Why they removed auto wiper button

allen3ybq · 12-06-2018, 01:45 AM

Just realized my 2019 X3 M40i doesn't have the auto wiper button on the side of the stick anymore. Now I have to push the stick one level up for auto wiper. If I like it to wipe one time I have to push all the way down then back up one time to turn the auto wiper back on again.
Not sure if I am the only one finding it annoying and the original design was seamless.

Hairysteve · 12-06-2018, 02:01 AM

Drove for the first time in the rain yesterday and also noticed it and thought, why? It was a nice easy feature to leverage.

teaston · 12-06-2018, 02:36 AM

I didn’t know this! That’s annoying!

ep22jg · 12-06-2018, 03:05 AM

I think it's linked to the turn indicator arm, that is also, back to how it used to be.
i.e. stays in position until cancelled.
I think the self centring arm confused people on how to cancel the indicators manually.

I personally thought it was much better as it was. Especially the wiper arm which allowed an extra wipe without switching off the auto function!!

Progress!!!

spangle1980 · 12-06-2018, 03:24 AM

The same person designed this feature as who f**ked up Facetime on iOS12 :-)

MechX3M40i · 12-06-2018, 04:35 AM

Found this out some time ago, doing the one-wipe turns off the auto rain-sensing feature since these two functions are on opposite side of the 'Wiper Off' position. Yes it's annoying. Tempted to just pull the lever in and do the washer spray instead of the one-wipe sometimes...

No dedicated button for the auto rain sensor = one less part = less cost !

MarkyM · 12-06-2018, 05:07 AM

They've also changed the rear wiper as well, rather than just pushing stalk forward you rotate the end of the stalk, to wash rear screen now you rotate end of stalk anti-clockwise with wiper off or clockwise with wiper on, all whilst your hand is off steering wheel, not too complicated

I queried this and indicator change when I first got mine, apparently due to 'customer feedback' who knew they listen! Perhaps customer feedback will get them to reinstate it for later generations

Tex94 · 12-06-2018, 06:37 AM

Here’s a tip that worked on my Porsche with a similar design: if you just toggle the rain sensing thing up one it will wipe once. I’ll try it out on my x3.

I know I am going to get a lot of flak for this but I actually prefer it this way. It’s just always ready to start wiping.

MarkyM · 12-06-2018, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tex94

Here's a tip that worked on my Porsche with a similar design: if you just toggle the rain sensing thing up one it will wipe once. I'll try it out on my x3.

I know I am going to get a lot of flak for this but I actually prefer it this way. It's just always ready to start wiping.

Yes it's no biggy really, you get used to it, I go up one then back down if I want a single wipe

I think the complaints on old system was the auto wipe feature had to be turned on every time you start car but this new system can be left on all the time

smanji · 12-06-2018, 07:04 AM

I have to say im not a fan of the auto sense wipers, they either wipe too often or not enough, the sensitivity control seems to got from 0 to 100 with out a medium. i find flicking down when I want to clear the screen a lot more convenient then attempting to tinker with auto

mde83 · 12-06-2018, 07:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyM

Yes it's no biggy really, you get used to it, I go up one then back down if I want a single wipe

I think the complaints on old system was the auto wipe feature had to be turned on every time you start car but this new system can be left on all the time

Agreed this change is neutral to me. The change in the blinker stalk to mechanical instead of the auto centering thing is a positive. I cannot tell you how many times I thought I fully engaged the blinker but only engaged the passing 3 blink feature...then tried to cancel it only to end up signaling in the opposite direction. Might as well have a big vinyl sticker saying “I’m a dumb a$$” across the back window.

nyalpine90 · 12-06-2018, 08:16 AM

weight reduction

teaston · 12-06-2018, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyM

They've also changed the rear wiper as well, rather than just pushing stalk forward you rotate the end of the stalk, to wash rear screen now you rotate end of stalk anti-clockwise with wiper off or clockwise with wiper on, all whilst your hand is off steering wheel, not too complicated

I queried this and indicator change when I first got mine, apparently due to 'customer feedback' who knew they listen! Perhaps customer feedback will get them to reinstate it for later generations

I hadn't actually realised that I'm going to have a rear wiper! Haven't had one for about 20 years!!

