2002 BMW X5 windshield wipers

WINDSHIELD WIPING/WASHING
• The GM III controls all of the windshield wiping/washer and headlight washing functions.
• Output control of the wiper motor is
through the windshield wiper double
contact relay. The relay is located in the
engine compartment E-box and is tan in
color.
• The system continues to have four wiping
stages and four interval wiping speeds.
The wiping stage inputs are coded signals
through a two wire link with a combination
of high/low inputs as on previous
systems.
• The Windshield Wiping System can also be supplemented with the Rain Sensor system
as optional equipment. The Rain Sensor detects rain drops on the windshield and
automatically activates the wipers when the stalk switch is in the intermittent position.
Wiper Stalk Switch:
SINGLE: Holding the wiper switch down in the single position provides a ground signal to
activate the slow speed circuit providing wiper operation until the switch is released.
INTERMITTENT: The intermittent wiping time inputs are provided by a potentiometer
mounted in the wiper stalk switch.
• The intermittent
wiping intervals are
dependent on the
road speed.
• As road speed
increases, the
wiping interval
delay is decreased.
SLOW (I) AND FAST (II): The stage I and stage II wiping speeds are also affected by road
speed. The factory encoded settings are the same as previous systems:
• Stage I automatically switches to intermittent when the vehicle is stopped
• Stage II switches to stage I when stopped.
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WINDSHIELD WIPER
DOUBLE RELAY

OPTIONAL RAIN SENSOR (AIC)
The Windshield Wiping System will also be available with an optionally equipped Rain
Sensor. The Rain Sensor provides added driver convenience and enhances safety by
automatically activating the intermittent function of the windshield wipers when water
droplets are detected on the windshield.
COMPONENTS:
The rain sensor unit is mounted on the top center area of the interior windshield surface
directly behind the rear view mirror. The unit contains:
•Optical Prism Body:This portion of the unit is
permanently fixed to the windshield. It can not be
removed and can only be replaced with a
replacement windshield.
The prism body has a reflective surface that faces
the back of the windshield. The prism body also
acts as the windshield mount for the Rain Sensor
Control Module.
•Rain Sensor Control Module:The control module incorporates the following;
- Infra Red Emitter and Detector Diodes
- Optics heater (prevents condensation from forming on diodes and prism)
- Optics evaluation and control electronics
- Photo cell to detect night time driving
The control module requires four signals for operation; KL R, KL 31, Windshield Wiper
Motor Park Signal Feedback and K Bus interface.
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GM III

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RAIN SENSOR FUNCTION:
The rain sensor is online as soon as it receives KL R operating power.
• When the windshield wiper stalk switch is placed in the intermittent position the GM
signals the rain sensor control module via the K Bus of the request for intermittent
wiping and the position of the knurled wheel (sensitivity).
• As an acknowledgement, the rain sensor sends a command via the K Bus to activate
the wiper motor. If more than 12 seconds pass before the GM receives the
acknowledgement, the GM concludes the rain sensor has a defect and operates the
intermittent wipe function as a system not equipped with a rain sensor. The wiper
intermittent cycling is based solely on the knurled wheel setting.
• The rain sensor continuously monitors the windshield for rain accumulation and signals
the GM to activate the wipers based on the knurled wheel position and how fast the rain
accumulates on the windshield.
• The knurled wheel position signal (1-4) via the K bus informs the rain sensor of the
selected level of sensitivity.
- Position 1 (least sensitive) delays the wiper activation signal.
- Position 4 (most sensitive) sends the wiper activation signal to the GM sooner.
• When the wiper motor park contacts signal the GM of the wiper arm position, the signal
is simultaneously sent to the rain sensor as an indication that the windshield has been
cleared of water drops and causes the rain sensor to reset the sensitivity delay timer
back to 0.
• If night time driving is detected via the integral photocell, the sensitivity to water droplets
is increased causing a shorter delay than day time driving.
• Depending on the intensity of the rain the wipers will be operated continuously as if set
in the normal wiper stalk switch position regardless of the knurled wheel setting. For
this reason, the vehicle speed signal on the K bus is not utilized on rain sensor equipped
wiper systems.
• If the ignition switch is turned off with the wiper switch in the intermittent position, the
rain sensor will only become active after the ignition is switched back on and one of the
following occurs:
- The stalk switch is moved from the intermittent position and then back.
- The knurled wheel setting is adjusted.
- or the wash function is activated.
The reasoning behind this switching strategy is to have the driver make a conscious
decision to activate the system themselves.