Passat 2012 - Rain Sensitive wipers?

[monstersinc1]

According to this dealer (see video below), 2012 Passat has rain sensitive wipers. I have never seen this in literature. Can anyone else confirm this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IafmtnLAG7g

[capclassicv2]

I don't believe it does. I think it has Speed Sensitive Wipers, but not rain sensing, but I could have missed it.

[teknokrat]

when i was test driving a 2012 passat tdi sel, the salesman said the wipers were rain sensitive.

i hope he was right.. because i had never seen that in literature either, so i was pleasantly surprised.

but again... dealers have been known to say things that aren't entirely true...............

[sonicstorm]

The wipers themselves aren't rain-sensitive, there's a sensor incorporated into the windshield-mount portion of the rear-view mirror that controls the wipers.

[teknokrat]

The wipers themselves aren't rain-sensitive, there's a sensor incorporated into the windshield-mount portion of the rear-view mirror that controls the wipers.

... wow.

so you thought we were all that stupid?

is that not how ALL rain-sensitive wipers work...? i mean DUH the sensor is not ON the wipers...

the point was, we were trying to figure out if the passat has this FEATURE AT ALL or not.

just a heads up... you know those automatic doors retail stores have? the sensor to open them isn't actually ON the doors........ ya know, just so you know...

[SickTRed08FSI]

... wow.

so you thought we were all that stupid?

is that not how ALL rain-sensitive wipers work...? i mean DUH the sensor is not ON the wipers...

the point was, we were trying to figure out if the passat has this FEATURE AT ALL or not.

just a heads up... you know those automatic doors retail stores have? the sensor to open them isn't actually ON the doors........ ya know, just so you know...

Epic!! It doesnt say anything in standard features about rain sensitive wipers. Hmmm..... Anyone test drove one while raining? What happened?

[teknokrat]

Epic!! It doesnt say anything in standard features about rain sensitive wipers. Hmmm..... Anyone test drove one while raining? What happened?

i actually DID test drive one while raining, and the salesman said the wipers were rain sensitive (although i never tested this out.... i just had the wipers on intermittent, didn't play with them because i didn't want to lose visibility and/or be distracted while driving a $30k demo vehicle around)

but again, i built a passat this morning at the website, and it ONLY says variable intermittant wipers. so i'm starting to think they're not rain sensitive... the salesman was probably used to the CC or older passats.

[r2s2]

My B6's rain-sensitive wipers have never worked correctly, so it wouldn't matter to me one way or the other. I've regarded it simply as one of those many VW Mystery Features (I've owned 14 VW's).

[monstersinc1]

After looking at some dealer lot cars I did see a sensor behind the rear view mirror. Has anyone actually seen it in action? It's strange that there is nothing in the specs about it.

[TCM GLX]

My brother picked up a 2012 SE last night, and it DOES HAVE rain sensing wipers.

[teknokrat]

My brother picked up a 2012 SE last night, and it DOES HAVE rain sensing wipers.

awesome! it's crazy that vw doesn't even have their specs straight.

[MUG318]

i actually DID test drive one while raining, and the salesman said the wipers were rain sensitive (although i never tested this out.... i just had the wipers on intermittent, didn't play with them because i didn't want to lose visibility and/or be distracted while driving a $30k demo vehicle around)

but again, i built a passat this morning at the website, and it ONLY says variable intermittant wipers. so i'm starting to think they're not rain sensitive... the salesman was probably used to the CC or older passats.

I have rain-sensitive wipers on my B6 and while they could work better, they do a fine job. In SoCal it rains so infrequently that I forget about the wipers and occasionally leave them on in the sensing position (no intermittent setting). IF some water does appear on the windshield, the wipers wake up and wipe it away. No effort on my part at all. It does surprise me when it happens.

BTW, like I said there is no intermittent setting. The wiper stalk appears to have the same controls as the intermittent stalk but the control switch for the "intermittent" speed controls the sensitivity of the sensor.

[segeln4me]

My brother picked up a 2012 SE last night, and it DOES HAVE rain sensing wipers.

That is weird, I have a TDI SEL and while it does have the sensor for the rear view mirror, it DOES NOT have rain sensing wipers, which is fine with me. The owners manual also states they are only adjustable intermittent wipers, so I am not sure how your brothers SE has them and the SEL does not...

[capclassicv2]

Would it be the light sensor instead? For the auto lights and dash?

