BMW 3 Rain Sensor Not Working, Auto Features Down

Hey there! I actually dealt with the same issue on my 2011 BMW 5 Hybrid last year. The symptoms were identical, rain sensor not working, auto headlights failing, and erratic dashboard behavior. Turned out there was moisture seeping under the gel pad that houses the sensors behind the rearview mirror mount. My mechanic discovered bubbles forming under the pad, which was interfering with the sensor's ability to detect rain and light properly. The fix required replacing the entire sensor unit and gel pad assembly. It wasn't just a simple part swap, they had to carefully remove the old unit without damaging the windshield and recalibrate the new sensors. Definitely needed a specialist who knew BMW systems. This was more serious than I initially thought because leaving it unfixed could lead to electrical issues affecting other systems. The moisture can potentially spread to other electronic components if ignored. Based on your description, I'd bet you're facing the same problem. Make sure to find someone certified with BMW electronics, this isn't a job for a general mechanic.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's exactly what my car is doing, and it's good to know I'm not alone with this headache. I'm planning to get it fixed ASAP since you mentioned it could affect other systems. Would you mind telling me how much you ended up paying for the repair? Also, curious if you've had any other issues pop up since getting it fixed?

Hey again! Just wanted to update you on my repair experience. Since seeing my mechanic, I'm happy to report that all the sensor issues have been completely resolved. The total came to 62 € for fixing those pesky bubbles under the gel pad, honestly a fair price considering the technical work involved. Everything's been working perfectly since the repair. The rain sensor kicks in exactly when it should, and the auto headlights are back to normal. My dashboard's no longer going crazy either. The mechanic actually showed me the old gel pad, and wow, those bubbles were pretty obvious once you knew what to look for. Really glad I got it sorted before it could cause any other problems with the electrical system. So if you're still on the fence about getting yours fixed, I'd definitely recommend going for it. Mine's been running like a charm for months now, with zero issues. Just make sure you get someone who really knows their BMW electronics, it makes all the difference! Let me know if you need any other info about the repair process. Happy to help!

Thanks so much! I actually went ahead and got it fixed last week. You were absolutely right about the gel pad issue. The mechanic I found was great, really knew his stuff with BMWs. He showed me the old sensor unit and I could clearly see those bubbles you mentioned. Ended up costing me a bit more, around 80 €, but totally worth it. The whole thing took about two hours. Funny enough, while I was waiting, another customer came in with the exact same problem on their BMW! Everything's working perfectly now, wipers kick in right when they should, headlights adjust automatically, and my dashboard's back to normal. Such a relief to have it sorted. Thanks again for pushing me to get it fixed before it turned into a bigger problem. You really helped me dodge a bullet there! Guess I was lucky to find a good mechanic this time. Much better experience than my last one. I'll definitely keep this guy for future repairs.