Windscreen wiper fail.

[lynx_10]

I have a BMW E46 on a T plate. My wipers have just stopped working but the water jets work fine. I have looked at the fuse box and the only thing I can see that is close to the wiper fuse is the "Washer System" nothing else says anything about windscreen wipers. Does the wiper blade fuse come under the "Washer System" ?

[peaktorque]

Not sure, but has it blown? I would imagine it would be the same thing.

[lynx_10]

It was showing three different fuses and all are ok. My first thoughts are that the motor has gone, but if the motor has gone would it not blow the fuse as well?

[peaktorque]

If you listen carefully can you hear the motor? There could be a couple of other things worth checking.

With the wipers tuned on have you tried manually moving them? The motor or mechanism may have seized. (you would have noticed this problem occuring slowly though). Can't remember on the E46 but can you touch the wiper motor to see if it is getting hot when switched on for a bit? (this will help to prove whether it is getting power or not)

If you can hear the motor running (try with engine off ignition on) then one of the wiper arm linkages may have failed.

Just a couple of ideas !

[dave_s13]

Most common casue of wiper failure in a BMW (AFAIK) is the realy going pop.
Happened on my e39. Jets worked fine, just no wipe.

They're about a tenner from BMW.

[lynx_10]

Thanks for the replys,
The wipers are now working but i'm getting a burning smell in the car, so I think its going to be a new motor.

[lynx_10]

I have just run the wipers for about five mins and they seem to be working fine. If BMW plugged there laptop in to the On board computer system would they be able to trace a fault if there was one? Would a light come up on the dash also?

[daver]

I've had this.

You get in your car one day and the wipers don't want to play ball. You've generally found this out because it's already raining. You make other arrangements for your day and also arrangements to get the wipers sorted on another day. That day comes, you hop in and give the stalk a tweak just to check.... and they work perfectly.

It's like the relay sticks and then somehow unsticks or something. I've tried GSF and Eurocarparts websites for spare relays but they don't seem to carry them.

What we need now is blackspider to come along and sort us all out as usual!

[rlk500]

Me too (e46 Tourer). Had the relay replaced under warranty, problem sorted. However, the problem has re-occurred since and disappeared as quickly as it re-appeared. Pretty annoying though. One of the things that boils my Pee about BMW, I don't really care if the new M3 makes a gazillion bhp and has two dozen computers to monitor the tyre pressures or whatever, but I do care if the wipers don't work........

[n3il123]

I have had this too on my e39.. raining really hard so full wipers on... rain eases off, turn to rain sensing... over take a truck with loads of spray wipers stop working, unsighted outside lane of a busy dark dual carriage way... marvellous. Try turning back to fast, super fast or manual nothing. Manage to stop in layby, wait 3/4 hour suddenly start working again.

This has happened twice taken it into dealer, nothing wrong with it sir... well there ing is... its trying to kill me... so if anyone has any ideas on this then I would be more than happy to listen!

[dave_s13]

n3il123 said:

I have had this too on my e39.. raining really hard so full wipers on... rain eases off, turn to rain sensing... over take a truck with loads of spray wipers stop working, unsighted outside lane of a busy dark dual carriage way... marvellous. Try turning back to fast, super fast or manual nothing. Manage to stop in layby, wait 3/4 hour suddenly start working again.

This has happened twice taken it into dealer, nothing wrong with it sir... well there ing is... its trying to kill me... so if anyone has any ideas on this then I would be more than happy to listen!

It's the relay....no question.

[peaktorque]

dave_s13 said:

n3il123 said:

I have had this too on my e39.. raining really hard so full wipers on... rain eases off, turn to rain sensing... over take a truck with loads of spray wipers stop working, unsighted outside lane of a busy dark dual carriage way... marvellous. Try turning back to fast, super fast or manual nothing. Manage to stop in layby, wait 3/4 hour suddenly start working again.

This has happened twice taken it into dealer, nothing wrong with it sir... well there ing is... its trying to kill me... so if anyone has any ideas on this then I would be more than happy to listen!

It's the relay....no question.

I agree