Broken Windscreen Wiper

Zeld4 · Post by **Zeld4** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:59 am

So, driving to Gateshead from High Wycombe this morning, suddenly the drivers side wiper sort of flops to the side, no movement. It still looks attached normally but it just floppy, while the other one you can’t move about.

Any ideas anyone what the hell has happened?

Crazy Harry · Post by **Crazy Harry** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:06 am

I know the description makes total sense to you but .. Is this when you are driving? with wipers switched on or off?

Do you mean the arm connection or the blade? - can you post us some photos?

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:12 am

Linkage probably seized and popped the ball joint off. If you take the scuttle cover off all will be revealed. Unfortunately because the linkages are fairly well hidden they get a bit neglected when it comes to lubrication / greasing.

This thread should sort you out... viewtopic.php?t=16915

You'll probably need one of these... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E ... XQ1d1TIcx3

..and maybe one of these to help you get the wiper arms off which can be a bit of a bitch... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Term ... xypNtSj6Y7

bowler · Post by **bowler** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:19 am

If its the spindle and ball coupling, instead of replacing at around £300 drill through the pivot and put a split pin through. Worked for me cost 99p and i still have 9 split pins left. Alternatively there are clips sold on EBay for not a lot of money that will hold the ball joint in place.

Zeld4 · Post by **Zeld4** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 12:08 pm

Crazy Harry wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:06 am I know the description makes total sense to you but .. Is this when you are driving? with wipers switched on or off?

Do you mean the arm connection or the blade? - can you post us some photos?

Yes I mean the arm, it’s nit moving and just blowing around in the wind

Zeld4 · Post by **Zeld4** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 12:49 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:12 am Linkage probably seized and popped the ball joint off. If you take the scuttle cover off all will be revealed. Unfortunately because the linkages are fairly well hidden they get a bit neglected when it comes to lubrication / greasing.

This thread should sort you out... viewtopic.php?t=16915

You'll probably need one of these... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Z4-E85-E ... XQ1d1TIcx3

..and maybe one of these to help you get the wiper arms off which can be a bit of a bitch... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Battery-Term ... xypNtSj6Y7

Thanks for all of that, just took it to halford and the nice bloke put the leaver back on the ball joint, so all ok for the moment

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 1:12 pm

If it's popped off once it's probably worn so will pop off again until you buy one of those clips or use the split pin technique posted above.

Zeld4 · Post by **Zeld4** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 9:39 pm

bowler wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2017 11:19 am If its the spindle and ball coupling, instead of replacing at around £300 drill through the pivot and put a split pin through. Worked for me cost 99p and i still have 9 split pins left. Alternatively there are clips sold on EBay for not a lot of money that will hold the ball joint in place.

Thanks for your reply, with these clips is there no need to drill?

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 9:51 pm

Don't need to drill with the clips.

RickRob · Post by **RickRob** » Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:12 pm

I am writing in my capacity as the Forum member least likely to fix anything, but I fixed the wiper on the driver's side with one of the clips I got from eBay - link in above post.

Much to my astonishment several months on from doing the fix it all still works!

If I can do that, then anyone can.

Zeld4 · Post by **Zeld4** » Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:43 am

RickRob wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:12 pm I am writing in my capacity as the Forum member least likely to fix anything, but I fixed the wiper on the driver's side with one of the clips I got from eBay - link in above post.

Much to my astonishment several months on from doing the fix it all still works!

If I can do that, then anyone can.

Thanks for that RickRob, did you have to remove the wipers at all, or is it just a case of getting under the scuttle to attach the clip?

RickRob · Post by **RickRob** » Sat Nov 04, 2017 12:27 pm

Zeld4 wrote: ↑Sat Nov 04, 2017 11:43 am
RickRob wrote: ↑Thu Nov 02, 2017 10:12 pm I am writing in my capacity as the Forum member least likely to fix anything, but I fixed the wiper on the driver's side with one of the clips I got from eBay - link in above post.

Much to my astonishment several months on from doing the fix it all still works!

If I can do that, then anyone can.
Thanks for that RickRob, did you have to remove the wipers at all, or is it just a case of getting under the scuttle to attach the clip?

I removed the wiper off its spline and then had to remove the cross strut and the diagonal brace in order to get at the screws that hold the scuttle in place. Fortunately the wiper was not too tight on the spline, but I have read that can be a problem and you need some kind of puller thing. I don't think that you can get the clip on without the scuttle raised.

My biggest challenge was that the picture I was looking at had the whole thing upside down. Once I turned the clip over it was less than 10 minutes to get it all back together! Regrettably I didn't take any pics, proabably because I was none too confident of actually completing the job! But I was mighty proud when it was done.

Good luck!

flight174z · Post by **flight174z** » Fri Feb 23, 2018 6:14 pm

If anyone wants a real bodge for this zip tie it - I did mine today after it went a second time

upload multiple pics

Ricky132009 · Post by **Ricky132009** » Fri Mar 09, 2018 10:00 am

Mine ball and joint just popped out and I bought the clips. Fixed.

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