Here's a weird response for you. A work friend bought a Honda Euro and had, what sounds like, a similar problem. Honda ended up replacing the windscreen, claiming the screen glass was faulty.

I don't know where your from so hopefully these products will mean something to you.

You got to trust me on this one as it works.

Get a small sponge load it up with "Fairy Liquid" washing up liquid takes all the grime off the windscreen and wiper blades apply to windscreen remember don't miss any bits rinse the windscreen down dry the windscreen then get the "meths" out apply all over windscreen and the wiper blades dry windscreen with paper towels or newspaper whatever.

[QUOTE=burkleymh]Bosch Icons :thumbup: Only recommended for the front only(curved glass) - I have not figured out what to do with the rear wiper(flat glass) :dunno:[/QUOTE

I have the same pb, where can i buy these Bosch icons wipers?

I always wax my windshield when I wax my cars. Carnubawax is great, just wipe on a clean windshield and wha lah.

[quote=tijanaw]Tijinaw: AutoZone for sure...prob. PepBoys, Advance Auto Parts, et al. In metro DC there must be a half dozen, diff. chain auto parts joints.
BR,md

Fiona,
I don't think we have Fairy Liquid here in the colonies...
(then again, :rofl: )

Hiya Fiona (aka Scottie) and everyone else. Thanks for your tips on cleaning the glass and wipers. I am from NZ (New Zealand incase you haven't travelled or turned on the TV for 5 years) but originally was born in Aussie.

Yep - we have 'Fairy Liquid'. Its a beastly dish washing up product and I stopped using it years ago. But, I trust your advise.

I must admit I have never gone to the extremes as suggested in this thread. Polishing the glass using the cloth that was used to polish the car is good advice and one I have followed for many a year.

My X5 (or my wifes) was bought last year so that we could become a 1 car family. Its one-hell-of-a-ve-hicle and the envy of many of my friends.

Anyways, the X5s wipers do not wipe as they should and I will be taking the blades off this weekend to find out if they are old, dirty or whatever.

I posted the comment regarding the replacement windscreen (Honda not BMW) to see if any-one else has heard of this unusual event. 'Faulty glass' seems a stretch to me.

You will be hearing from me often. Firstly, I love X5 world as it has my juices going regarding car mods. Secondly, its just great to be able to diagnose problems without having to call on Jerry Clayton BMW who charge NZ$108 per hour.

cheers, Brett (aka Bart)

[QUOTE=motordavid]Thanks MD!:thumbup:

There are also minor niggles with the control arm which houses the wiper blade, these can be replaced or bent (literally by hand) to be slightly more concave, exerting greater force of the rubber blade and thus "fitting" the windscreen curvature better. My driverside blade tends to skip the last 1/5 th when returning downwards.

Cheers,

[/QUOTE
I have the same pb, where can i buy these Bosch icons wipers?[/QUOTE]

Autozone - you may have to ask for them as they may not display them with the regular wipers, at least that was my case. They work fantastic compared to OEM. Autozone even installed them for me, but I think this is more a case of where I live rather than company policy.