Review: 2010 Lexus ES350
11-09-09, 03:12 PM
#61
Rain sensing wipers can also cause a problem in they are in the Auto position and you happen to enter a car wash. Once the water hits them they activate and that can cause problems if there are some type of overhead brushes in the car wash.
Personally I like them, but along with things like my rear sunshade, drivers seat extender and adjustable lumbar support, to me they are nice to have, but not really need to have. More often than not, I forget to use them.
Personally I like them, but along with things like my rear sunshade, drivers seat extender and adjustable lumbar support, to me they are nice to have, but not really need to have. More often than not, I forget to use them.
I also love the lumbar support I didn't even know I had till this thread.
Had a seat extender in a BMW that I never used.Never had a sunshade and don't miss one.
11-09-09, 03:16 PM
#62
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
I don't know about you but I seem to have to replace a windshield on my cars on average once every 4-5 years so if I'm going to have a car for 8-10 years that means the rain sensing wipers on average will cost me $600 additional in windshield replacement expenses. Not worth it to me.
Last edited by mmarshall; 11-09-09 at 03:20 PM.
11-09-09, 03:24 PM
#63
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
If you have them, keep the windshield relatively clean, especially when rain is expected soon. If the rain-sensing wipers are activated when it just starts to rain on a dirty windshield, they can abrade the glass, for reasons which I explained a few posts back.
11-09-09, 03:33 PM
#64
I also recently discovered that at least in the case of the 335i, a windshield replacement for a 3 series WITHOUT the rain sensing wiper feature is about $300, whereas replacement WITH the feature costs $600.
I don't know about you but I seem to have to replace a windshield on my cars on average once every 4-5 years so if I'm going to have a car for 8-10 years that means the rain sensing wipers on average will cost me $600 additional in windshield replacement expenses. Not worth it to me.
I don't know about you but I seem to have to replace a windshield on my cars on average once every 4-5 years so if I'm going to have a car for 8-10 years that means the rain sensing wipers on average will cost me $600 additional in windshield replacement expenses. Not worth it to me.
According to Safelite autoglass,the cost is $445 which seems too cheap.
I got the quote off the site and did click on rain sensing windshield.
If that's correct,it seems it's about $100 more than a conventional windshield.
BMW parts can be a very different cost.
http://www.safelite.com/
Last edited by Joeb427; 11-09-09 at 03:44 PM.
11-09-09, 05:41 PM
#66
Lexus Champion
11-09-09, 09:59 PM
#67
Thanks.
Most of the loose build quality and interior problems do seem to have been addressed. My only remaining complaint is that I'd like to see them go back to higher-profile tires and slightly softer suspension like the old ES330 had. I still, even after some 3 years, see no reason why this car had to get the more-aggreessive rubber and underpinnings for the 2007 redesign....the ES is supposed to be a soft-riding cruiser, not a sports sedan or BMW wanna-be. It also needs an AWD option to be able to compete with its rival AWD Buick LaCrosse in bad-weather areas.
Most of the loose build quality and interior problems do seem to have been addressed. My only remaining complaint is that I'd like to see them go back to higher-profile tires and slightly softer suspension like the old ES330 had. I still, even after some 3 years, see no reason why this car had to get the more-aggreessive rubber and underpinnings for the 2007 redesign....the ES is supposed to be a soft-riding cruiser, not a sports sedan or BMW wanna-be. It also needs an AWD option to be able to compete with its rival AWD Buick LaCrosse in bad-weather areas.
11-10-09, 05:44 AM
#68
Lexus Test Driver
Rain sensing wipers is one luxury option I can do without. Most of the time, I find myself fine tuning it in the rain anyways. I wish there is a option for good old fashion intermittent wipers. It also drives me crazy that the wiper is on super slow when you are at a red light and speeds up only after you get up to speed, What are the designers thing of, that I dont need to see out of the windshield at a red light?
