Upgrade for windscreen wiper system

[SteveM]

Has anybody upgraded their wiper systems from the stock arrangement? Compared to a contemporary BM (or even a cheap Korean sub-compact!), I find the wiper system fairly primative.

I know that many will say that a wise owner doesn't need wipers as they'll never drive them in the rain but watching and listening to the originals trying to cope with a sudden downpour can be frustrating - and sometimes dangerous.

Any suggestions? Can't find anything in the archives...

SteveM

 

[Bill Riblett]

Improving wipers

Don't know of any upgrades, but like coupe power windows, cleaning and lubricating ALL of the wiper mechanism moving parts will improve performance considerably.

 

[DJSimca]

Has anybody upgraded their wiper systems from the stock arrangement? Compared to a contemporary BM (or even a cheap Korean sub-compact!), I find the wiper system fairly primative.

What are you looking for? Don't your wipers work or do they only work in light rain? Not at all ??

 

[MichaelP]

This upgrade is for windows, but could be applied to the wipers as well:
Motor upgrade

 

[Ed G]

I need wipers for inside, when I sit behind wheel in my garage and make bbrrrrroooom, bbrrrrrooooom noises

 

[velocewest]

After pulling the motor, cleaning it and reinstalling with all pivots lubed, my e9 wipers work great. If you have an earlier car without intermittent and want it, you can retrofit that with the switch and relay from a later car.

 

[SteveM]

Thanks Michael.. but the wife isn't too happy with the obligatory beard.

My issue is with the sound and vibration during operation. All three coupes I've owned have the same clunk at the end of each cycle with sound/vibration transmitted during the sweep - even the CSL that was only six years old when I bought it had the same problem.

I'm hoping that VeloceWests suggestion will improve things.

 

[jhjacobs]

Back when I was a student mechanic the guy who owned the shop was convinced that wipers were not really necessary. He always applied lots of RAINX and just drove faster. 8) Then again, he was an odd fellow and he piped Wagner arias into the shop to inspire the mechanics. This was a big hit with my fellow East Tennessee, pick-up driving, possum eating, mechanic compatriots. This guy is now the Director of IT for the US House of Representatives office responsible for modeling the economy on supercomputers - there is a tie back to the shop but it is not possible to explain.

 

[SteveM]

JH, now that's a solution I can live with - RAINX, crank up the Wagner on the stereo and foot to the floor....

There goes the marriage..

 

[jmackro]

SteveM had written: "All three coupes I've owned have the same clunk at the end of each cycle with sound/vibration transmitted during the sweep - even the CSL that was only six years old when I bought it had the same problem. "

My 2800 CS used to do that too. I watched the wipers while they were running (of course, with the car parked) with the hood open, and observed that the wiper shafts had some axial play. That is, they would move in and out, as the mechanism pushed and pulled the bellcrank. I got some generic snaprings from the hardware store, and installed one on each shaft to take up the play. End of the clunking.

 

[jhjacobs]

JH, now that's a solution I can live with - RAINX, crank up the Wagner on the stereo and foot to the floor....

This is very much in line with the Italian principle that says rear view mirrors are also not needed because "What'sa behin' me is'a no' important!" :twisted:

 

[Antar]

Improving wipers

Don't know of any upgrades, but like coupe power windows, cleaning and lubricating ALL of the wiper mechanism moving parts will improve performance considerably.

I miss Bill Riblett. He was a great member and contributor to our E9 Community & Forum. ️

 

[Fritzie]

Hello e9 Freunden,

I refurbished the wiper system. In attached photos you can see my work.
1) dismantling the wiper system
2) remove the rusted rods and replace the rod for stainless steel. I TIG welded the part with the original splines on the new stainless steel rod,
3) new zinc coating of the parts,
4) powder coating on the carbon steel parts,
5) new brass bearings (selfmade),
6) reassembling: in progress - photos will come soon
6) update February:
Work finished. I also put a small sealing at the rod

 

[Ohmess]

With your skills, Fritzie, you should consider a better mechanism to hold the wiper arms onto the splines. A friend of mine used a screw through the wiper arm, immediately above the spline as an added measure of security. Roughly, his process was as follows:

Remove the wiper blade turn it upside down, and drill a hole through the center of the area that grabs the splines. Install the wiper blade on the splined rod, and drill a hole in the rod using the hole in the blade as a guide. Remove the blade again and thread the hole in the rod. The use a flat head sheet metal screw to secure the blade.

 

[chope97]

I miss Bill Riblett. He was a great member and contributor to our E9 Community & Forum. ️

I knew Bill from many years ago, I had even been to his house and purchased some parts from him

 

[Rek]

With your skills, Fritzie, you should consider a better mechanism to hold the wiper arms onto the splines. A friend of mine used a screw through the wiper arm, immediately above the spline as an added measure of security. Roughly, his process was as follows:

Remove the wiper blade turn it upside down, and drill a hole through the center of the area that grabs the splines. Install the wiper blade on the splined rod, and drill a hole in the rod using the hole in the blade as a guide. Remove the blade again and thread the hole in the rod. The use a flat head sheet metal screw to secure the blade.

That works very well. I had to do this when my splines were smoothed over too much. I found the required replacement part but it had inflated in price to ludicrous levels.

 

[TodB]

Here's the thread describing the screw mod that Chris mentioned

Windshield wiper thread-tap grub screw modification so they don't fly off project

Since I have a pending road trip and would like one less worry (the dreaded windshield wiper highway detachment syndrome) I thought I'd give a go at inserting a grub screw through the wiper arm base into the splined post to lock them on. A dicey proposition on paper and in reality. Here's the...

e9coupe.com

 

[Ohmess]

Here's the thread describing the screw mod that Chris mentioned

Windshield wiper thread-tap grub screw modification so they don't fly off project

Since I have a pending road trip and would like one less worry (the dreaded windshield wiper highway detachment syndrome) I thought I'd give a go at inserting a grub screw through the wiper arm base into the splined post to lock them on. A dicey proposition on paper and in reality. Here's the...

e9coupe.com

This is an alternative method to the top screw option I suggested.