MarkyM · 12-06-2018, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyM

They've also changed the rear wiper as well, rather than just pushing stalk forward you rotate the end of the stalk, to wash rear screen now you rotate end of stalk anti-clockwise with wiper off or clockwise with wiper on, all whilst your hand is off steering wheel, not too complicated

I queried this and indicator change when I first got mine, apparently due to 'customer feedback' who knew they listen! Perhaps customer feedback will get them to reinstate it for later generations

I hadn't actually realised that I'm going to have a rear wiper! Haven't had one for about 20 years!!

Ah, yes a nice bonus for anyone coming from a saloon

shoptb · 12-06-2018, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

weight reduction

That's at least another 5 HP

MechX3M40i · 12-06-2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoptb

Quote:

Originally Posted by nyalpine90

weight reduction

That's at least another 5 HP

Yea - still puzzled on why they charge us a lot more money for taking the roof off of a car to make a convertible - cost reduction and weight reduction for not needing metal roof equipped with a moon roof too???

:

JayPichardo · 12-06-2018, 09:51 AM

Benefit: Once set to auto it stays in auto and the car remembers that setting. In the old cars you had to enable it every time.

ep22jg · 12-06-2018, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

I hadn't actually realised that I'm going to have a rear wiper! Haven't had one for about 20 years!!

Yes ...... I'm getting used to having one again .......
I've had saloons for the last 15 years!!

SROC3 · 12-06-2018, 12:45 PM

Well that's really unnerving.....I really got used to the whole "one button push for auto, not having to worry about your wipers" button. Now they're making it more complicated. UGH.

You all realize its about weight saving right?.....and also decreases MSRP by $10,000

andrewX3M40d · 12-06-2018, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teaston

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkyM

They've also changed the rear wiper as well, rather than just pushing stalk forward you rotate the end of the stalk, to wash rear screen now you rotate end of stalk anti-clockwise with wiper off or clockwise with wiper on, all whilst your hand is off steering wheel, not too complicated

I queried this and indicator change when I first got mine, apparently due to 'customer feedback' who knew they listen! Perhaps customer feedback will get them to reinstate it for later generations

I hadn't actually realised that I'm going to have a rear wiper! Haven't had one for about 20 years!!

According to my better half this is the best reason for changing to an X3

TX3M · 12-06-2018, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smanji

I have to say im not a fan of the auto sense wipers, they either wipe too often or not enough, the sensitivity control seems to got from 0 to 100 with out a medium. i find flicking down when I want to clear the screen a lot more convenient then attempting to tinker with auto

Agreed, the auto-sense stinks. I would rather be able to set it to the intermittent timing I want and do away with the auto-sense completely. I complained to my service advisor about this when I had my 2014 X3 as well.

Lux700 · 12-06-2018, 05:27 PM

It’s already been said, but for those who live in cold climates it’s a good idea to turn off your auto wipers before parking the car up for the night (unless it lives in a garage) in case it freezes during the night. You don’t want to be starting the car up to defrost it with the wipers glued to the windscreen, it could either tear the blades off or put unnecessary strain on the motor.

And another thing... why is the passenger door mirror not dimming on the X3?

