[E92LNGCGY]

I washed my X3 on Friday and when I go to lift the wiper up I noticed I cannot lift it up entirely because the metal arm of the wiper bang against the hood. I now have damage on my new 3M. Please take a look at the picture (Not the best pictures but shows clearly where the arm meets the hood). I don't think this is normal and I am going to send the pictures to my sales rep. I will now have to pay extra to get this fixed.

[DavC5000]

nope thats how it is. probably to conceal the wipers for a better look or better aerodynamics. there is a procedue to get the wipers to go up and rest at the top of the sweeping motion. can be found on the forums through search or owners manual. i dont remember off the top of my head but its something like pull the right stalk for a couple secs with car off and it should move to the top and stop.

[Teemo Panda]

I noticed that too on my 2003 gen x5, and was hopping the newer BMW would have fixed that but they didn't, it's the same as my new f25 35i.

So when I handwash my own car, I would just lift the left blade going upwards not bending it as you are replacing the blades, but as like when you are using your wipers in the rain, as I do that the right blade follows.

Hope that helps

[RichardBR]

Originally Posted by kamigawa120

I noticed that too on my 2003 gen x5, and was hopping the newer BMW would have fixed that but they didn't, it's the same as my new f25 35i.

So when I handwash my own car, I would just lift the left blade going upwards not bending it as you are replacing the blades, but as like when you are using your wipers in the rain, as I do that the right blade follows.

Hope that helps

Just start the wipers, and when they are on top turn the ignition off. The blades stop, and you can bend them out. Just as the old X3. No problem when used to it

Just don't start the engine untill they are positioned again...

[Teemo Panda]

Originally Posted by RichardBR

Just start the wipers, and when they are on top turn the ignition off. The blades stop, and you can bend them out. Just as the old X3. No problem when used to it

Just don't start the engine untill they are positioned again...

Kinda did that with the new x3 and x5 but it didn't work because they are both push to start. Either way you time it, it would go back to the base.

Your statement would be true if the newer models are old fashioned ignition which I find it more desirable than the push to start :P

[RichardBR]

Originally Posted by kamigawa120

Kinda did that with the new x3 and x5 but it didn't work because they are both push to start. Either way you time it, it would go back to the base.

Your statement would be true if the newer models are old fashioned ignition which I find it more desirable than the push to start :P

There must be a way to turn off the power instead of starting the engine?

Try to open the hood and take them out underneath it.

[02420X3]

Look in the manual. There is a section called Fold-out Position of the Wipers. IIRC, the procedure is Ignition off, push the wiper stalk up, hold for 3 seconds.

[Nahoa]

Sorry, but this is totally a issue.

[RichardBR]

Originally Posted by Nahoa

Sorry, but this is totally a issue.

+1

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by Nahoa

Sorry, but this is totally a issue.

In the OP's defense, I also had some trouble figuring this out. The instructions in the manual are not all that clear and are very brief. This is one where BMW should have done a better job with documentation.

I still forget to set them up when I'm getting ready to wash the car... and by the time I remember, it doesn't work. Seems there is a time window after the car has been run to perform this. It's really a pretty lame operation.

[lbjgh]

Tough luck for op but I've learned something new today. It looks like the owners manual is a must read for regular vehicle operation.

[02420X3]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

Tough luck for op but I've learned something new today. It looks like the owners manual is a must read for regular vehicle operation.

Download a copy of the owner's manual to read while you're waiting for your X3 to be delivered. Reading it will help the time to pass. I have copies on my work PC, my home PC, and accessible from my iPhone and iPad.

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

Tough luck for op but I've learned something new today. It looks like the owners manual is a must read for regular vehicle operation.

Totally agree, reading the manual on this car is important. Most don't bother, human nature I guess.

RTFM.

[LEDZEP]

Originally Posted by 02420X3

Download a copy of the owner's manual to read while you're waiting for your X3 to be delivered. Reading it will help the time to pass. I have copies on my work PC, my home PC, and accessible from my iPhone and iPad.

Agree. I always read the manual in PDF two or three times while I'm waiting for my vehicle to be built and delivered. Still, some functions really need the "hands on with manual in lap" approach.

[FX3OK]

Who reads the manual from start to end....? Especially for wiper blade operation..seems straight forward. As I read these posts in this forum, I am becoming more wise! Now when I pick my x3 in two weeks I'll be "heads up". That's why this forum is great... ideas/info/issues get bounced around regardless how trivial they seem.

[Teemo Panda]

Il try to make a video how to fully slide up your blades without damaging nor hitting any surface of the hood later when I get back from work .

[tuco44]

Originally Posted by FX3OK

Who reads the manual from start to end....? Especially for wiper blade operation..seems straight forward. As I read these posts in this forum, I am becoming more wise! Now when I pick my x3 in two weeks I'll be "heads up". That's why this forum is great... ideas/info/issues get bounced around regardless how trivial they seem.

You don't have to read it "start to end"....look up item in index and read the applicable section. What is so difficult about that?

[Nahoa]

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

In the OP's defense, I also had some trouble figuring this out. The instructions in the manual are not all that clear and are very brief. This is one where BMW should have done a better job with documentation.

I still forget to set them up when I'm getting ready to wash the car... and by the time I remember, it doesn't work. Seems there is a time window after the car has been run to perform this. It's really a pretty lame operation.

Agree that it was hard to figure out exactly how to do it -- I missed the "all the way off" (two press) thing, too. But the manual dies clearly tell you that you can't just flip them up because they hit, o you'd know your hood snt too long.

[Tangsta]

Originally Posted by FX3OK

Who reads the manual from start to end....? Especially for wiper blade operation..seems straight forward. As I read these posts in this forum, I am becoming more wise! Now when I pick my x3 in two weeks I'll be "heads up". That's why this forum is great... ideas/info/issues get bounced around regardless how trivial they seem.

Originally Posted by tuco44

You don't have to read it "start to end"....look up item in index and read the applicable section. What is so difficult about that?

I rarely ever crack open manuals (much less read them cover to cover), because I find most things on cars/electronics are pretty intuitive.

But that said, I started reading the X3 manual due to impatience while I'm still waiting for my X3, and I'm finding lots of tidbits that I wouldn't have ever thought of (including the wipers, pushing the lock button again to disable the motion sensor, etc).

I highly recommend skimming through all of it.

[RSchneider]

You can never be too rich or too thin and your 'hood can never be too long!

[E92LNGCGY]

Thanks for the responses. Yes you're right I didn't read the manual. I never thought there were procedures to lift the wiper arm.

I'm getting the 3M replaced (no charge) so it's all good. Just seem kinda strange that there's certain steps to lifting the wiper arm. It should be pretty straight forward that it shouldn't require reading the manual.