Hi all, just wondering does any one know if Octy windscreen with and without rain sensor are different? Or does rain sensor/mirror bolt on to a common windscreen?

That large plastic housing lump behind the rear view mirror is the light sensor that controls the wipers. If you have a bonded mirror and no connection to the roof to provide power and connection to the wipers and it’s various connections (I am guessing a control system with a brain must be buried somewhere) then you don’t get auto wipers. I know that Merc have sone some very expensive screens for their auto wipers, but I am not sure if that is te edges that transmit an ifra red signal or not?

So in my opinion the screens are the same except that the screen with auto wipers has a darkened surround that covers the periphery of the auto sensing lump.

So in my opinion the screens are the same except that the screen with auto wipers has a darkened surround that covers the periphery of the auto sensing lump.

Err...so doesn't that mean you think they are not the same then!

They are different.

They are different.

I was under the impression that the screens were the same apart from a bit of surround tinting.

Err...so doesn't that mean you think they are not the same then!

When I cracked my Octy II screen I was told to mention the auto wiper shading as the wrong screen would be fitted if I didn't. But as the OP was asking if things could be bolted on, I (probably erroneously) assumed that he was thinking of modifying a standard wiper’d Octy to an auto one. So I thought that as long as the screen is clear in front of the sensor then a bodge could be done.

Sorry AMB if I am putting words in your mouth, so to speak. But at least Gazza found it all amusing

yeah im thinking of mod'ing a non sensor car, and just wondering is it possible to do it without buying a new windscreen..it seems like sensor/mirror and wireing and switch and coding of CAN-BUS is required...Does anyone know how the sensor is attached to the windscreen? Is it bonded? If for example a windscreen is replaced on a sensro car does the original sensor get attached to the new windscreen and how?

Cheers,

AMB_1

I was under the impression that the screens were the same apart from a bit of surround tinting.

They are different. Normal screen has normal rearview mirror fixing in place, rain sensor screen has rain sensor fixing in place. That's the difference.

They are different. Normal screen has normal rearview mirror fixing in place, rain sensor screen has rain sensor fixing in place. That's the difference.

I thought the standard mirror was just bonded?

Lady_Elanore, when you had your cracked windscreen replaced did Autoglass et.al. simply re-attach your sensor/mirror unit to new window or did windcreen come with sensor etc. all together?

Cheers,

AMB_1

Lady_Elanore, when you had your cracked windscreen replaced did Autoglass et.al. simply re-attach your sensor/mirror unit to new window or did windcreen come with sensor etc. all together?

Cheers,

AMB_1

I left them to it, but as far as I could tell they only change the glass. The control unit would just be left dangling on its control wires. I can’t remember if the housing is attached by a rod which contains the wires and so has a certain degree of ‘push’ against the screen anyway.

If your screen has a banded tint along the top it might interfere with the refraction/refection patterns that these things work on. But I probably don’t know what I am talking about as a couple of the guys in this thread think I am talking cobblers:D. See if Lummox or someone of his calibre can help you would be my advice.

Cheers Lady_Elanore!!!

It does seem a huge amount of work for the feature though. Won’t you have to pull the headlining back a bit as well as everything else?

I have had rain sensor wipers on my MkIV Golf, Octy II and BMW 1series and have loved the feature, but a lot of Brisky folk seem to hate it with a vengeance.

Good Luck:thumbup:

I thought the standard mirror was just bonded?

One of my friends had his windshield replaced by a Skoda authorised glass shop. They wanted to know if the car is equipped with a rain sensor or not. As a reason they told that the screen comes with rain sensor attached if your car has one, the normal comes only with the mirror fixing.

This same thing can be read from VWvortex forums. Some of the guys there have retrofitted rain sensors to their cars, and all of them have written the exact same info.

The rain sensor is also bonded to the windscreen.

Thanks downtown, ive serached the tech section of VWvortex forum and cant seem to find anything?

Thanks downtown, ive serached the tech section of VWvortex forum and cant seem to find anything?

Here's one for Golf V. It also shows the parts you'll need (but remember these are for VW, Skoda has different part numbers on some of the parts) :

Rain sensing wipers - VW GTI Forum / VW Rabbit Forum / VW R32 Forum / VW Golf Forum - Golfmkv.com

And here's the link to VWVortex's guide :

VWvortex Forums: Auto Dimming Mirror & Rain Sensor & Homelink Visor Install

(^ Note, this is not for the faint of heart )

From there you can clearly see how the rain sensor is bonded to the windshield. Remember, this guy attaches the sensor to a normal windscreen, so the rearview mirror sits lower than normally. On windshield that comes with rain sensor, doesn't have this problem as the sensor is bonded to the windshield by default.

The price difference here is something like 200 €. 300 € for normal windshield and 500 € for a windshield with rain sensor.

Great link..it looks like an expensive job but with a windscreen change and all other parts fitted and coded, car would like and behave like a factory speced one...

I installed my rain sensor, but I had to change my windscreen as well.. With the rain sensor I also installed auto dimming mirror.. I did all the wiring and coding.. can help you how to do it...

hi milhausek1, check ur PM

Hi All

Have just read all posts Auto Glass are changing my windscreen on Thursday which has rain sensor fitted so not able to make any comments except that I was questioned about the windscreen to establish that the correct one was ordered

I had the screen changed on my P12 Primera and the rain sensor module was already attached to the screen when Mr Autoglass pulled it out of the van.

The screens are different.

The standard screen has just a small round fixing for the rear view mirror, the rain sensor screens have a square fixing for the rain/light sensor which also acts as the mount for the rear view mirror.

Standard green screen - 1Z0.845.011BB

Green with sensor - 1Z0.845.011AP

There are also variations on the theme, Standard green screens with grey top tints, top tints also on the sensor screens, and then the solar coated screens with and without sensors.

I have part numbers for 8 different screens. Guess what trade I'm in

Guess what trade I'm in

Are you a Saggar makers bottom knocker by any chance?

The screens are different.

The standard screen has just a small round fixing for the rear view mirror, the rain sensor screens have a square fixing for the rain/light sensor which also acts as the mount for the rear view mirror.

Standard green screen - 1Z0.845.011BB

Green with sensor - 1Z0.845.011AP

There are also variations on the theme, Standard green screens with grey top tints, top tints also on the sensor screens, and then the solar coated screens with and without sensors.

I have part numbers for 8 different screens. Guess what trade I'm in

So am I right in saying the sensor is changed as part of the screen?

In most cases the sensor will be transfered from old to new screen. The soft gel surface can sometimes get damaged removing it from the old screen, in which case it would need replacing.