e24 Wiper Motor Repack

Remember read the whole blog first and decide for yourself if you posses the ability to perform this DIY fix. 

Over the past few months I've noticed the windshield wipers on my 1983 BMW 633 starting to get lazy and stutery. It's a relatively common phenomena on these cars, on all e24's for sure as well as e23's, e30's etc. Sometimes they just stop all together or like in my case they just start behaving erratically. The solution however is relatively simple. 

The cause is the internal grease in the motor transmission simply get old, brittle and gummy. This causes the motor to work a bit harder and also gums up the electrical contacts. Not to worry though, replacing the grease is a breeze.

* Note: Don't pull apart the actual electric motor! Its not a user serviceable part and is difficult to get back together because the internal brushes pop out, plus it is generally not the problem. If the motor is fried then I highly recommend taking it to an electric motor rebuilder such as a starter/alternator shop, or go junkyard hoping.

Needed supplies:

• Grease, anything thats non conductive and has a decently high heat range. Dialectic is probably the best but I was out so I used some white Lithium grease.

• Rags or paper towels.

• A can of Brake Clean is very handy

Tools:

• 10mm wrench (box end works best)

• flat blade screwdriver

Alright lets get started... 

1. The wiper motor is located on the drivers side of the car at the rear of the engine compartment. Its hidden under a metal bracket. Removing this bracket makes it easier to remove the motor but isn't manditory. 

2. First remove the electrical connecter

3. Remove the nut and washer holding the wiper linkage on. Swing the linkage out of your way.

4. Remove the three bolts (10mm heads) that hold the motor onto the bracket. The motor is now free. You may need to remove the two nuts on the front to the bracket and or the smaller 8mm nuts in order to have enough room to remove the motor. 

5. Clean to outside of the housing to help keep grit out the the internals. Then relocate to a workbench or other clean area.

6. Gently pry back the large black tabs about 1mm until they clear the cast aluminum tooth (there are four tabs) mine were pretty flexible so you might be able to simply use your fingers but a flat blade screwdriver might help. Remember this plastic is probably 20 plus years old so be gentle! The cover should now easily pop off.

7. Now the goal is to get out all of that gummy old grease. 

8. First use your flatblade screwdriver to pry up the pressed on locking washer holding the pivot shaft into the assembly (Its already removed in the picture but this is the location).

9. Here is the proper order of the washers and nuts if they get mixed up.

10. Gently push out the shaft, should come out very easily and rotate slightly as it does.

11. Now start cleaning. I used a flatblade screwdriver to scrape off most of it then finished it off with a brake clean soaked rag. 

12. If the shaft is scored you can clean it up a bit with some fine sandpaper or emery cloth. It rides in a brass bushing and isn't turning very many RPM so some scoring isn't the end of the world. 

13. Now regrease everything, and remember to replace to washer (thrust bearing) that rides on the shaft between the gear and the brass bushing. Also DO NOT try to force the gear back in, align the teeth of the gear with the teeth of the screw drive and it will slide easily in.

14. Make sure to grease up the teeth and screw drive (this is where the grease really needs to be) Also lightly coat the gear (the contacts still need to ride on the metal so not too much grease here)

15. Snap it back together and reinstall in the car. But before you attach the wiper arm, cycle the wiper motor once. This allows the motor to stop in its correct position before you hook it up to the actual wipers. 

16. Now attach the wiper arm and give it a try. 

I think thats it but if I missed anything let me know.... good luck.

* If you are still having issues then you might have put too much grease on the C-shaped contact plate in the transmission or the two wipers might need to be cleaned up or bent a touch so they make good contact with the C-shaped plate. 

* Now you should be good for another 15 to 20 years!