Problems with wipers..... 05 X5

[RONBUTZJR]

I’m new here, so bare with me please. This site has been awesome in teaching me so much so far so here goes guys. I just bought my first X5 2 months ago, it’s 2005 X5 3.0i and I love it!!! When I bought it the driver’s side wiper was making a stuttering noise on the up-stroke and it also leaves a 4-6 inch un cleared section throughout the middle of the windshield on the down stroke. This happens on the driver side blade only, it wipes on the outer edges but not in the center. Is there a way to adjust the wiper and or a way to fix this problem? When I replaced the wiper blades I used a 24” driver, 22” passenger, and 18” rear blades…. Thank you for any help given.

[TwinTurboGTR]

So you replaced the blades and it still doesn't wipe correctly? Am I understanding that right?

[TerminatorX5]

there might not be enough pressure applied to the wiper arm - there should be a spring loaded at the base of the wiper arm, which could be rusted out, and the pivot point itself could be rusted, and might need to be "worked" out, like move it in-out-in-out (wiggle-wiggle-wiggle), and maybe apply some lubricant...

[RONBUTZJR]

Yes, I replaced the wipers. The new ones don't "stutter" but they still leave the same un cleared path right in line with my vision ! And of course it was raining just now as I drive home from work !!! Never fails

[TwinTurboGTR]

I concur. When you lift the wiper arm, is there alot of resistance? The picot point on the base may be rusted and causing the arm to not fully apply pressure on the glass

[Gurjit]

is ur windshield clean? u should polish it

[TwinTurboGTR]

OP's problem doesn't seem like a windscreen issue, but a pressure issue. But WTH! It doesn't hurt. You can go to the store and pick up a can of Bon Ami Powder Cleanser. This will take a lot of the residue and waxes off the glass.

[Gurjit]

u never know, using crappy wipers that leave a streak can leave everything on the windshield and it just rezzs on with the heat and over time

[RONBUTZJR]

Window is definitly clean, and new wipers are a good quality wiper blades..... I'm stumped guys !!

[Bayerische E53]

Like someone else said, you likely have a wiper pressure problem. If you look on the backside of the wiper arm itself you will see a spring. These springs tend to rust out pretty badly. The springs in my X5's wiper arms are destroyed - and she's spent her whole life in the southeast. Being that you are in the northeast, with your salty winter roads, etc., rusty springs may very likely be your problem. I'd take the wiper arm off and try to stretch and clean the spring out (some of the coils may be rusted together/apart, not allowing them to expand/contract - if rusted apart, forget it, you'll need a new arm). If that doesn't fix your problem you'll likely have to buy a new wiper arm. If you have to buy a new wiper arm, I'd probably go ahead and replace the other too. Whichever route you go, spray some lithium grease on the clean spring every once in a while and work it in with your hands. This will prevent it from rusting too quickly. I'd do this about once a month during the winter months and only once at the beginning of the spring when the snow clears (which should hold it over fine until the following winter).

Good luck!