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>* apparently the automatic rain sensor doesn't work/exist (I think that's always been true; I just learned about it) My Dec 2016 Model S has a "working" autom

>* apparently the automatic rain sensor doesn't work/exist (I think that's always been true; I just learned about it) My Dec 2016 Model S has a "working" automatic rain sensor, it's just not as good as others I've seen. My '04 Audi A8 had a sensor so good that the first time it turned on I didn't know why, but then as I drove under some street lights I realized it had detected some really fine mist. On the other hand, part of the reason I switched from the Audi to the Tesla was that I had $10k in broken "toys" on the Audi (1 of 2 bluetooth radios, 2 doorhandle auto unlockers, leak in the air suspension, steering wheel adjustment motor, etc), and part of what I wanted in the Tesla was something less expensive maintenance wise. So making more do less (using the cameras for auto wipers) makes sense.

throwaway23305 3y ago
My '13 Audi has significant problems with the rain sensor. It turns on when it shouldn't, doesn't turn off when it should, and when I first start the car and it's already raining I have to turn the wipers off and on. The best rain sensor I had was in my old Ford Mondeo '04.
nikau 3y ago
Likelihood of air suspension failure approaches 100% regardless of brand. I'd suspect the number of traditional rain sensor failures can probably be counted on one hand. Tesla replace robust almost zero failure rate parts for cost only.
- linsomniac 3y ago
  Sure, the rain sensor might have near zero failures. I would think the rain sensor probably has failure rates on the order of bluetooth radio failure rates, but I had one of those fail. But what has truly 0 failures is to eliminate the rain sensor entirely. More importantly though, the rain sensor is just one of many, many toys the Audi had. Failure rates are multiplicative, so if you can remove 50% of your parts, you eliminate a lot of points of failure, plus a ton of extra wiring and electrical problems, plus the whole problem of integration.
  - IshKebab 3y ago
    > But what has truly 0 failures is to eliminate the rain sensor entirely. Only if you define "failure" as stops working. If you define it as not working, then it gives you a 100% failure rate.

throwaway23305 3y ago

My '13 Audi has significant problems with the rain sensor. It turns on when it shouldn't, doesn't turn off when it should, and when I first start the car and it's already raining I have to turn the wipers off and on. The best rain sensor I had was in my old Ford Mondeo '04.

nikau 3y ago

Likelihood of air suspension failure approaches 100% regardless of brand. I'd suspect the number of traditional rain sensor failures can probably be counted on one hand. Tesla replace robust almost zero failure rate parts for cost only.

linsomniac 3y ago
Sure, the rain sensor might have near zero failures. I would think the rain sensor probably has failure rates on the order of bluetooth radio failure rates, but I had one of those fail. But what has truly 0 failures is to eliminate the rain sensor entirely. More importantly though, the rain sensor is just one of many, many toys the Audi had. Failure rates are multiplicative, so if you can remove 50% of your parts, you eliminate a lot of points of failure, plus a ton of extra wiring and electrical problems, plus the whole problem of integration.
- IshKebab 3y ago
  > But what has truly 0 failures is to eliminate the rain sensor entirely. Only if you define "failure" as stops working. If you define it as not working, then it gives you a 100% failure rate.