Driver's side wiper

[318moneypit]

It wipes way beyond the windshield. I changed the "at rest" position to match the passenger side wipe and now it prevents the hood from opening. Anybody else had this issue?

[Dr Shuffles]

I have sort of the same problem. It's not as bad as yours, so I haven't been motivated enough to fix it yet; I can still open the hood, but when I do, the edge of the hood bumps the wiper.

I looked at my wipers just now, and it kinda looks like the butt end of the driver's side wiper arm wasn't pushed down onto the spindle all the way. It definitely sticks out farther than the other arm. Is yours like that too?

[318moneypit]

I made sure the splines were aligned and that the wiper arm was as far down as it could go. I assume that tightening the nut would drive it properly home.

[1996 328ti]

Mine hits the hood too.
I really need to remove it and reposition the arm.

[Romak]

I've literally attempted to reposition mine 10 times, can never get it right, It's adjusted to not go off the windshield but it hits my hood and I now have a paint chip from hitting it every I open the hood. I'm wondering if I've damaged the splines and they aren't seating all the way like they should. It seems as if the spring in the arm is too strong and holds it up too high, the passengers side does seem to sit a little lower.

[318moneypit]

For some reason, that damned wiper arm casting simply stands up too far. I actually swapped right for left to see if they might have been errantly swapped. Nope! On my 318ti I needed about 2 ¾" from the glass to the underside of the hood (at rest) to clear the hood. After literally hours of thinking about this I concluded there was only one way out, and that was to put about 1 ½" of the cast portion of the arm from the splined hole (protected by layers of cloth, of course) into a bench vise, and gently bend that sucker down with a monkey wench which I located just below "the swoop" up to the steel arm (after wrapping the portion of the arm I wanted to grip with leather). After two bending sessions, SUCCESS. I have NO idea why the arm was angled above where it should be, but it is now good. That "at rest" position is well into the black of the windshield and all is well.

[BRADESTAR]

Thanks for this update.

Mine has this problem as well. I thought that it was damaged in the transportation to me. If I push down on the arm I can lift it without it rubbing the hood.

I bent mine some a few weeks ago and it helped a little bit, but I still have to push down.

I have been looking for a new arm, so it's good to learn that a new arm might not be the answer. The answer may just be more bending.

[slade13]

So 318moneypit, your saying that you flattened the arm a little bit? Mine hits too so I'll have to try it.

[318moneypit]

Slade, yes! Looking from the spline that receives the drive spindle outward (I don't have one of the arms in front of me) is about five inches of relatively straight casting with a slight outward bend, then it twists and transitions sharply upward to where the steel arm stamping is attached. It is the relatively flat portion of the aluminum casting that I bent down toward the windshield. I worked very slowly and wrapped the arm to prevent scratching the arm. It originally had a slight upward bend, now it has none, if anything it is bent slightly toward the glass. You'll want to bend a little then fit it on the car to check your progress. Be sure to take it easy because you could snap the casting.