BMW X1 Wipers Gone Haywire, Switch or Something Worse?

Hey! I've had some experience working on cars, and funny enough, I dealt with almost the same issue on my 2013 BMW X3 last year. The symptoms were identical, wipers going crazy on their own and sometimes not responding at all. Turned out it was a loose connection in the wiper control module wiring. My mechanic found that the plug connection had corroded a bit and wasn't making proper contact. The fix was pretty straightforward, they cleaned the connections and secured the wiring properly. Total cost was around 95 Euro, including diagnostic time. Could be something similar in your case, but to help better, could you let me know: Have you noticed any other electrical issues? Does it happen more in wet weather? What's the error code you're getting? Also, consider checking if your car has had any previous water damage, as that can often lead to these kinds of electrical gremlins.

Thanks for the detailed response! My X1 has done 24,688 KM and just had its service last month. It's definitely not a water damage issue since I've kept the car well-maintained. I do notice the problem gets worse in humid weather. The error code is "FZD Short circuit fault". Haven't spotted any other electrical problems yet, but this wiper thing is really starting to bug me, especially during rainy days. I'll have my mechanic take a look at the wiring connections, sounds like it could be similar to what you experienced. Really hoping it's just a simple fix like yours was!

Hey again! Thanks for getting back with those details about your X1. When you mentioned the "FZD Short circuit fault" code and the humidity connection, it really clicked with me. After I had my X3 fixed, I actually learned quite a bit more about these issues. In my case, though I initially thought it was just the loose connection, my mechanic later found that moisture had actually created a small corrosion spot on the control module itself. The humidity factor you're mentioning rings a big bell here. These BMWs can be a bit sensitive to moisture in that area. The good news is that even with that additional issue, the fix wasn't too complicated. They ended up cleaning the module thoroughly and applying some protective coating to prevent future corrosion. Been running perfectly since then, even in wet weather. Quick tip from my experience: while you're waiting to get it checked out, try running your defroster for a few minutes before starting your journey. I found it helped minimize the unusual wiper activation when the weather was damp. Not a fix, but might help as a temporary workaround. Let me know what your mechanic finds. Given the similarities in our issues, I'm curious to hear if it turns out to be the same problem!

Thanks so much for the follow-up! That's really helpful about the defroster tip, I'll definitely try that out until I can get it looked at. It makes total sense about the moisture being a potential culprit, especially since we've had such humid weather lately. I've already scheduled an appointment with my mechanic for next week, and I'll make sure to have them check specifically for corrosion on the control module like you mentioned. Your experience with this is super valuable, at least now I know what to look for and that it's likely fixable without breaking the bank! I'll update you once I get it sorted out. Fingers crossed it's as straightforward as your repair was. Really appreciate you taking the time to share all this detailed info!