[TopDown]

So I've RTFM, and the directions on how to get the F30 wiper blades away from the windshield (to clean the glass) aren't doing it. So can anyone solve the mystery - how do you do it?

[David328M-Sport]

Easy. Switch the ignition on and then off. Lift up the wiper switch till it won't lift any more. Let go. Wait until the wipers sweep across the screen twice. They will come to rest in a vertical position. Carefully lift each blade back off the screen and clean.

[TopDown]

OK, so here's the missing step in the owner's manual - after shutting off the ignition, you also need to shut off the electronics. Won't work with ignition off but electronics on. Thanks.

[LDSM]

The fact that we have to go through this just to raise the wipers irks the hell out of me.
I can understand it's probably for aerodynamics, but it's very possible someone may try to raise the wipers without knowing the procedure and damage them.

Is this how it is for all BMW's? What about Mercedes,Audi, Lexus?

[kon]

Originally Posted by 3581512

The fact that we have to go through this just to raise the wipers irks the hell out of me.
I can understand it's probably for aerodynamics, but it's very possible someone may try to raise the wipers without knowing the procedure and damage them.

Is this how it is for all BMW's? What about Mercedes,Audi, Lexus?

For Audi, on the mmi screen (idrive equivalent) there's wiper service option to move the wiper up or down for replacement. No brainer.

[David328M-Sport]

Originally Posted by 3581512

The fact that we have to go through this just to raise the wipers irks the hell out of me.
I can understand it's probably for aerodynamics, but it's very possible someone may try to raise the wipers without knowing the procedure and damage them.

Is this how it is for all BMW's? What about Mercedes,Audi, Lexus?

I've had my one side of my car foamed a couple of times up before I remembered to lift the wipers off the screen. So annoying having to go through the routine.

It's pretty obvious that neither wiper can be lifted terribly high in the off position, so unless one is very heavy handed, I believe there shouldn't be terribly many 'injuries' to the hood.

The F30 is the first model since the E36 (cannot comment on the E30 and earlier as I never owned one) I have had to go through this routine. All wipers on the E36, 46 and 90 lifted off from the horizontal off position.

My wife's C180k's wipers lift off from the horizontal off position.

[TopDown]

Originally Posted by kon

For Audi, on the mmi screen (idrive equivalent) there's wiper service option to move the wiper up or down for replacement. No brainer.

At least for the F30, BMW reverted to a physical thumb wheel to control interior lighting. On the wife's E92 it was controlled through iDrive...not good.

[justinnum1]

pisses me off that it will dry sweep the windshield twice.

[TopDown]

Originally Posted by 3581512

The fact that we have to go through this just to raise the wipers irks the hell out of me.
I can understand it's probably for aerodynamics, but it's very possible someone may try to raise the wipers without knowing the procedure and damage them.

Is this how it is for all BMW's? What about Mercedes,Audi, Lexus?

I had a 2002 Z3 where the only way to get the wipers off the windshield was to first lift the hood, then pull the wipers away - under the open hood! The first time I did that I shut the hood forgetting the wipers, and bent one of the wiper arms.

[TopDown]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

pisses me off that it will dry sweep the windshield twice.

Look at the upside...you're driving an Estoril Blue MSport.

[Buzzman]

Originally Posted by David328M-Sport

It's pretty obvious that neither wiper can be lifted terribly high in the off position, so unless one is very heavy handed, I believe there shouldn't be terribly many 'injuries' to the hood.

Unless you have a nice wife, who wants to be helpful and tries it, without knowing that it is not as simple as it seems

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by TopDown

Look at the upside...you're driving an Estoril Blue MSport.

True.

[sukhparm.7]

[That340i]

Originally Posted by LDSM

The fact that we have to go through this just to raise the wipers irks the hell out of me.
I can understand it's probably for aerodynamics, but it's very possible someone may try to raise the wipers without knowing the procedure and damage them.

Is this how it is for all BMW's? What about Mercedes,Audi, Lexus?

On Lexus vehicles you have to pull the wiper arm up in order focus put them in snow mode, which allows you to raise the wipers (which is why so many Lexus vehicles are driving around with the wipers in a weird position instead of the park position, owners don’t know that you have to push the driver wiper arm down in order to put them in park position)...At first you may think your going to break the wiper arm but your not it requires some force..And if you don’t put them in “Snow” Mode then you will scratch the paint off the edge of the hood....(I know becuase my parents 12’ ES has the paint scratched off the edge of the hood near the wiper arms).

[RAK92]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

pisses me off that it will dry sweep the windshield twice.

I just pull a wiper up from the windshield a few inches and while holding it with one hand, I wipe the windshield with the other. Easy day. It doesn’t hurt the wiper and you don’t have the wipers rubbing on the windshield when trying to get them in the 12 o’clock position. This works for wiping down the windshield but not fir changing the wipers of course.

[Billfitz]

+1. Having the wipers set below the hood not only improves the aerodynamics of the car but also reduces noise. The aerodynamics don't matter all that much at 70MPH, but they do at 100MPH or more. You only need to put the wipers in the up position to change the blades, and as that's only a once a year proposition probably done by your shop anyway it's not big deal, unless you're a perpetual whiner unable to either RTFM or search out a youtube video.