2000 BMW 323i SEDAN windshield wipers

68n
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp flasher Wiper/Washer system 1 High beams (blue indicator)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
lamp accompanied by periodic click-
ing sound from the relay).
If the indicator lamp and the clicking
from the relay are both faster than nor-
mal, one of the turn indicators has
failed. 460de085
To signal brieflyPress the lever up to but not beyond
the detent. It then returns to the center
position when released.
0 Wipers retracted
1 Intermittent wipe or rain sensor
*
2 Normal wipe
3 Fast wipe
4 Brief wipe
5 Automatic windshield washer
6 Rotary dial for control of the wipe
interval or the sensitivity of the rain
sensor.460de023

69n
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Wiper/Washer system1 Intermittent wipe or rain
sensor
*
Intermittent wipe:
You can use rotary dial 6 to select from
four wipe intervals.
In addition, the wipe interval automati-
cally adapts to variations in road speed.
Rain sensor:
The rain sensor is positioned on the
windshield, directly ahead of the inte-
rior rearview mirror. When the rain sen-
sor is activated, the windshield wiper is
controlled automatically, depending on
the degree of wetness of the windshield
(in both snow and rain). You do not
have to be concerned with switching
the windshield wiper on or off or adjust-
ing the wipe interval between intermit-
tent and full wipe. Instead, you can
concentrate fully on the traffic condi-
tions. This is especially important under
adverse weather conditions.
To activate the rain sensor:
In ignition key positions 1 or 2, move
the lever to position 1. The wipers travel
once across the windshield, regardless
of the weather.You can leave the lever permanently in
position 1, and then activate the rain
sensor in ignition key positions 1 or 2.
To do this,
>turn rotary dial 6 briefly or
>use the automatic windshield
washer 5.
To modify the sensitivity of the rain
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 6.
Turn the rain sensor off when
passing through an automatic car
wash. Failure to do so could result in
damage caused by undesired wiper
activation.<
2 Normal wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers switch automatically to intermittent
wipe (not on vehicles with rain sensor).3 Fast wiper speedWhen the vehicle is stationary, the wip-
ers operate at normal speed (not on
vehicles with rain sensor).5 Automatic windshield washer The system sprays washer fluid against
the windshield and activates the wipers
for a brief period.
If you pull the lever only briefly, the sys-
tem sprays washer fluid onto the wind-
shield without activating the wipers.

166n
Rain sensor
*
Depending on the degree of wetness
on the windshield, the rain sensor con-
trols the operation of the windshield
wipers.
Infrared light is carried along the sur-
face of the windshield in an optical con-
ductor in such a manner that it is re-
flected completely when the windshield
is dry. The quantity of reflected light is
measured.
If there is moisture on the glass, the
amount of light reflected is reduced
since the infrared light at the surface of
the windshield can escape. The quan-
tity of reflected light is thus a means of
gauging the degree of wetness on the
windshield.390de133
When the system is set to the "Intermit-
tent" wiper speed, the wipers react im-
mediately Ð if water is splashed onto
the windshield by vehicles traveling
ahead of you, for example. As a result,
the rain sensor provides a contribution
to driving safety and comfort.

168n
Self-diagnostics All of the important electrical and elec-
tronic systems in the vehicle are tested
regularly and automatically Ð the driver
does not have to perform any extra
operations or adjustments.
The indicator lamps also come on
briefly after the ignition has been turned
on.
While you are driving, the functional
status of the actuator motors (for the
windshield wipers, power windows,
seats, sunroof, etc.) is constantly ana-
lyzed by current measurements in their
relays.460de177
In the same manner, the electrical re-
sistance of the airbag ignition genera-
tors and all of the remaining airbag
components is measured at all times.
Any fault in this system would be de-
tected immediately by a current fluctua-
tion that would necessarily accompany
it. The fault would be indicated immedi-
ately by the airbag warning lamp.
Even after you shut off the engine, the
overall functional status of your vehicle
is monitored. For example, all of the
flaps of the heating and ventilation sys-
tem travel to the nearest limit position.
This action ensures that the system will
be able to provide defrosting, regard-
less of other circumstances (if a mal-
function in the heating or ventilation
system should occur during the night
while the vehicle is parked, for in-
stance).
A calibration cycle runs every tenth time
the engine is shut off. During this cycle,
the actuator motors of all the heating
and ventilation flaps travel to their limit
stops in both directions. The limit posi-
tions and the return travel paths are
checked in this manner in order to en-
sure that appropriate adjustments for
the operating elements can be made at
any time.You will hear the sounds of the air flaps
as the heater/ventilation system carries
out its self-diagnostic functions after the
ignition is shut off. All of the other self-
diagnostics functions operate silently in
the background.
Any faults detected during these self-
diagnostics can be read out by your
BMW center during the next regularly-
scheduled maintenance and corrected
with a minimum of time.