windscreen wiper issue - help needed!

[Paul in NZ]

i reckon my psgr wiper arm has a 6mm v in it...my drivers arm doesnt hit the hood just overwioes a bit(and the adv sounds sick when disengaging)

[632 Regal]

gen, not to sound retarded but did you go to the sticky that says search? I know there were a few threads on some bushing or crap a long time ago that causes this problem. I mean I'm sure BMW didnt just overlook a 45,000 car where a wiper simply "hits" the hood and blew it off. It might have been in the old forum thats why the sticky is there, it searches everything.

[genphreak]

gen, not to sound retarded but did you go to the sticky that says search? I know there were a few threads on some bushing or crap a long time ago that causes this problem. I mean I'm sure BMW didnt just overlook a 45,000 car where a wiper simply "hits" the hood and blew it off. It might have been in the old forum thats why the sticky is there, it searches everything.

Hi Jeff, thanks for your continued attention and help with this. It is something we really need to address so perhaps I will do a write up with pics and suggestions. Yes, I have searched, several times- a wide search like wiper bush, wiper bushing and so on... (accross all forums) going real wide and searching for just wiper I found this again

My car has the same fault and is due to the wiper spindle bearings wearing out. This allows the wiper arm to go a little off course and therefore clips the bonnet edge. The problem is worse on the fast setting - it really makes a racket! I have just bought another wiper mechanism from a breaker (with good bearings) and have just got to figure out how to get enough access to fit the damn thing

but looking closely at mine this doesn't make sense (there's no play/movement in the mecho at all). Also, I found Dan's post

It's likely to be a combination of all the above issues, but if you're like me and don't want to raise the resting position of the wiper arm, there is another solution. Open the hood and look at the wiper arm. Between the sheetmetal and the underneath bit of the wiper there is a spongey washer, the washer compresses, goes brittle and breaks after many years, this causes the wiper to stick up a little bit more. If you can replace this washer, the wiper will sit a few mm closer to the glass, and not touch the hood so much

and I can't see where this applies on my car either, however 525s do not have the Pressure Device so perhaps they are a tad different anyway... Also found plenty of peeps with big chunks taken out of their wiper arms, so perhaps that is going to be the fix in my case also...

I only persist because like you I cannot fathom how BMW could have got these setup screwed up so badly the first place. It makes me wonder whether they had any recalls or known procedures to follow during dealer servicing. Nick

[Paul in NZ]

i too remember nick that there was discussion re this washer that Dan alludes too.Surely with so much talk about it there must be a proper BMW fix

[genphreak]

i too remember nick that there was discussion re this washer that Dan alludes too.Surely with so much talk about it there must be a proper BMW fix

Yea tell me about it Paul, I've been looking for ages! At least my setup is usable again, but I really want it fixed right... Nick

[Yorkie]

I believe you are having problems as i am with my E36. I have a link to a technical page which may help with the bonnet wiper arm issues. Even tho its for the E36 it may halp you guys out.
www.e36coupe.com and select the technical page and you will find an article about the wiper arm problem. Good luck!

[genphreak]

I believe you are having problems as i am with my E36. I have a link to a technical page which may help with the bonnet wiper arm issues. Even tho its for the E36 it may halp you guys out.
www.e36coupe.com and select the technical page and you will find an article about the wiper arm problem. Good luck!

Thanks Yorkie, I checked it out but the pdf is not too specific about the descriptions and there are no pics. Has anyone seen this washer? It is not described in the ETK for e34, perhaps it is not applicable to e34.

Update; I have fixed my problem completely:

The wiper arm had been bent by the pressure device overloading it. I fixed the pressure device (details are on the forum) and then bent the arm back into place. It works a treat, but I had to sand the arm and polish it up and repaint. No problems now. Also, the bonnet postion was adjusted (up by raising the guide rails/lock assy) and more forward by adjusting the bonnet catch- it is a most critical thing. After that clearance galore and no more bash.

nick

[joshua43214]

lol, so odd to see so man posts on this issue of wipers hitting the hood. The cast aluminum portion of the arm bends over time.

I have repaired dozens of them with a hammer. Just remove the arm from the car, lay a piece of sheet metal on a brick or the floor. Gently drop a top maul (one of those mini sledge hammers) repeatedly on the bowed part of the arm from a hight of amout 1 inch. takes a few minutes, but I have yet to break one straightening it out. The sheetmetal is to protect the arm from being marred by the concrete

Repaint and adjust the wiper stuff as normal.

[genphreak]

lol, so odd to see so man posts on this issue of wipers hitting the hood. The cast aluminum portion of the arm bends over time.

I have repaired dozens of them with a hammer. Just remove the arm from the car, lay a piece of sheet metal on a brick or the floor. Gently drop a top maul (one of those mini sledge hammers) repeatedly on the bowed part of the arm from a hight of amout 1 inch. takes a few minutes, but I have yet to break one straightening it out. The sheetmetal is to protect the arm from being marred by the concrete

Repaint and adjust the wiper stuff as normal.

Yep I am glad to hear mine is not an odd one out. Being aluminium it has to react to the load over time and changes in temp. It was only when I worked out what the pressure device was all about that any of it made sense!

I bent mine back bit by bit with a large shifting spanner and a rag to protect the arm's surface- but that fix sounds a treat, Joshua.

I can tell you that from an owners perspective, it would help to alleviate some of the pent-up stress from troubleshooting the wretched pressure device and for putting up with bonnet bash and replacing wiper motors in the first place!!!

[kbchia]

inserted between the spindle and the bodywork works for me. It has been four years since and it still works like a charm. There is no need to adjust the bonnet at all. There is a similar bush on the other side too.

kbchia

Yep I am glad to hear mine is not an odd one out. Being aluminium it has to react to the load over time and changes in temp. It was only when I worked out what the pressure device was all about that any of it made sense!

I bent mine back bit by bit with a large shifting spanner and a rag to protect the arm's surface- but that fix sounds a treat, Joshua.

I can tell you that from an owners perspective, it would help to alleviate some of the pent-up stress from troubleshooting the wretched pressure device and for putting up with bonnet bash and replacing wiper motors in the first place!!!