sweetpea Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Hi all, Had a jolly 'Up North' on Fri last week to collect something from a place called Blyth just north of Newcastle. Anyway... as you know it Pi**** it down all day and the motorway journey was very poor with visibilty down to approx 100 yds. It was whilst on the A1(M) that my wipers decided to stop!! yikes! Fortunately there was a parking area not too far in the distance so i managed to scramble into there...... quite a moment when visibilty is zero.... i had to drive with my head out of the window ... not to be recommended! I parked up for a couple of minutes and checked fuses etc... as you do, but could find nothing obvious. After a couple of minutes, the wipers started to work again of their own accord. It happened twice again after this but fortunately on minor roads, so not a problem. Thing is...... this has knocked my confidence on the motorway if raining, i keep thinking it could happen again, i was really lucky not to have been in the outside lane at the time! I have done a dig of digging on this and other forums and there is mention of the wiper motor overheating..... what do you think is this possible and if so, what can be done to check, or shall i just get it replaced anyway? Any thoughts of other possible causes? btw the wipers always parked in resting position never upright. Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMA 330 Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 yikes!! funny that ya had to stick ya head out the window but still... yikes! if in doubt m8 i would either take it to local stealers or just buy and replace the motors?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Were they in auto-mode or normal mode? If you rule out the rain sensor then it sounds more like a dodgy connection than a motor problem to me... the motors must be working to some extent in order to park the wipers, but possibly the signal from the wiper switch is getting lost. And as a back-up plan, use some rain-x on your windscreen... (or does polish work just as well? O_o) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBMW Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 one question m8 what setting did you have the wipers on? auto? or set momentum? If it was auto it could be your sensor going tats up..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattBMW Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 got beaten to it by barrie lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 As above - oh and rain x is well worth the money you will spend on it, although not sure on polish would prob avoid sticking this on windows. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cunni Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 As above - oh and rain x is well worth the money you will spend on it, although not sure on polish would prob avoid sticking this on windows. I've always had the same in the back of my mind after i eneded up with no working wipers on my old e36 beamer This is what i now do so i know that if it does rain you can still see quite well at 50/60mph. 1: Wash your windows with a spounge and fairy liquid, Press hard on the window it helps loads to remove the top layer of grime and also make sure you use a fair bit and try not to get any washing up liquid on the body workif you do just rinse it off before it drys as washing up liquid is acidic and brasive when rubbed upon something. 2: Get some Farecla G3 rubbin compound. After time you windows will go streaky, (happens to the rear window) and you get a like glazed effect on the window when wet. use the G3 with a spounge and be very harsh on the window with it. Make sure you use water with the Farecla G3 as it will be abrasive on the glass. This really does take the crap off it If you think Farecla G3 is to harsh for the window, use Farecla G10. (I've never had an issue with Farecla G3 though, G10 is a lighter grade rubbing compound) 4. Wash the window again with washing up liquid and water just to make sure there is no G3 left on the windows or car body. 5. Rain-x your windows, (I used halfords home brand its about £5 less and still just as good!) 6. Polish up the windows with Farecla Liquid Wax Polish. Jobs a good one, and the window looks as clean as ever! (Just need to clean the inside now as you will see all the dust and finger prints if you've ever touch the inside!) I do all the above on all my windows and i've gotta say if its raining i tend not to even use the wipers unless its really heavy as the rain just runs straight off. Hope that helps! - Dan. Edit: In regards to the PM I recieved, Yes this will even remove the streeky marks that your wipers leave on the edge of your windscreen... So you window will have no marks from where the wipers have been wiping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Will Lam Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 This have happened to me before in my vw bora.... and omg i nearly filled my Pants as i was on the outside lane of the A38! Turned out to be a faulty rain sensor. Will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteVR Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 This happens to mine in either mode. From a quick search around I think the main culprit is the relay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daz 330 Cs Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Were they in auto-mode or normal mode? If you rule out the rain sensor then it sounds more like a dodgy connection than a motor problem to me... the motors must be working to some extent in order to park the wipers, but possibly the signal from the wiper switch is getting lost. And as a back-up plan, use some rain-x on your windscreen... (or does polish work just as well? O_o) You can use AG Super resin polish on glass , it will repel water , but not as much as Rainx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 The relays are known to overheat if left on auto mode. You can either change the relay or leave it on normal operation, as this is supposed to help. Mine has done it once and scared the sh*t out of me BMW have redesigned iirc, so now they are ok Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Cheers guys i appreciate all your thoughts and suggestions In answer to some of them, the wipers were used on a mixture of settings, ie Permanently on or on auto.... so i think that rules out the rain sensor? I think to start with, i will replace the relay.. any ideas where it is located and where i can source one? Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Cheers guys i appreciate all your thoughts and suggestions In answer to sime of them, the wipers were used on a mixture of settings, ie permantely on or on auto.... so i think that rules out the rains sensor? I think to start with, i will replace the relay.. any ideas where it is located and where i can source one? Thanks Mike Dealer, but be warned they aint cheap iirc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Oh and engine bay http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?mo...hg=61&fg=25 This should help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Cheers Chris..... would i be correct in thinking the relay is located under the plastic cover at the RH rear of the engine beneath the windscreen ? Any idea of cost? Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 20, 2009 Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Now this is purely me remembering so probably wrong But i think it was £30 ish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea Posted July 20, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2009 Thanks.. thats not too bad..... even if just for peace of mind... i really could do without that happening again! Will speak with the stealers tomorrow Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sweetpea Posted July 22, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Dealer, but be warned they aint cheap iirc Called into the stealers... i was pleasantly surprised... £11 quid + vat for the relay Will give that a go, hopefully will do the trick. Will see Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted July 22, 2009 Report Share Posted July 22, 2009 Called into the stealers... i was pleasantly surprised... £11 quid + vat for the relay Will give that a go, hopefully will do the trick. Will see Mike My memory is spot on Well at least you got a nice surprise Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 The relays are known to overheat if left on auto mode. You can either change the relay or leave it on normal operation, as this is supposed to help. Mine has done it once and scared the sh*t out of me BMW have redesigned iirc, so now they are ok Crapola, this happened to me a few days ago... I do tend to leave it on auto... So the new relay is redesigned to avoid the problem? If so it's gotta be worth £11 or so... I made it to safe area and stuck my hazards on, only to get abused by some moron in a van because I wasn't supposed to "park" there... No **** Sherlock... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Crapola, this happened to me a few days ago... I do tend to leave it on auto... So the new relay is redesigned to avoid the problem? If so it's gotta be worth £11 or so... I made it to safe area and stuck my hazards on, only to get abused by some moron in a van because I wasn't supposed to "park" there... No **** Sherlock... Not sure if they redesigned it But they work a lot better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted February 28, 2010 Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 Just swapped mine... t'was a Siemens one that came out, and a Tyko(sp?) one that went in, same serial number etc., both have BMW label on them. Though interestingly, while looking to verify I was swapping the correct relay, I came across this :- http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=56744384 Where they seem to think the problem is something else... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris Posted February 28, 2010 Report Share Posted February 28, 2010 Just swapped mine... t'was a Siemens one that came out, and a Tyko(sp?) one that went in, same serial number etc., both have BMW label on them. Though interestingly, while looking to verify I was swapping the correct relay, I came across this :- http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=56744384 Where they seem to think the problem is something else... umm interesting. Seems like a common problem then, but mine seems ok since the new relay. And mine was a siemens one, but i put another siemens one back in. Reprogramming the ZME would be fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