[tewkewl75]

... wow.

so you thought we were all that stupid?

is that not how ALL rain-sensitive wipers work...? i mean DUH the sensor is not ON the wipers...

the point was, we were trying to figure out if the passat has this FEATURE AT ALL or not.

just a heads up... you know those automatic doors retail stores have? the sensor to open them isn't actually ON the doors........ ya know, just so you know...

[tewkewl75]

My B6's rain-sensitive wipers have never worked correctly, so it wouldn't matter to me one way or the other. I've regarded it simply as one of those many VW Mystery Features (I've owned 14 VW's).

my mkv jetta's rain sensitive wipers work like a champ. i can't imagine living without them... and the auto headlights...

[teknokrat]

my mkv jetta's rain sensitive wipers work like a champ. i can't imagine living without them... and the auto headlights...

(looks out window at mk5 jetta value edition)



mine has... umm... an automatic... transmission.

[mreuro]

ok so whats the story with them things?

[mreuro]

CONFIRMED!!!!!! Rain sensing wipers need to be activated Via Vag-com

Will explain in detail what needs to be done.....
Just got mine activated.... works like a charm

[jsmyle1%...]

CONFIRMED!!!!!! Rain sensing wipers need to be activated Via Vag-com

Will explain in detail what needs to be done.....
Just got mine activated.... works like a charm

Hooraaaaay!! The in-house techy dork solves the mystery!!

[mreuro]

Hooraaaaay!! The in-house techy dork solves the mystery!!

hahaha....

[cfo20]

I just tried to get the dealer to activate my rain sensor for the wipers on my 2012 Passat and they said it was already activated (not so, the wipers keep moving when positioned in the intermediate setting). Does anyone know a good VAGCOM provider in the North Atlanta area who can program this feature? 2012 Passat SE...I assume it has the capability?

[Incrementalg]

My B6's rain-sensitive wipers have never worked correctly, so it wouldn't matter to me one way or the other. I've regarded it simply as one of those many VW Mystery Features (I've owned 14 VW's).

Same here. My B6 rain sensitive wipers have 2 speeds...Seizure and Nap Time.

[Kchorro]

My TDI SEL Premium has both feature actived, rain sensing and rain speed sensing too. Also rain clousure actived on windonws and sunroff as well.

[RaidV92C]

I spoke to my dealer about this months ago when I bought my 12 TDI SEL. He said, it (rain sensing) is "available" in the software BUT must be activated with the gizmo they use to do updates etc...

[philokie]

I have to ask, how to you disable the rain sensing feature if you decide to take the car to the car wash.

I can just see the wipers being destroyed when they automatically start as the water hits the windshield

Philokie

[tdiatlast]

There are 4 settings for the wiper stalk:
1) Off
2) Intermittent...overridden when rain sensing wipers are activated. The variable knob regulates the sensitivity of the rain sensor.
3) Low speed
4) High speed

That's how it works on mine.

[DK2392]

Seems people are a bit confused in this thread. By default, the 2012 Passat does NOT have rain senor wiper activation enabled.
You can, however, activate it yourself via VAG-COM.

PS-> You can also enable auto closing of the windows and sunroof via the rain sensor!

For full DIY and detailed information, CLICK HERE

[vwbrvr6]

Has anyone been able to get their dealer to activate the sensors?

[DK2392]

Has anyone been able to get their dealer to activate the sensors?

No, but if you're ever in Tampa I can do it with my handy ross-tech cable and VCDS.

[mmhs19]

Aside from push button start this is my favorite feature of my Passat. It's really too bad they don't enable them at the factory.

[Bl4ckp4nt0m]

Has anyone been able to get their dealer to activate the sensors?

I purchased my Passat SEL 2 weeks ago. I told the dealer before leaving the dealership that on a vw forum I read that this Passat has Rain Sensing Wipers. He replied "was this on vwvortex?". I was shocked that he knew about this site. Anywho, he said to bring it and we'll hook it up and check for you. So ill be taking it this coming Monday. Will let you know how it goes.

[Kchorro]

I purchased my Passat SEL 2 weeks ago. I told the dealer before leaving the dealership that on a vw forum I read that this Passat has Rain Sensing Wipers. He replied "was this on vwvortex?". I was shocked that he knew about this site. Anywho, he said to bring it and we'll hook it up and check for you. So ill be taking it this coming Monday. Will let you know how it goes.

Also let them activate the Auto Rain closure as well

[Bl4ckp4nt0m]

Also let them activate the Auto Rain closure as well

does that allow the windows to close when it rains ? sorry, still learning things here.

[TheGrove]

does that allow the windows to close when it rains ? sorry, still learning things here.

Yep sure does.