WHY BMW STOPPED MAKING HEADLIGHT WIPERS!!!-JOB COMPLETE

[irish-e30]

I have an E30 325sport. I wanted the headlight wipers working and so startted a project on it. After days of hammering out the shaft which was ceased onto the housing i got both working. when i put on the headlight wiper itself one stopped working. the other was working fine. I since replaced this broken one with one from ebay, when i hooked it up it was working, then the other stopped working (the one that originally worked), when i connected the two together now neither works!! What a load of bullshit in fairness. I doubt its the relay as both worked seperately, and both worked together when i got the new one, however when i placed the wiper itself on the left one it stopped and with it so did the one i just ordered......pissed off with the whole thing now...!

I wondered why they stopped making these things they are about the most f-in figgety things ive ever come across in my car days! Pile of crap and fed up!!

[stuartgallafant]

thats why they stopped! because they're crap!!

[irish-e30]

definitely

[Speedtouch]

They look cool though IMHO, though do hinder car washing somewhat. Mine still work OK ('88 325iSE) though one has admittedly packed up on my '87 320iSE, as did one on my previous '84 320i -and yes, they are a complete b'stard to repair In an attempt to keep my 325i's working I check their operation fortnightly and have sprayed a Teflon-based cycle oil onto the front of the mechanism.

[irish-e30]

Why the hell does one stop working just when i get the other one that wasnt previously working repaired. its like they talk to each other or somethin i just dont get it im completely pissed off on this one, got me totally on a downer!

[keith52]

ibeleieve a volvo 340 has the same wiper motors fitted and which are more reliable because they are better protected from the elements

[e30bemer]

They are crap!

Maybe just wire up a washer jet, to clean them???

like on most modern cars!

Could be worth a go!!

[E30Adam]

Why bother at all, does anyone let their car get that dirty that the headlight brightness is hindered.

I haven't washed my runabout since the day I bought it and I blast it about offroad for a laugh and I wouldn't say the headlight brightness in hindered in any way.

It's just a useless gadget.

I became anal about getting everything on my sport working so spent a lot of time and money trying to get the bloody things working before I realised what a total waste they were because the car got washed a couple of times a week anyway so off they came.

[gareth]

It's just a useless gadget.

agreed! they also look crap and clutter the front up.

mine want in the bin along with the level adjusters!

[daimlerman]

How are the headlight wipers switched?My 320ise has them but I have no idea if they work or not!!

[Brianmoooore]

Nothing wrong with the design of E30 headlamp wipers at all! They've been sitting there in the full blast of the weather for the best part of twenty years for God's sake. Do you think any other manufactuer could come up with something that could last this long??
Once stripped, cleaned and reassembled (easy job once you've unseized the shaft), they will be good for another ten years at least, and are very effective at cleaning the lamps.
I've repaired loads of them, and have only found one that was beyond repair, simply because the steel shell of the motor had rusted away.
All the others I've repaired are still working fine as far as I know. Certainly all the ones on my own cars are.
They are controlled by the normal screen washers.
They should work every fifth (some say sixth) time that the washers are used with the lights on. Once triggered they should each wipe several times, controlled by an internal switch mechanism. The right (?) hand motor has an extra terminal connected to another internal switch that controls the headlamp washer pump.

[gareth]

i agree they do last well but they are mainly pointless in the uk and once broken, i'd rather simplify things and remove them. they do still look naff!

[Brianmoooore]

i agree they do last well but they are mainly pointless in the uk . they do still look naff!

I find they can dramatically increase the headlamp output after following traffic on the muddy roads around here, and I think they complement the front end appearance of an E30 greatly.

[march109]

I think they add unnecessary weight - but thats just me!

[gareth]

i agree they do last well but they are mainly pointless in the uk . they do still look naff!

I find they can dramatically increase the headlamp output after following traffic on the muddy roads around here, and I think they complement the front end appearance of an E30 greatly.

i only ever get a noticable reduction in headlight output when driving distances when the roads are heavily salted. i don't spend much time out of town though and do clean my car a lot!

[daimlerman]

Thanks Brian,as I have yet to use the wash wipe 5/6 times with the lights on,thats probably why I have not seen mine working....or not!!

[hubble]

Have them on my Sport and I think they look splendid. Those little wiper blades are just fab.

[Ben1984]

I've got them on my 318is, and also had them on my old 320iSE, dunno if either set ever worked, but I reckon they give it a bit of a retro look...

[noney82]

i had them on my 325i and they worked once and stopped half way so i took them off they waste of bloody time anyway whos bothered if their lights are dirty? im not lol

[irish-e30]

this has lead to a great debate.....true e30 forum!!

[Guest]

I can repair them for Ԛ£50 just send them to me I will recondition them for you and they will last at least another 3 years.

[irish-e30]

Finally got them working, lets see for how long!! fingers crossed!