12-06-2018, 01:45 AM	#1
allen3ybq Lieutenant 448 Rep 525 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: CA iTrader: (1)	Why they removed auto wiper button Just realized my 2019 X3 M40i doesn't have the auto wiper button on the side of the stick anymore. Now I have to push the stick one level up for auto wiper. If I like it to wipe one time I have to push all the way down then back up one time to turn the auto wiper back on again. Not sure if I am the only one finding it annoying and the original design was seamless.
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12-06-2018, 02:01 AM	#2
Hairysteve Private 35 Rep 76 Posts Drives: X3 M40i, F40 135i Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Surrey iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 F30/M135i [0.00] 2019 X3 M40i [0.00] 2017 Mini Cooper S [0.00] 2009 Land Rover Def ... [0.00]	Drove for the first time in the rain yesterday and also noticed it and thought, why? It was a nice easy feature to leverage.
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12-06-2018, 02:36 AM	#3
teaston Banned 11002 Rep 32,881 Posts Drives: X3 M40d Join Date: May 2012 Location: The High Seas iTrader: (1)	I didn’t know this! That’s annoying!
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12-06-2018, 03:05 AM	#4
ep22jg Captain 234 Rep 738 Posts Drives: G01 M40i Join Date: May 2015 Location: Hampshire iTrader: (0)	I think it's linked to the turn indicator arm, that is also, back to how it used to be. i.e. stays in position until cancelled. I think the self centring arm confused people on how to cancel the indicators manually. I personally thought it was much better as it was. Especially the wiper arm which allowed an extra wipe without switching off the auto function!! Progress!!! __________________ X3 M40i Carbon Black
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12-06-2018, 03:24 AM	#5
spangle1980 Deadly 1329 Rep 2,094 Posts Drives: X3 M40d BG LCI Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	The same person designed this feature as who f**ked up Facetime on iOS12 :-)
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12-06-2018, 04:35 AM	#6
MechX3M40i Lieutenant Colonel 1006 Rep 1,727 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Blue/Cognac Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: MidWest USA iTrader: (0)	Found this out some time ago, doing the one-wipe turns off the auto rain-sensing feature since these two functions are on opposite side of the 'Wiper Off' position. Yes it's annoying. Tempted to just pull the lever in and do the washer spray instead of the one-wipe sometimes... No dedicated button for the auto rain sensor = one less part = less cost !
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12-06-2018, 05:07 AM	#7
MarkyM Major 383 Rep 1,054 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: May 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	They've also changed the rear wiper as well, rather than just pushing stalk forward you rotate the end of the stalk, to wash rear screen now you rotate end of stalk anti-clockwise with wiper off or clockwise with wiper on, all whilst your hand is off steering wheel, not too complicated I queried this and indicator change when I first got mine, apparently due to 'customer feedback' who knew they listen! Perhaps customer feedback will get them to reinstate it for later generations
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12-06-2018, 06:37 AM	#8
Tex94 Private First Class 79 Rep 111 Posts Drives: BMW X3 M40i, Carbon Black Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0) Garage List 2019 BMW X3 M40i [0.00]	Here’s a tip that worked on my Porsche with a similar design: if you just toggle the rain sensing thing up one it will wipe once. I’ll try it out on my x3. I know I am going to get a lot of flak for this but I actually prefer it this way. It’s just always ready to start wiping.
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12-06-2018, 07:04 AM	#10
smanji Private First Class 133 Rep 186 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Alpine White Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 Honda Civic Ty ... [0.00]	I have to say im not a fan of the auto sense wipers, they either wipe too often or not enough, the sensitivity control seems to got from 0 to 100 with out a medium. i find flicking down when I want to clear the screen a lot more convenient then attempting to tinker with auto
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12-06-2018, 08:16 AM	#12
nyalpine90 Lieutenant General 7444 Rep 11,857 Posts Drives: MY24 G01 AW Msport Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: L.I. NY iTrader: (4) Garage List 2016 BMW X4 [9.33]	weight reduction
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12-06-2018, 09:51 AM	#17
JayPichardo BMW Client Advisor 3461 Rep 2,504 Posts Drives: 2020 M340i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Tulley BMW Nashua, NH iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW M340i [0.00]	Benefit: Once set to auto it stays in auto and the car remembers that setting. In the old cars you had to enable it every time. __________________ Contact me for all your BMW needs in the New England area. jpichardo@tulley.com Top M Client Advisor in New England.
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12-06-2018, 12:45 PM	#19
SROC3 The limit of adhesion is my home. 1703 Rep 3,778 Posts Drives: Like a Boss. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: three.one.zero iTrader: (1)	Well that's really unnerving.....I really got used to the whole "one button push for auto, not having to worry about your wipers" button. Now they're making it more complicated. UGH. You all realize its about weight saving right?.....and also decreases MSRP by $10,000 __________________ 2019 X3 xDrive30i Glacier Silver \| Cognac w/ Fine Cove \| MSport \| Premium \| Dynamic Handling PKG \| Drive Assist \| HK w/ Bavsound Upgrade \|
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12-06-2018, 05:27 PM	#22
Lux700 Captain 552 Rep 980 Posts Drives: X3 M40d - Black Sapphire Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: The forest of Epping iTrader: (0)	It’s already been said, but for those who live in cold climates it’s a good idea to turn off your auto wipers before parking the car up for the night (unless it lives in a garage) in case it freezes during the night. You don’t want to be starting the car up to defrost it with the wipers glued to the windscreen, it could either tear the blades off or put unnecessary strain on the motor. And another thing... why is the passenger door mirror not dimming on the X3?
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