Rear window wiper gearbox destroyed

[nrgetic99]

Really odd issue. Noticed my rear wiper hanging 4" below glass on paint. Was working fine when vehicle parked and had sat in public lot at condos for 2 days. Replaced it on glass, cycled it and it still dropped low onto paint each wipe.

Took trim off inside tailgate and found when I moved blade down into the low position, entire front of the gear box (piece that turns rotary motion 90* and into cyclic motion) casing is cracked and the cover plate is coming off with several of the small retaining screws for cover loose due to stripped threads. On outside, paint damage from wiper blade may buff out but two deepish scratches.

It is of course no use and you cannot buy just gearbox, you must be assy ncluding motor which is fine. From BMW it is $313 but the same Valeo part number can be had for $179 at other sources.

My assumption here is something or someone forced it down past its lower limit of travel causing the damage. Anyone had a similar failure ?

Thanks

David