Newbie needs help!

[Graham325]

I have a '86 325 and the other day my windshield wipers started having problems and to make a long, knuckle-busting story short, the insert for the ball joint on the drivers side wiper has dry rotted away and I need a new one, does anyone know a part number or somthing to use in it's place, please help-Graham

ps here is a link to some pictures of thelinkage

http://www.esatclear.ie/~bpurcell/318ismaintenance.html#wmisf

[Axxe]

Not sure about what you are asking. Can you elaborate a bit more please?

[e30jones]

try the link...it is an online parts catalogue

I'm pretty sure the whole wiper system diagram is under category 61, should give you a part number.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/

HTH

[Graham325]

There is like a ball and socket at the point the linkage from the motor meets the arm of the wiper, the ball is still there, but the plastic cup that it snaps into has dryrotted I guess, it is in like 10 peices in the bottom of the panel. If you want to go look on your car, just pull the wiper arm and the plastic grill off on the drivers side and you will see the joint I am talking about. I went to the local dealer, but the part he pulled up wasnt right, it was too big, and make of very soft rubber, this is a pretty high stress area, and the part would have to be made of a hard plastic peice. If anyone has an exploded view of the wiper linkage assembly it would be great if they could post it- Thanks

[Jarvis]

DId this before.

Buy the wiper linkage arm (which comes with the black plastic "cups" in it) for $5 online.
Remove plastic grill thing on drivers side. Reach down and literally force/snap new arm into place. Done.

[Graham325]

Wow, thanks for the quick replys, here is the diagram for my car, the part I ordered from bmw was part # 6, so I need part # 5???

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=1554&mospid=47321&prod=19860300&btnr=61_0885&hg=61&fg=45

thats the link to the diagram
Thanks again-Graham

[Jarvis]

linkage arm and plastic socket things come together, $4.99

http://catalog.eautopartscatalog.com/smittys/ap/wizard.jsp?partner=smittys&clientid=aplusparts.com&baseurl=http://www.aplusparts.com/&cookieid=1E9141WWX1E9141ZKF&year=1987&make=BM&model=325-IS-001&category=All&part=Wiper+Linkage

[Graham325]

I just ordered it, thanks for all the help, it really sucks driving in the rain with no wipers, even with rain x....
Also, I think this is my first thread that I didnt get in trouble about the whole search thing.... :nice: I guess I am learning lol

[Jarvis]

This happened to me last February. The plastic socket was all worn out already, then a friend tried turning on the wipers with 6" of snow and ice still on the windshield. Heard a big *thunk* and guess what, my wipers didn't work. I actually used rubber bands to secure the linkage arm in place for a couple months, and just avoided driving in the rain. I wish I had known at the time that $5 and 5 minutes was all that was needed for a fix.