windscreen wiper shudder

Smeeagain · Post by **Smeeagain** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:07 pm

I seem to be having my fill of it at the moment. Brand new wipers keep shuddering across the glass. Windscreen it clean and blades have been cleaned. despite BMW's best efforts to adjust them they still shudder and they are resisting replacing them (they are a week old and they say they will bed in but I suspect this is unlikely) - I have used various blade treatments in the past that have eradicated this problem but nothing seems to help

Does anyone have any tips I can try ?

Thanks

Smee

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:50 pm

Did the old wipers do the same? Just so you can determine if it is relating to blade or arm.

Smeeagain · Post by **Smeeagain** » Tue Dec 28, 2010 9:02 pm

Sorry I should have said that the old wipers did not shudder at all - they have been replaced as they were smearing the windscreen slightly which the new blades do not do. I should also add that intermittently, all of a sudden, without me changing anything, they will stop shuddering for a few strokes and then restart again. Use of screen-wash makes no apparent difference.

Smeeagain

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 1:11 am

Sorry to jump on the band waggon, but does anyone else have an issue with getting the rear wiper to actually wipe the window properly?
Any tips or pointers would be appreciated ( it is a new blade).
Thanks

Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 8:16 am

I had the same problem with some new blades a few weeks back. Was advised to try RainX or equvalent to elp degrease the screen. Diddn't seem to make much difference at first but they have started to reduce now...

If they never did it before then it should just be the wipers, otherwise the teeth the wiper arm bolts into on the wiper mechanism is worn and there is a loss of grip. I have this problem on the rear wiper... You have to replace the whole mechanism I think

Rusty Nail is your raer wiper missing the screen (usually at the top wiper action point)? If so, clean the screen, remove the cap on the arm, undo the bolt and clean in the teeth and surrounding area (take note of where the wiper sits to place the arm back in the exact same location). Should clean better now.

slieverue · Post by **slieverue** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 9:31 am

Guys

I had this a while ago too.

What I discovered was that the wiper blade was "flipping" the right way on the up sweep, but wasn't "flipping" for the down sweep (everyone get what I mean about "flipping"?), and so was not at the right angle for a smooth movement.

So I had to adjust the wiper arm so that the flat part of the wiper arm was more horizontal to the windscreen, meaning that the wiper blade was more vertical to the windscreen and the effort required to "flip" the blade was equal on the up and down sweep. With me so far!?!?!

It all makes sense in my head, but it is more difficult to write down!!!

Basically, get a vice grips onto the lower section of the wiper arm and clamp on with the grips in a vertical orientation (protecting the arm with a cloth first) and gently rotate upwards or downwards depending on your particular problem (I would suggest that most people need to rotate upwards - I will explain why if anyone wants to know in another post!!). This should fix the problem.

Probably best if I did a how to, but see how you get on with this.

Cheers

Tony

gmc15 · Post by **gmc15** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 11:50 am

Makes perfect sense to me Tony

I have a look at mine now.

Graeme.

x555 · Post by **x555** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 3:14 pm

+1

............a 'flipping' brilliant explanation and makes perfect sense as to why the problem occurs

Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 6:08 pm

Nice one Tony!

petert · Post by **petert** » Wed Dec 29, 2010 10:11 pm

Rear wiper problem: lubricate the pin near the pivot point. This worked well for me and others confirmed it worked for them as well. Don't resort to bending the wiper arm etc!

Peter T

Smeeagain · Post by **Smeeagain** » Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:17 pm

yes understand the flipping I think - currently 700 miles or so from home without access to too many tools but will try when I get back if not before

Thanks
Smee

Rusty · Post by **Rusty** » Sun Jan 02, 2011 1:44 am

Sorted the rear wiper issue.

On the wiper arm there are a pair of guides to help keep the blade carrier in line.
This guide was tight against the blade carrier which stopped the blade angle changing as it moved up the screen.

I gently 'squeezed' the blade carrier in at this point to try and gain a minute advantage, then applied a touch of silicon grease in the guide to ease thing.

Hey presto a full rear screen wipe - simples

Thanks for the previous advice people.

London5 · Post by **London5** » Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:38 am

If you get this on a new rear wiper try turning the blade upside down, worked for me.

Nice and smooth now,

B

Smeeagain · Post by **Smeeagain** » Sun Jan 23, 2011 6:19 pm

As the original poster, I thought I would let everyone know that this has been resolved and how. If you recall the wipers didn't shudder before they were changed by BMW so I have been adamant all along that it was the blades despite them tinkering to resolve. Anyway as I had the email address of the girlie who called to check that everything had been done to my satisfaction, I sent her a mail saying that I wasn't satisfied and I made a point of stating that I need Insp 1 service plus front and rear pads and discs plus cv gaiter done (all true but they may not get all the work) - I got a call back from the service manager saying that the didn't see why so much time was being spent on emails phone calls and adjustments and that they would replace the blades free of charge. This would of course prove whether it was the blades or not. now replaced -not a single shudder

I have had blades develop a shudder over time in the past - this isu sually due to dirty blades or too dry a windscreen - but there is a treatment called 303 (google it - i got mine from waxamomo I think) and it sorted it no problems it didn't work this time so obviously the blade was more defective.

Sooooooo ...... if you get a shudder when replacing old with new - take them back !

Smee

Turks · Post by **Turks** » Mon Jan 24, 2011 2:52 am

Glad it is sorted... I wouldn't have my wiper blades changed by BMW though - something I could easily do myself and I have the choice on the quality of blades I go for. It's pretty bad isn't it when a main dealer can't get a blade change right! They don't seem to check any of the work they have carried out.

Turks.

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