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Windshield Wiper Linkage Install

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    #1

    Windshield Wiper Linkage Install

    Driving over 80 for over an hour with my wipers on fastest speed must have been too much because the linkage snapped on me. I'm trying to put new linkage in but I cannot get the new linkage in. I barely got the old linkage out and it was much more flexible seeing as how it was snapped.

    First of all is it possible to remove the fresh air flaps without snapping the plastic?

    Second, there must be only one magic directional manuever to put the linkage in, but I have yet to discover it. Can anyone help?

    Bentley guide just says to remove the linkage after removing blower motor housing. I took the top part of the housing off, should I remove more?

    I'm trying to have this car back together tonight because I've got work in the morning. The commute to work will not be fun without a blower motor and windshield wipers in the snow.
    West German BMWs, they just don't make the same as they did before the wall fell.
    ^Case in point: Auto-Repair Technology. Everytime my car isn't starting or acting up I let it sit, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days. But it eventually fixes itself.
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    #2
    you can remove the plastic covers buy gently prying from the bottom up. since the metal clips are there if that is stubborn then try from the top. they should come out. the linkage snapped due to lack of lubrication. you'll need to remove the blower motor in order to have room to slip the linkage past. I did a few and wondered why it was so difficult getting it out without damaging the post holes. I have never actually put one back in since most were parts cars. You have to disconnect the one of the shafts before putting in and then reconnect it. the one closest to the motor -drivers side. Hammer and screwdriver with a good hit will release it. it has to come out from the blower motor opening. once back in reconnect it and make sure you lube the pivot areas well so it doesn't happen again!

    there is NO magic..some patience bodes well though. :-)
    sigpic

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      #3
      I've removed the blower motor and housing, thought maybe you have to drop the heater core a bit. So you can leave the motor on the linkage and on the mounting bracket? Bentley manual mentions removing the mounting bracket but that is for a motor change, I have a motor and linkage all together.

      The only thing I should disassemble from the linkage is to pop off the arm closest to motor?
      West German BMWs, they just don't make the same as they did before the wall fell.
      ^Case in point: Auto-Repair Technology. Everytime my car isn't starting or acting up I let it sit, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days. But it eventually fixes itself.

      Comment

        #4
        This is where my linkage snapped.


        Ceeker you're saying to pop off the arm here?

        West German BMWs, they just don't make the same as they did before the wall fell.
        ^Case in point: Auto-Repair Technology. Everytime my car isn't starting or acting up I let it sit, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days. But it eventually fixes itself.

        Comment

          #5
          Originally posted by NeoMishMoo View Post
          This is where my linkage snapped.


          Ceeker you're saying to pop off the arm here?

          The one to the left of your circle. if you can manage to pop the other one off and replace that then cudo's to you..

          Yeah it sounds like your pivot points were getting stiff and the stress snapped the post clean. all I can say is wow..that must have been under lots of stress.

          Try working with the two caps closest to the drivers side vent opening. Then at least you know you can get them back on through that hole.

          Also make sure you lube those pivot points with some graphite or water repellent lube and periodically remove the vent covers and give a spray of lubricant as well to keep them mobile.
          sigpic

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            #6
            I'd put the motor in after you get the linkage in there. the motor is way easier to get in by itself - leave the plastic motor cover off, it should slip right in, and put the plastic cover on the motor after you get it back in there.
            Build thread

            Bimmerlabs

            Comment

              #7
              Whew finally got it all done. Great suggestion on popping one of the grommets off to get the linkage in. I actually did pop the one circled off. Was pretty easy getting it back in with loads of white grease and with the circled one I could push against the body of the car pretty nicely to pop it back into place.

              The only weird thing is with the motor and linkage that I put on. The wipers do not return to home position when i turn them off they stop wherever they are. If it push the wiper switch down, instead of going through one cycle it only goes as I'm holding it down.

              Not sure whats wrong but It'll work, I don't want to do that again anytime soon.
              West German BMWs, they just don't make the same as they did before the wall fell.
              ^Case in point: Auto-Repair Technology. Everytime my car isn't starting or acting up I let it sit, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days. But it eventually fixes itself.

              Comment

                #8
                Originally posted by NeoMishMoo View Post
                Whew finally got it all done. Great suggestion on popping one of the grommets off to get the linkage in. I actually did pop the one circled off. Was pretty easy getting it back in with loads of white grease and with the circled one I could push against the body of the car pretty nicely to pop it back into place.

                The only weird thing is with the motor and linkage that I put on. The wipers do not return to home position when i turn them off they stop wherever they are. If it push the wiper switch down, instead of going through one cycle it only goes as I'm holding it down.

                Not sure whats wrong but It'll work, I don't want to do that again anytime soon.
                Could be a connection problem with the wiring either in the wiper stock or motor.
                sigpic

                Comment

                  #9
                  Might try swapping the motor out with my original one. Is it really that easy to swap? No need to remove the linkage? I'm kind of worried about removing the motor I read that you have to make sure everything lines up right. I've seen cars that have wipers that are standing straight up when not in use! I don't want that to happen.
                  West German BMWs, they just don't make the same as they did before the wall fell.
                  ^Case in point: Auto-Repair Technology. Everytime my car isn't starting or acting up I let it sit, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days. But it eventually fixes itself.

                  Comment

                    #10
                    it's not hard. remove the plastic cover, remove the bolts, pull it out - when you get it back in, cycle the motor before hooking up the linkage to ensure the park position is correct.
                    Build thread

                    Bimmerlabs

                    Comment

                      #11
                      Originally posted by nando View Post
                      it's not hard. remove the plastic cover, remove the bolts, pull it out - when you get it back in, cycle the motor before hooking up the linkage to ensure the park position is correct.

                      That might be difficult to get it back in the park position seeing as how right now my wipers only go while the switch is engaged. If I turn the switch to the off position the wipers stop dead wherever they may be on my windshield.

                      You think If I swap out for another motor it will fix this? I've got to open everything back up anyway because right now my blower motor is spinning but very little is coming out of my vents, I think one of both of the flaps are stuck closed.
                      West German BMWs, they just don't make the same as they did before the wall fell.
                      ^Case in point: Auto-Repair Technology. Everytime my car isn't starting or acting up I let it sit, sometimes for an hour, sometimes for days. But it eventually fixes itself.

                      Comment

                        #12
                        Originally posted by nando View Post
                        I'd put the motor in after you get the linkage in there. the motor is way easier to get in by itself - leave the plastic motor cover off, it should slip right in, and put the plastic cover on the motor after you get it back in there.
                        I just did this job - exact same situation as OP (although I don't know why, was broken when I got the car) - and I don't see how what you are describing is possible. One possibility is; my car is an '87 and I think my assembly is from a later car so I was able to get my assembly out with the motor in, but there was no way the new assembly was going back in with the motor attached! and there was definitely no way the plastic cover was going on after the motor. I put the plastic cover on the motor, then slipped it in onto the bolted-on assembly. It's actually a pretty easy job that way. At least having just finished this job on my car.

                        Comment

                          #13
                          I do have a quick question though - where exactly does #13 go?

                          Just a moment...
                          https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=1374-USA-07_1984_E30_BMW_318i&diagId=61_0885#61611370800


                          And my car did apparently not retain #14s. Drivers wiper seemed to work fine without either. I guess I'll just go without them for the time being.

                          Also, my drivers side wiper spindle seems to be off from the bodywork by a degree or two. Is that normal? is that what #14 is for?

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