This might be a long shot as most guys are in the states...

I brought my car with me, 2003 R53, to Germany when I got stationed here in July. I have been having fun on the autobahn, but am a little concerned about the wipers: at speeds over 100MPH, and sometimes around 85-90MPH, the wipers start to lift up on the arms. As I hit around 125-130MPH, the darn things are rattling around so much it is ridiculous! I switched to those aerodynamic wipers (The Bosche with the solid body construction) that are supposed to have down-force on them at high speeds, but no difference from the standard typer wiper with the perforated metal body. I am guessing this is why most BMWs and Audis have the wipers hidden down in the cowling area at the end of the hood. Anything that can be done to solve this? It annoys the heck out of me, and I am afraid my wipers are gonna go flying, literally!!!! I figure those of you who auto-x or track your cars might have some ideas.

Thanks,
Chris

 

At highway speeds around here, I sometimes get this too. Granted toned down due to speed limits. One thing i have noticed, If you tell the wipers to wipe once it puts a bit more tension in the system and holds them a bit more steady. I do not know if this works at Autobahn speeds, but at freeway speeds it does for me.

Thats all i really know, though.

 

Are you sure it is the wipers rattling? At about 120 MPH I would get a noise that I thought was wipers, I replaced the wipers like you, but still got the noise at high speed. I eventually found out it was the windshield gasket. I could press on the inside windshield glass at the top center (near the mirror) and make the noise stop. Of course the dealership would not do anything to correct the problem because they could not replicate the problem (at 65 MPH they said it did not make noise). After pushing on the windshield a few times it has stopped making the noise.

 

The Bosch Icon wipers claim to obtain down force with the blade design. I does appear that the blade is asymmetrical so you might check the direction of the blade.

http://www.boschautoparts.com/WiperB...ages/Icon.aspx

My stock MINI wipers have a down force wing on the drivers side but not the passenger. Either they only cared about driver visibility or there is something unique about the driver wiper.

 

I have found that the factory wiper blades are quieter than others. Really did not like the Bosch ones at all.

 

I'm not sure if the Trico NeoForms are available in Germany, but I use them on my R53 with little to no wiper vibrations up to 130MPH.
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/trico_neoform.aspx

Also, do you have any mods on your R53 that might be changing the aerodynamics? You might dail in to a MINI club in Germany and find out what locals are using. http://new.minimania.com/web/Display...y/ArticleV.cfm

I've driven the autobahn several times and know for sure no one is driving MINIs slower than full speed. I don't think vibrating wiper blades is a common problem, at least to the point of distraction that you described.

 

Thanks for all the advise. I have my wipers oriented the right direction. I will try the "tension" check as listed above and see if it does anything. And no, it isn't a noise issue. Although I DO think the windows needed to be adjusted. The car is LOUD at about 110+. I think the blunt front end is to blame for that, however

Thanks for the link to the German groups. Maybe somebody there is close by and can help. One thing is for sure; what am I going to do when I come back to the states in four years. Driving this fast is ADDICTIVE!

 

Been there, done that. I was in the service in the mid seventies. I had a race prepped 66 Mini Cooper with a 72 motor while over there. Granted top end was only around 112, therefore it was pedal to the metal everywhere I went. I came back to the States just after they passed the national 55 speed limit. I had a very difficult time with my 440 Duster.

 

Yep, that car would do 55+ in Neutral!! Oh for the glory days of muscle cars and cheap gas!!!!