BMW 5 Series Wipers Dead: Relay Issue or Something Else?

Hi there! I've had some experience working on cars, and funny enough, I faced a similar issue with my 2004 BMW 3 series (also had a chance to work on the 7 series). When my wipers stopped working completely, I initially thought it was the relay too. Took it to my regular workshop, and turns out it was just a faulty wiring connection near the wiper motor. Some cables had come loose and were causing the connection issues. Total repair cost me 95 Euro, mostly labor for tracking down and fixing the connection. Could you share more details about your error code? Also, before the wipers stopped completely, did you notice any intermittent issues or strange noises? This info would help narrow down if you're dealing with the same problem I had.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm having similar symptoms on my BMW (83232 KM, last serviced 3 months ago). Before they completely died, the wipers would occasionally stutter and make a grinding noise. The error code I'm getting is 9C3A. I checked under the hood and everything looks connected, but I'm not too handy with car electronics. I'll definitely have my mechanic check the wiring connections first based on your experience. Really hoping it's just a loose wire like in your case and not something more expensive. Did your wipers make any weird sounds before they stopped working?

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up about your BMW's wiper issues. Yes, actually, before my wipers completely stopped working, I also heard similar grinding noises, it's really interesting that you're experiencing the same symptoms I had! In my case, the stuttering and grinding went on for about two weeks before total failure. With that error code and the grinding noise you mentioned, it's sounding even more like my situation. When I got under the hood with my mechanic, we found that the wiring had been rubbing against a metal component, which gradually wore down the insulation. The grinding noise was actually the motor struggling due to the poor connection. One thing I'd suggest before taking it to the mechanic, check if you can hear the motor trying to work when you activate the wipers. In my case, you could hear a faint humming sound, which helped confirm it wasn't a completely dead motor. Your mileage is pretty close to what mine was when this happened too. Definitely have them check those connections first, could save you a bunch of money compared to replacing parts unnecessarily. Let me know what they find!

Thanks so much for all this detailed info! Yeah, I can actually hear that faint humming sound you mentioned when I try to activate the wipers. That's really reassuring to hear that your issue was just a wiring problem. I've got my mechanic appointment scheduled for tomorrow morning, and I'll definitely ask them to check the wiring connections first, especially around where they might be rubbing against metal parts. Your experience with the grinding noise leading to complete failure matches my situation perfectly. I'll keep an eye on the repair cost too, 95 Euro sounds way better than what I was worried I might have to pay for a new motor or something major. I'll definitely update this thread once I get it fixed, in case anyone else runs into similar problems with their BMW wipers. Thanks again for all your help!