Member
So moving my wifes car from one place to the other...I pushed down on the switch and it didn't swipe, I thought maybe I didn't push hard enough. I lifted the switch and it was working just fine on the normal speed....drove about 100 feet and they stopped in the middle of the windshield! I moved the switch all the way up then down and they restarted! If it isn't one thing it's another! The car is a 2003 530I with 118k miles.
Any ideas where to start looking for problems? Switch? Motor? Relay? Hate to let my wife drive it and have the wipers quit while it is pouring down rain.
aka dkhead
Check the screw under the cables that move the wiper
E90 335i
On3 Performance top mount single turbo kit, Precision 6466 Turbo, ECS Tuning charge pipe, 7in FMIC, JB4 w/ MHD backend flash, Stage 3 fuel pump, Port injection, E85, some wheels that came w the car but are thick
E39 540i (SOLD)
6 spd swap, "Almost Nardo" Vinyl Wrap, JB Racing LTW flywheel, M5 clutch & control, BC Racingcoilovers, cat back straight pipe, E60 SSK, ZHP shift knob, hard wired aux, Style 32 17", BFG G-force Sport Comp-2 tires, shadow-line trim, reenforced differential bushing, ATE Type 200, Hawk HP Plus pads, intake res delete, 10W40 M1, trans fill 50/50 Redline MT-90 & 75w90NS, solid shifter carrier bushing, pixel fix, red needles
Member
Where is the screw?
aka dkhead
Under the covers at the base of the wipers. You can search a DIY on it to find how to pull the covers. Took me 10 min.
E90 335i
On3 Performance top mount single turbo kit, Precision 6466 Turbo, ECS Tuning charge pipe, 7in FMIC, JB4 w/ MHD backend flash, Stage 3 fuel pump, Port injection, E85, some wheels that came w the car but are thick
E39 540i (SOLD)
6 spd swap, "Almost Nardo" Vinyl Wrap, JB Racing LTW flywheel, M5 clutch & control, BC Racingcoilovers, cat back straight pipe, E60 SSK, ZHP shift knob, hard wired aux, Style 32 17", BFG G-force Sport Comp-2 tires, shadow-line trim, reenforced differential bushing, ATE Type 200, Hawk HP Plus pads, intake res delete, 10W40 M1, trans fill 50/50 Redline MT-90 & 75w90NS, solid shifter carrier bushing, pixel fix, red needles
Dismembered
I think the problem is in the switch. Check the harness connection, if that doesn't do it, swap it out. Good time to apply Rain X on the windshield if you don't normally use the stuff, at least until you figure out the problem.
Set the controls for the heart of the sun
Member
Will I need to remove the steering wheel to replace the switch?
Artifically Aspirated
Moderator
No, move the wheel out all the way, then down. Take the top and bottom covers off behind the wheel. That gives you access to everything. It could also be the relay in the DME box.Originally Posted by 4ofus
Member
Where is the DME box? 2003 530i
Member
On my 2001 525 ive replaced everything except the switch and it still does this. So much so that ive gotten scared of using it on auto and flick the switch every time i need them. Guess it could be the switch. However, i noticed a huge improvement when i got a new battery.
BMW CCA 69606
I had this problem on my E34. Turned out there is a sliding contact inside the wiper motor/gear box assembly. This switch shuts the power off at the appropriate time so wipers park in the proper position. This contact got fouled with gear grease. Cleaning restored normal operation. It seems that in intermittent/rain sense mode, the wiper gets a momentary pulse to start the wipe, and then relies on the park position switch to stop the wipers in the park position. In continuous mode the wiper gets a continuous 12v so this issue doesn't occur. E39 may or may not be similar.
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