Rain Light Sensor issue? (post retrofit)

[nextelbuddy]

so i just finished doing the RLS retrofit on my 2003 ZHP. i had the windwhield replaced with the updated prism holder. I got a RLS sensor from a 2002 E46 M3 parts car I bought along with the Automatic headlight LCM face plate to.

i wired up the 4 wires for the RLS sensor properly using info form several DIYs. basically:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=759844

4 wires: brown=ground, purple=power, white/red=kbus(tap into any of them), green/brown=Pin #45 in the GM5 54 pin plug


I used NCS Export to mark the Rain sensor as ACTIVE in the GM5/ZKE module.

I fired up INPA and the RSL sensor (while attached to the prism) throws an error in INPA saying it can not communicate

when I remove the RLS from the prism and then the car off and turn it back on, the RLS sensor communicates and I can read the statrus and shine a light in it which shuts off my headlights.

if I put it back in the prism with the car still on, and shine a light through the prism, it still works.

as soon as I shut the car off and back on, the RLS sensor does not work anymore and doesnt communicate with INPA.

I have to remove it from the prism again, shut car off and back on and it works again.

it makes 0 sense and its not a wiring issue. its something with the prism.

my RLS sensor is part # RLS 6 920 044 and it is a 2001 model sensor.

i looked on ebay for E46 RLS sensor and thats not a common one found and most of them that come up are:

RLS 6 923 954 and have 2002-2004 dates.

Im thinking that my RLS sensor is too old to work properly with my GM5 module or something.

I was hoping ti see if anyone has factory RLS in their ZHPs and can tell me what their part number on the module says?

or maybe someone knows what the heck is going on lol.

[az3579]

I was hoping ti see if anyone has factory RLS in their ZHPs and can tell me what their part number on the module says?


I'll try (to remember) to check it for you this morning.

[az3579]

Here you go:

28522

[nextelbuddy]

Thank you very much. I guess I'll take a chance and pick up one from the salvage yard locally that Ms matches that part. Thanks for helping me confirm that

[ZHPizza]

Same p/n on mine (2005). I'm guessing you're on the money in that your 2002 RLS can't communicate with the 2003 control module.

[az3579]

Same p/n on mine (2005). I'm guessing you're on the money in that your 2002 RLS can't communicate with the 2003 control module.

It might have something to do with the fact that the RLS wasn't standard on the E46 sedan until 2004. Prior to that, I think it only came with the Premium Package, so the part numbers might have changed in 2004. I think the timing applies to coupes as well, though not 100% sure on that.

[nextelbuddy]

Same p/n on mine (2005). I'm guessing you're on the money in that your 2002 RLS can't communicate with the 2003 control module.


It might have something to do with the fact that the RLS wasn't standard on the E46 sedan until 2004. Prior to that, I think it only came with the Premium Package, so the part numbers might have changed in 2004. I think the timing applies to coupes as well, though not 100% sure on that.

picked up an RLS sensor from an E39 today. it has the same PN 6 923 954 and it works fine in my car. INPA can communicate with it while mounted in the prism and doesnt lose connection.

I was able to use NCS expert to read the values of the RLS sensor and change the sensitivity of the sensor to be more sensitive. the RLS was engaging the headlights in automatic mode too early and also taking 10 seconds to engage and disengage. its now down to 5 seconds like I expected it to.

my retrofit is complete. looking forward to updating my project thread.

thanks guys!

[John in VA]

my retrofit is complete. looking forward to updating my project thread.
thanks guys!
When I bought the used 2003 530i, the previous owner had installed a windshield without the rain sensor section, but the auto headlights worked. I had the proper Pilkington glass with rain sensor installed, but the rain sensor function doesn't work. I didn't have any coding done. Is this what I'm lacking? I thought, perhaps, the wiper stalk is faulty, as there is no adjustable intermittent function presently - I have off-slow-slow-fast.

Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas!

[nextelbuddy]

When I bought the used 2003 530i, the previous owner had installed a windshield without the rain sensor section, but the auto headlights worked. I had the proper Pilkington glass with rain sensor installed, but the rain sensor function doesn't work. I didn't have any coding done. Is this what I'm lacking? I thought, perhaps, the wiper stalk is faulty, as there is no adjustable intermittent function presently - I have off-slow-slow-fast.

Thanks in advance, and Merry Christmas!

well i dont have any experience yet with the rain sensor portion, only the light sensor part. when I read the file for the GM5/ZKE module, there were settings for rain sensor delay etc... but if you have the same sensor you have always had, was it just hanging? if the prev owner didnt get the proper windshield which has the prism in it, then your sensor had no where to mount so it was either unplugged or hanging from the wiring harness.

in any case, if its the same sensor and is now mounted back in the prism, then its possible the sensor just needs to be re initialized with the INPA program and also have any fault codes read from the sensor and then cleared.

io know in my OLD sensor that didnt work, when I read the sensor in INPA, it had 1 fault code in german that translated to HARDWARE issue. as soon as i got the proper sensor, INPA showed no fault codes for it and i could initialize it no problem.

when you clear codes and initialize it while still in the prism, then the sensor and GM5/ZKE will learn again.

also make sure you have no thing blocking the sensor like a tint strip etc and that there are no bubbles in the prism area.

you can test the sensor by using a spray bottle I believe and spraying water onto the sensor area while the I setting on the stalk but again i have no experience with this since my car had nothing previously and was retrofitted into my car.

[John in VA]

The previous owner had snipped the wires & removed the sensor, so I replaced it with the proper unit. Spraying the sensor area doesn't initiate the auto wipers. There is a local guy that can code the E-series, so I'll talk to him about it. Thanks!

[nextelbuddy]

The previous owner had snipped the wires & removed the sensor, so I replaced it with the proper unit. Spraying the sensor area doesn't initiate the auto wipers. There is a local guy that can code the E-series, so I'll talk to him about it. Thanks!

Lol really? Just not a care in the world and they snipped the wires sheesh.

Does your replacement sensor have the part#6 923 954?

Did you get the proper new plug with same color wires and rewire it back?

If yes and yes I then I agree to find somebody that has INPA that can connect to the RLS module specifically and read any codes stored in that module and then clear them and perform and initializilation.

[John in VA]

The aftermarket non-rain sensor windshield was appreciably cheaper for the previous owner, so why not put it in?! The distortion was so bad I thought I was wearing grandpa's glasses! I got the correct sensor & plug, so should be good when I get a chance to get together with the coder. Hopefully they'll know what to look for.