E91 Tourer rear wash wipe failure

[Hedgetrimmer]

The rear wash wiper has stopped working on my e91 330d. I have searched the internet and cannot find any common problems. The fuse is ok.

The wiper was making a clicking noise at the end of each swipe before it failed.

Anyone got any ideas what may have failed? I wondered whether it might just be the relay box but I wouldn't have thought that it would generate a clicking noise (sounded like it was coming from the back of the car rather than the glove box where the relay sits.

I have had a look at trying to get to rear hatch panel off but it looks pretty tricky.

[juliann]

If you open the glass so the 'pin' is free, does the wiper move freely ?

[blaineuk]

mine seized when i first had it, burnet the motor out, that was replaced but wiper was getting slow again after 6 monthes, the fault is with the part that goes through the glass it gets tight over time and needs replacing, i used to lift glass panel and move the arm back and forward for a while to free it a bit,

[Hedgetrimmer]

Thanks guys. Just checked the wiper itself and it is very stiff so this must have blown the motor.

[juliann]

Not necessarily a blown motor if the wiper is struggling to move. Remove the wiper, take the circlip off, knock the pin out, clean it up with wet & dry, grease it and re-assemble. Mine worked after doing this.

Edited by juliann on Monday 31st May 12:41

[timwatsham]

I'd try replacing the relay... Have you also lost your heated rear window?

My front wiper relay went, then the garage announced it had mended it, only for me to find I had operting front wiper, and no rear. My guess is they put the wrong ones back into the socket...

[peebee]

Had this problem on my E39 Tourer and it was the mechanism attached to the spindle through the glass. Had it replaced and its now fine - had no problem with the motor. Looking around you will see lots of E39s with their rear wiper blade at some obscure angle - haven't looked out for E91s but wouldn't surprise me if they were the same.

It amazes me that BMW cannot get a simple thing like this to have a decent life expectancy.

[BOR]

I had a wiper failure on an E91. I dissassembled the pin mech, regreased everything, still no luck.

When the service advisor was booking the car in, he flipped up the cover on the wiper arm covering the spindle, only to find that the nut holding the arm to the spindle had worked loose.

[/shamed]