Woohoo! Working headlight Wi/Wa system.

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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cgraff
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Post by cgraff »

Finally...

It ended up being that the expensive POS control unit went kaputt. $100 was the best deal I could get on it from my local (very friendly) dealer. It's 80 EUR retail in Germany...ugh ...it irks me.

BUT, I am now the king of headlight Wi/Wa systems. :-)

Thanks for listening.

-Chris
Mike in Louisville
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Post by Mike in Louisville »

awesome! Does it actually work?
cgraff
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Post by cgraff »

Course it works. What you don't believe me? Need video a la Jeremy's video of Ian's?
Sorry, but you'll have to take my word. ;-) I don't have a digital camera handy.

-Chris
Mike in Louisville
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Post by Mike in Louisville »

Nope, I believe you! I guess I'll have to see it in person at 5erFest, assuming you're going. Hey, does this fit the US lights or is there something magic about the Euros that allows it to work? Thanks.
cgraff
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Post by cgraff »

Yes, it fits Euro lights only.

There's a hole in the headlight bucket thru which the motor shaft goes thru, and out thru the grill. The grill has a cut out there especially for it too. Also, you need the flat lenses of the H1/H4 headlights so the wiper blades sit well.

One could probably retrofit them to US buckets with H1/H4 conversion...but it'd be a semi-pain.

The wiring is actually very easy and "retro-fitable". There is a "gotcha" in the wiper stalk wiring, but that's it.

-Chris
SW
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Post by SW »

What is the gotcha on the stalk wiring...I have a set on my M5 and have been in the process of installing them until my crankshaft broke, but maybe now I will be able to finish the wish wash...
JBort
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Post by JBort »

:p Chris; I'm glad to hear you finally got your intensive-clean system working, at least the headlight wash/wipe part.

Welcome to an elite group of e28 enthusiasts with a working system.

JayB. (working for a couple years now...) :cool:
cgraff
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Post by cgraff »

Well...I've got it completely working.

The car originally came with it, but when it got federalized they screwed up a bit of the wiring. So I had to fix that, and then find the motors, wipers, etc. Then troubleshoot why it wasn't working.

Hey, do you think you can send me your wiring diagram with the multiple relays? I'm going to try to write a DIY procedure for this and want to include as many options as possible.

-Chris
grafff1 at gmail dot com
JBort
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Post by JBort »

No problem, Chris. I'll send (2) .pdf files to your e-mail.

Just give credit where it's due, and you can use my diagrams.

JayB :D
cgraff
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Post by cgraff »

Oh I'll credit you. Don't worry. :-)

I want to offer as many options to people as possible. I already have the OE wiring diagram, and will go through how to wire that up, and the wiper stalk wiring as well. But, I'd also like to offer your option which may be cheaper. 3 relays of $10 ea is 1/3 of what that stupid control unit (which does the same thing, basically) cost me - although mine is wired as it was originally from the factory.

If you offer people options, then they can choose whichever is best for them. And yours is a viable alternative.

-Chris
JBort
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Post by JBort »

Thank you...thank you very much!

Yes, it's a cheap alternative, and the parts will always be available.

BTW, I have "intensive clean wiper stalks" available.

JayB. :cool:
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