Problems with wipers..... 05 X5
 

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

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...

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 :)

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

is ur windshield clean? u should polish it

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.

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

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

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!

hektic

Normally a dirty windscreen will result
In a chatter or skipping not a complete loss of pressure of contact from the rubber element. My rear window was doing the same. Contact pressure only on outer edge. I removed the wiper arm and sprayed it with liquid wrench. Moved the hinge a few times and tension was not proper on the glass.

check the bolts at the motor leakage i'm sure that sucker is lose.

Aaahhh. Lemme guess - you have Bosch Icon (or similar one-piece) wiper blades, don't you...

That little plastic bit has to be pulled off any time you go to a one-piece wiper, as you've now found out.

Glad you got the problem sorted!

Ditto ..... just pull the plastic piece off and rotate it 180 degrees so it doesn't contact the blade and put it back on. Now you still have it in case you wish to go back to conventional blades.

Dam, I've been living with this for months and I finally had it... looked on this forum and BINGO you guys gave me the answer. Love this forum!!

Somebody post a pic I'm having this problem and its driving me crazy

Anybody?

do you break it off or is there a way to remove it

youre thinking too hard.. just break it off..

I wish the dealer still sold the inserts... I gotta find those mofos

What inserts

Thank you for this thread. I had this exact problem this morning with Bosch Icons.

I popped that off and the Bosch Icon now works correctly. Thank you.

fyi all. BMW no longer provides replacement inserts for any wiper arms. New front wiper assemblies will now cost you about $70. Feel free to complain to BMW 1-800-831-1117 and talk to customer relations. This is a ridiculous "baggage charge".

Thanks. My new Icons were doing this, gotta love the search function!

The search button and you guys are the best! I experienced this problem for weeks now with my driver side wiper not making contact with the middle of the glass. It was getting downright frustrating trying to figure the problem out. I sprayed the WD-40 and worked back and forth the arm but to no avail. Driving in snow and the salt spray from the road made it impossible to see and dangerous. I was about ready to replace the wiper arm. I searched and saw this post went to my truck on my lunch hour and popped the plastic tab off the Bosch comes with, and my wiper blade is now functional.

Thanks!!