Window Wipers....? - United Bimmer Community

**doughboyea** · 04-20-2006, 07:02 PM

I know some of you may laugh at me, but this shit is seriously pissing me off.

I ordered a new set of wipers for my E46. On Bavauto.com, they were listed as left and right (which in itself is stupid, who's perspective?) blades at 22" and 20". Ok, so there are two different lengths. But, when I got them, I couldnt' figure out which side was for which. I looked at the old set on the car, the longer one was on the DRIVER'S side and the shorter one was on the PASSANGER'S side. I went online to confirm the placement. Yea, other places were selling the 22" for the drivers and so forth....

Ok, well, when I installed them in thier respective positions... this is what i got...

Now tell me, isn't this a wtf moment?

Ok, so I reversed it, this is what I got then:

So now they both fit, sorta, the passanger side is rather long, but at least they aren't butting into each other.

So, I don't get it. Why would the 22" be made for the driver's side, yet it doesn't fit?

And lastly... WTF is the point of this device:

According to Bavauto.com (in an insert that I got with the blades titled "Wiper Blade Installation Tips") I am suppose to do the following:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bavauto.com

Purpose: When installing Bosch or PIAA blades on the E46 chassis (3 series 99 thru 05), the driver's side wiper blade tab must be transfered to the new blade. if this guide tab has previously been discarded, please contact Bavarian Autosport to order a replacement.

PROCEDURE:
1. Remove the driver's side wiper blade assembly.
2. Remove the guide tab from the end of the original wiper blade-it just snaps off.
3. Install the new Bosh or PIAA wiper blade.
4.Install the guide tab on the end of the blade so that it lines up bewteen the guides on the wiper arm. Be sure to seat the guide tab on the guides on the arm, when the blade is in place on the windshield.

Umm, yea, it doesn't fit on the 20" or the 22" blade. And I really don't see the point in it. All it does is exert more pressure on the lower windshield, which, doesn't help much since the top is loose anyway. And as far as alignment.... please, there's one flat peice of metal that extends from the front of the wiper arm, but, how would that "guide" it?

An annoyed Dough.

witeshark · 04-20-2006, 07:08 PM

That's got to be annoying!

**doughboyea** · 04-20-2006, 07:13 PM

You have NO idea....

Rooz · 04-20-2006, 11:09 PM

I have never heard of this on new blades

**doughboyea** · 04-20-2006, 11:12 PM

Which part... the cap from the old blades or the missalignment from the driver's side blade?

**xsperf** · 04-21-2006, 12:11 AM

maybe u shoulda gotten 2 20's

**doughboyea** · 04-21-2006, 12:13 AM

Maybe.... but the origninal on there was 22" for the driver as well, yet it did fit.

Dough

**EnvyM3** · 04-21-2006, 08:38 AM

hmmm, that sucks man. Not sure what that thing is all about. One would think that it would make sense for the 22" to fit on the drivers side for better coverage. But I'll learn from your mistakes and I'll get OEM blades when I swap mine.
I hate the e46 wipers by the way, my rain sensors make them come on automatically when theres only a couple drops, and the passenger side one always skips and chops on its way down. It sounds terrible too.

**doughboyea** · 04-21-2006, 09:44 AM

Yea, thats what mine sounded like too. I got these PIAA ones because they were the same design as OEM but at a much lower price and OEM. The dealer wanted something like $64 for a pair. These were the same blades (with that stupid wing on it) from bavauto.com for a little under $50. I found them on thepartsbin.com for less than that.

Dough

**exjarhead328** · 04-21-2006, 09:50 AM

I picked up a set of PIAA silicone wipers from Bavauto 2 wks ago. I too looked at the set on the car and put the 22" on the driver's side and got a result similar result. After a few wtf's, I noticed that the drivers wiper arm has some guides or supports down near the hinge. I just played with the alignment a little and they sat flat w/o a problem.

**doughboyea** · 04-21-2006, 10:26 AM

Really....which guides?

**exjarhead328** · 04-21-2006, 11:58 AM

A buddy dug out his camera.

**exjarhead328** · 04-21-2006, 12:07 PM

try these

**doughboyea** · 04-21-2006, 12:27 PM

Ah... so you have three prongs... I think I have only one. When I get out today, I'll check it out in detail... see if the orignial owner tore those tabs off.... Thanks for the pics. I do appreciate it.

Dough

**doughboyea** · 04-21-2006, 04:37 PM

The inside of my wiper arm (driver's side):

One prong

. Could it be that because my car was manufactured in Oct. 1998, that perhaps I may have certain parts that were transplanted from the E36 series, still being produced through 1999 in the coupe form?

Dough

**Antiburn** · 04-21-2006, 09:41 PM

From your first picture it looks like you have 2 driver sides on there. I say as long as they dont hit the paint or any trim in their path of motion, just bend them a bit untill they wipe across the entire windhsheild.

The drivers side wiper has the plastic gaurd on the front facing towards the engine. The passanger is shorter with no plastic gaurd.

**TJsBimm** · 04-21-2006, 10:09 PM

No offense but doesn't your local parts store have what you need? Seems like alot of trouble for something you could look up yourself.

**doughboyea** · 04-21-2006, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJsBimm

No offense but doesn't your local parts store have what you need? Seems like alot of trouble for something you could look up yourself.

No offense...but if it was that easy, wouldn't you think I would've done that already?

I did go the local auto parts store. I couldn't find the blades there. The gentleman at the counter did an inventory check and he said that it would be over $60 for a pair from there, but that they don't carry it anymore. Fuck that. That's the same price as from the dealer, assuming he did sell them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antiburn

From your first picture it looks like you have 2 driver sides on there. I say as long as they dont hit the paint or any trim in their path of motion, just bend them a bit untill they wipe across the entire windhsheild.

The drivers side wiper has the plastic gaurd on the front facing towards the engine. The passanger is shorter with no plastic gaurd.

The first picture just shows the driver's side arm with the 22" blade on it. The second picture shows the same arm with the 20" blade on it. It was a reference shot to show how the 20" was much more adapt to the driver's side than the blade that was ment to be there.

The passanger side doesnt' have the guard? I thought they both had that little fin in there. Otherwise, what would be the point in having only one side with it. It's purpose, supposedly, is to keep the blade from jiggling at highspeeds. Why would you have it on only one side?

Dough

**Antiburn** · 04-22-2006, 06:59 PM

I dont know why its only on one side. Maybe they figure that the passanger hides behind the hood enough so the wind turbulance doesnt make it hop at high speed. But on every E46 and E39 they have only the plastic gaurd on the drivers side.

**c1apton** · 04-22-2006, 07:17 PM

I've only seen that little "wind deflector" on the drivers side & assumed it's because the drivers blade sits just a little higher than the passenger side (in the "parked" position - off/overlap)