I finally got around to replacing some worn out bits on my m3/4/5 and am inspired to fix what may or may not be a problem that has annoyed me for years.
the wipers are parked pretty high up - pointed at perhaps 10 o'clock instead of 9 - and I believe it is their lowest point (ie I do not believe they don't go lower before coming up when I run the wipers).
so I replaced the deteriorated plastic cowling pieces and positioned the wipers in a much more friendly position closer to horizontal. But the hood hit the passenger side one when I tried to close the hood.
here is where I have to put them for the hood to close:
the end that goes on the shaft is definitely twisted and looks like it shouldn't be as much but it also looks like it factory and does not appear to have been bent:
what's the solution??
Just a straight out of my butt guess, is there a chance they are swapped around and the drivers side is on the passengers side?
They cannot be swapped. My passenger side one does the same after I removed the hood.
This is most likely due to either the hood being missaligned or the hood spacers missing. Where the hood bolts down there are supposed to be a couple of flat spacers. I will take a picture in a little bit to show you what they look like.
Might also have to do with the wiper bushings being worn if there is any, but I doubt because mine never did that until I removed the hood.
Hood spacers.....that would help. I should look carefully and see if the hood seems to sit low.
I threw the extra ones I have, they both between the hinge and hood and hinge and body. My car has 2 between the hinge and hood and 1 between the hinge and body. Different cars have different qtys.
They are flat and have cutouts so that they could slide in without conpletely remiving the hood bolts.
Maybe you can see them in these pics:
My wiper witness marks:
They look like this and are factory BMW and should be painted the color of the car. You can probably pick a few at the junkyard.
When I search Real OEM it says that there should be 2 on top and 2 on bottom like I mentioned.
It shows this as the PN 41618151880, about $4 each.
But when I look them up they are a different design than the ones on my car. These require the bolts be removed.
I would go to the junkyard and get the old style ones. Easier to install.
It would be my guess that Bmw messed something up if they require those spacers to make things fit.
also, if you have the spacers, why do you surmise you have/had hood-wiper contact??
In reply to jfryjfry (Forum Supporter) :
Shims are common.
I think my car touches because I only have one between the body and hinge, there should be 2.
When I smashed it, I removed the hood a few times and for some reason did not put them back. I cant find them now. I have gotten used to pushing the wiper down when opening the hood.
I know the day I sell my car I will find the spacers.
