Wiper mech centre linkage. Nut missing? +water ingress. Edit, fixed.

Chris_D · Mar 6, 2020

Started the weekend jobs this aft and thought I’d get the front scuttle off to see how much crud has built up under there. I’ve got water leaking into the cabin and pooling under the pax seat and have replaced the door membranes but still have water coming in.

So the wiper arms came off with the aid of a pull tool and a huge ‘snap’, even after dousing in wd40 and leaving for half an hour.
Scuttle came off easily enough and sure enough there was a buildup of detritus which may have been diverting water in somehow.

However ai noticed something weird- the centre lnkage doesnt have any form of retaining nut or cap on it. On closer inspection the shininess and shape of the end of the bolt suggests something might have snapped off, maybe when removing the wiper arms. It certainly looks like the pax side link could pop off any moment!

Should it have a cap or nut on the end of it?

colb · Mar 6, 2020

Clip missing, get a new one on ebay here https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2075389334
Might find the original solid cap amongst the leaves in the scuttle, doubt it will be usable if you do find it.

Chris_D · Mar 6, 2020

colb said:
Clip missing, get a new one on ebay here https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/2075389334
Might find the original solid cap amongst the leaves in the scuttle, doubt it will be usable if you do find it.

Drat!
You think the solid cap thing is the little white thing in the photo?
I think it's long gone. :/

colb · Mar 6, 2020

If its a metal cap then likely to be the missing cap
oem parets diagram here, its not listed as an available part, get the ebay clip, its an improvement on the standard bit and will stay on.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT32-EUR-07-2003-E85-BMW-Z4_25i&diagId=61_1600

Chris_D · Mar 6, 2020

colb said:
If its a metal cap then likely to be the missing cap
oem parets diagram here, its not listed as an available part, get the ebay clip, its an improvement on the standard bit and will stay on.
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BT32-EUR-07-2003-E85-BMW-Z4_25i&diagId=61_1600

Thanks.
Sadly ebay isn't an option for me anymore. I got kicked off a few weeks ago for some unknown reason. drrrp
:headbang:

colb · Mar 6, 2020

As an after thought whilst you have the scuttle cover off undo the wiper unit mounting bolts and lift the unit out of the car remembering to disconnect the electrical plug. Turn the unit over and undo the six bolts holding the inspection plate on to reveal the large electrical contact plate inside. It will be coated in grease that migrates across it and causes wiper parking position to stop in the wrong position. Clean the grease off the contact plate with some electrical contact cleaner. You might want to put a dab of fresh grease on the drive gear that you can see with the cover plate off, do not over grease it a dab will do. Put it all back together and your wipers will stop in the correct position.
Top tip before taking the actual wiper blades and arms off mark their parked position with some tape on the windscreen, makes it easier when you put them back on.

colb · Mar 6, 2020

Alternative to ebay here https://www.askthemechanic.co.uk/shop/windscreen-wiper-linkage-repair-kits/132-wiper-linkage-repair-clip-atm-z-0744881753814.html

Chris_D · Mar 6, 2020

colb said:
As an after thought whilst you have the scuttle cover off undo the wiper unit mounting bolts and lift the unit out of the car remembering to disconnect the electrical plug. Turn the unit over and undo the six bolts holding the inspection plate on to reveal the large electrical contact plate inside. It will be coated in grease that migrates across it and causes wiper parking position to stop in the wrong position. Clean the grease off the contact plate with some electrical contact cleaner. You might want to put a dab of fresh grease on the drive gear that you can see with the cover plate off, do not over grease it a dab will do. Put it all back together and your wipers will stop in the correct position.
Top tip before taking the actual wiper blades and arms off mark their parked position with some tape on the windscreen, makes it easier when you put them back on.

Yeah. Many thanks for the tips. Labels are on the windscreen and wipers and the can of contact spray is waiting to be squirted. I'm also going to use a squirt of PRF 7-78 on the contact plate. Just hoping the rain holds off tomorrow.

Thx for the ebay alternative link!

Chris_D · Mar 8, 2020

colb said:
Alternative to ebay here https://www.askthemechanic.co.uk/shop/windscreen-wiper-linkage-repair-kits/132-wiper-linkage-repair-clip-atm-z-0744881753814.html

Colb, while I'm waiting for the clips (I got 2 just in case) to arrive, can you clarify the bolts/fasteners to release as follows:
2 and 3 I suspect can remain in place(?)