11-10-09, 07:51 AM
#69
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While windshield damage can happen, of course, under a variety of conditions, try to cut down on the amount of high-speed driving you do on the Interstates, especially in and around construction areas, and don't follow heavy trucks (especially dump trucks) unless you have no other choice. Also, if possible, avoid roads in the winter that have just been treated. Some road crews use gravel and small stones mixed in with the salt....that stuff can be a PITA until it clears off. Heavy rain can also wash some small debris out of cracks/holes in the pavement, onto the road surface, where tires from the vehicle ahead of you can kick it up.
11-10-09, 08:40 AM
#70
Lexus Fanatic
Thread Starter
Rain sensing wipers is one luxury option I can do without. Most of the time, I find myself fine tuning it in the rain anyways. I wish there is a option for good old fashion intermittent wipers. It also drives me crazy that the wiper is on super slow when you are at a red light and speeds up only after you get up to speed, What are the designers thing of, that I dont need to see out of the windshield at a red light?
True rain-sensing systems, though, are not like that....you don't turn them on and off by hand. Sensors in the glass (or on the dash) sense the number of raindrops and automatically turn on and adjust the wiper speed continually as needed. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't care for the rain-sensing system because, even though it is an admitted convienence and doesn't require fiddling with the lever, it can abrade or scratch the glass under some conditions.
11-10-09, 10:17 AM
#72
Lexus Test Driver
There's a difference between true rain-sensing wipers, though, and the system you are describeing. Intermittent, variable-intermittent, and speed-sensing intermittent wiper systems have to be turned on and off manually with a switch.......usually a column-mounted stalk. If the system is manually variable, you adjust it by hand with a rheostat-type device....usually a rotating ring on the stalk, or by clicking the lever up and down to various settings. If it is automatically variable, it slows down as you come to a stop and speeds up again once the car starts rolling. This is done because, at a stop, there is usually less rain hitting the windshield than when you are moving and driving directly into the rain (or snow). That's why, even with manually-adjustable intermittent systems, you still spend a fair amount of time fiddling with the settings as you stop and go.
True rain-sensing systems, though, are not like that....you don't turn them on and off by hand. Sensors in the glass (or on the dash) sense the number of raindrops and automatically turn on and adjust the wiper speed continually as needed. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't care for the rain-sensing system because, even though it is an admitted convienence and doesn't require fiddling with the lever, it can abrade or scratch the glass under some conditions.
True rain-sensing systems, though, are not like that....you don't turn them on and off by hand. Sensors in the glass (or on the dash) sense the number of raindrops and automatically turn on and adjust the wiper speed continually as needed. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I don't care for the rain-sensing system because, even though it is an admitted convienence and doesn't require fiddling with the lever, it can abrade or scratch the glass under some conditions.
Then I dont like the true rain-sensing systems, if I have to play with it as much as the variable-intermittent wipers, why even have it. Its just another thing that can break and it really doesnt make my life any easier.
11-10-09, 10:22 AM
#73
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If anyone DOESN'T like rain sensing wipers, you can TURN IT OFF in a Lexus. It takes 2 seconds, to deactivate.
As a matter of fact you have to activate it with the switch, otherwise it won't work.
Why is this even an issue? Lexus doesn't make you use it. You have to activate it.
Personally, I think its nifty.
As a matter of fact you have to activate it with the switch, otherwise it won't work.
Why is this even an issue? Lexus doesn't make you use it. You have to activate it.
Personally, I think its nifty.
11-10-09, 10:26 AM
#74
Lexus Test Driver
If anyone DOESN'T like rain sensing wipers, you can TURN IT OFF in a Lexus. It takes 2 seconds, to deactivate.
As a matter of fact you have to activate it with the switch, otherwise it won't work.
Why is this even an issue? Lexus doesn't make you use it. You have to activate it.
Personally, I think its nifty.
As a matter of fact you have to activate it with the switch, otherwise it won't work.
Why is this even an issue? Lexus doesn't make you use it. You have to activate it.
Personally, I think its nifty.
11-10-09, 10:29 AM
#75
I'm pretty sure there is. I'll check when I go out to my car later but it goes like this in my car: Stalk at the highest position = no wipers on. You can move it up and hold it to get the single swipe of the blades. Push it down 1 position and it turns on the rain sensing wipers. Down 1 more position and it turns on the intermittent