front of the mirror. All you have to do is put your finger in front of it, and instant darkening! But rather than keep your finger there the whole time, you can insert a small piece of foam (just make sure you can pull it out, or it'll be dark during the day, too) or cover it with a tinted piece of plastic. If you do that, you can "adjust" the level of darkness seen by the sensor thereby "calibrating" the sensing system. Crude, but it works.
[This message has been edited by Need4Spd (edited 28 March 2001).]
[This message has been edited by Need4Spd (edited 28 March 2001).]
I've found both nice to have, but not necessary. The mirror dimmer works better than some I've owned. Wiper control is generally helpgul, but as noted in this post, some misting situations don't seem enough to trigger the wipers, but too much to safely drive with.
But...given all the car's other benefits, this is a small beef.
I could do without the automatic dimming feature. In fact, I find it to a problem when trying to pick out the police at night. Yes, I can put my finger over the hole, but a manual system would have been my preferance. Am I the only one who could take it or leave it?
The wipers are better, but in Southern California you get to use them perhaps six to ten times a year.
Just nitpicking, but BMW could make the car a little more simple, a bit lighter and we would all still be very happy if not more so than now.
How do you like the self dimming mirrors and rain sensor?
Works great!
Linear Mode
