Auto Windshield Wiper Location

[KING1307]

Hey all,
Got a gen 1 ms3, comes with the automatic windshield wiper setting right. Im pretty sure that theres a sensor on the wind shield about where the rear view is. I got one of those windshield decals and it covers up that little sensor, which means no auto wipers anymore. My question to anyone out there with the auto wiper option, if you have spare time sometime this week, could you do a quick measurement for me? I want to cut a little hole just big enough for this sensor, but am not sure exactly where it is, if someone could measure where it is on the window it would be much appreciated!
ie. how far left and from the top it is.
Thanks!

[fywdyl]

Remove decal. Problem solved.

[KING1307]

Remove decal. Problem solved.

like that never crossed my mind... i want the best of both worlds.

[KING1307]

anybody?

[Noisy Crow]

On my '08 sedan measuring down from the rubber seal: Top if the opening is at 5 inches, bottom is at 6 inches, and it is about two inches wide. Centred in the blacked out part.

[KING1307]

On my '08 sedan measuring down from the rubber seal: Top if the opening is at 5 inches, bottom is at 6 inches, and it is about two inches wide. Centred in the blacked out part.

much appreciated! just curious, is it centered in the window?

[Noisy Crow]

much appreciated! just curious, is it centered in the window?

Well... it's in the centre of the blacked out area which seems to be centred on the windshield, but I didn't measure that.

[kilo4321]

Of you look carefully from the outside of the window it will look like a Little 2x3 (ish) box where your read view mirror attaches. And from the outside it looks slightly off color in the right light kinda purple? IIRC
Would take pictured to show but I'm in bed lol

[loosecannon]

Um. IIRC, the auto wiper sensor is a sensor that tracks impacts (vibrations caused by rain, stones, etc.) on the front windshield and doesn't actually use a "visual" sensor.

So if your car is standing still, the auto wiper wouldn't wipe as fast as if you're actually moving. The faster you move, the harder the rain hits the windshield, the faster the wipers wipe.

[kilo4321]

It's definitely visual. Had a decal on there last summer and my wipers just kept going forever on auto until I removed it. I hate auto wipers anyways, I want my intermittent back!!! Lol

[silverstarmazda]

Um. IIRC, the auto wiper sensor is a sensor that tracks impacts (vibrations caused by rain, stones, etc.) on the front windshield and doesn't actually use a "visual" sensor.

So if your car is standing still, the auto wiper wouldn't wipe as fast as if you're actually moving. The faster you move, the harder the rain hits the windshield, the faster the wipers wipe.

it tracks via inferred light. as the rain droplets touch the glass, it disturbs the reflection of the glass. causing the inferred light pass through the glass instead of reflecting back into the sensor. the more rain, the more light passes through and vise versa. the sensor detects the amount of light being lost and adjusts its speed. this is why water repellant can sometimes mess up the function because is can disturb reflection.

if it was tracking by impacts, the sweep rate would be erratic from road conditions to stereo set up.

i personally tape off the rain sensor before applying rain-x.

[kilo4321]

Doesn't help much when you have rain x washer fluid lol

[silverstarmazda]

Doesn't help much when you have rain x washer fluid lol

i honestly never want to ever go back to rain-x washer fluid... always streaks for me. i just use the water repellant

[SomeGuy]

Mine has almost always been schizophrenic, sometimes it wipes once, sometimes it wipes twice, sometimes it goes intermittent, sometimes it goes crazy. Regardless, it's way too sensitive even on the lowest setting on the knob. I wish I had the old manually controlled kind.

[KING1307]

just curious if anyone can confirm that it is actually centered on he windshield? But all the info is much appreciated

[kilo4321]

This picture is from my 11' Mz3 but should be exactly the same. If you can find this (its easily visible in the sunlight) then you should have no problem putting your decal on around this.

Directly on the other side of the "odd colored" rectangle is the rear view mirror on the interior. Just happened to be a sunny afternoon so you can easily see it.


And that, good sir, is the location of the auto wiper sensor on the front of the windshield. It's centered.

[KING1307]

oh thats amazing, thanks a bunch kilo. really appreciated. i shouldnt have any problems finding it now, thanks all.