Anything more required? There's what looks to be a white plastic locator (9) below the motor housing. Does this come off or do I need to wiggle the mech out of this?

Vanne · Mar 9, 2020

Carefull with that white plastic clip.. #9 breaks easily. Is that an OEM part number for the Z4? I've never seen that clip. Pretty sure there isn't supposed to be a clip on there. But probably cheaper than replacing the whole assembly

either way. Pull on it, I bet it's sold as and won't come off either way, with or without clip. I've tried. Had to get the grinder out to get it off in the end.

Chris_D · Mar 9, 2020

Vanne said:
Carefull with that white plastic clip.. #9 breaks easily. Is that an OEM part number for the Z4? I've never seen that clip. Pretty sure there isn't supposed to be a clip on there. But probably cheaper than replacing the whole assembly either way. Pull on it, I bet it's sold as and won't come off either way, with or without clip. I've tried. Had to get the grinder out to get it off in the end.

Th clip at the centre linkage pivot point you mean?
The small white bit that ended up in the driver side scuttle well was tossed as I thought it was a stone which had kicked up from the road or something.
Now I look back at the photos it looks like it might have broken off that centre linkage point, also due to the fact that the metal at that point looked so shiny. (New break)

I tried yanking on it but it does seem pretty secure. I also operated the mech but without the wipers and it seems ok. May be a different case with the load of the wipers and traversing a bump perhaps.
I have some anchoring clips on order in any case but if I can’t free the whole mech I might leave it alone.

colb · Mar 9, 2020

Just two bolts hold the entire unit to the car not those 4 bolts in your picture should be obvious which two are fixing it to the car, undo and lift entire unit motor and linkages off the car disconnect the wiring first. Once out turn ot over and take 6 cover bolts off to get inside to clean the grease off the contact plate 1 and 8 should be the ones that holdit to the car looking at your pics

Chris_D · Mar 9, 2020

colb said:
Just two bolts hold the entire unit to the car not those 4 bolts in your picture should be obvious which two are fixing it to the car, undo and lift entire unit motor and linkages off the car disconnect the wiring first. Once out turn ot over and take 6 cover bolts off to get inside to clean the grease off the contact plate

Reet thx. looks like that white clip is acting as a central anchor point of sorts too?

colb · Mar 9, 2020

True that has to be undone be careful with that one dont break it mine vame off ok and refotted ok

colb · Mar 9, 2020

Excuse typing on phone with fat fingers on holiday in Spain

colb · Mar 9, 2020

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/showparts?id=BT32-EUR-07-2003-E85-BMW-Z4_25i&diagId=61_1600
Oem parts picture bolt either end and clip in middle

Chris_D · Mar 10, 2020

colb said:
https://www.realoem.com/bmw/en/showparts?id=BT32-EUR-07-2003-E85-BMW-Z4_25i&diagId=61_1600
Oem parts picture bolt either end and clip in middle

Will have a crack at it at the weekend.
Thx

Chris_D · Apr 8, 2020

So, in an attempt to avoid forum sniping and resuming this little job I managed to get it sorted at last.

Sure enough, the contact plate was fouled with grease,

as were the contacts.

Quick squirt of contact cleaner and a wipe down

A dab of Juicelubes bearing grease on the wormgear, then re-assembly

Stops in exactly the same spot every time now. Job's a goodun.
Thanks to all who offered advice.

Chris_D · Apr 21, 2020

2 birds one stone... weatherproofed/leakproofed the front scuttle with a bit of strategically-placed weatherstrip and also decided to try out a tip I’ve seen a few times on Youface and recondition it with a mix of 50/50 furniture oil and baby oil.

Looks a lot better than the faded mess it was but smells like a cheap hooker at a massage parlour.

:lol:

Mr Tidy · Apr 21, 2020

Chris_D said:
2 birds one stone... weatherproofed/leakproofed the front scuttle with a bit of strategically-placed weatherstrip and also decided to try out a tip I’ve seen a few times on Youface and recondition it with a mix of 50/50 furniture oil and baby oil.

Looks a lot better than the faded mess it was but smells like a cheap hooker at a massage parlour.

That has come out really well - very useful tip.

Looks like I'll be buying some oil next time I go shopping!

Wiper mech centre linkage. Nut missing? +water ingress. Edit, fixed.

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