BMW Z4 Wipers Gone Rogue: Switch Failure or Bigger Issue?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2007 BMW Z3 last winter. The unusual wiper activation and complete failure you're describing sounds exactly like what I experienced. At the garage, they diagnosed it as a faulty wiper motor connection, specifically corroded pins in the main wiring plug. The connector had some moisture damage that was causing intermittent contact. The error code was popping up because of this inconsistent connection. It wasn't a major repair in terms of complexity, but it needed immediate attention since wipers are essential for safe driving. They had to clean the connector pins and replace the cable harness section that was damaged. In my case, it wasn't the wiper switch itself, though that was my initial suspicion too. If you're seeing the same symptoms, I'd suggest having the wiring connections checked first before replacing any major components. The randomness of the wipers turning on by themselves is a classic sign of electrical connection issues.

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful, as I was starting to worry it might be something more serious. Did you remember how much the repair ended up costing you? Just trying to get a rough idea of what I might be looking at. Also, has everything been working smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other electrical gremlins pop up? My Z4's getting up there in age, so I'm trying to stay ahead of potential issues.

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, I actually got this sorted last week. Took it to my mechanic and turns out we were spot on about the connection issue. The total bill came to 95€, which covered fixing a dodgy cable connection and cleaning up some corrosion. Money well spent, if you ask me! My wipers are working perfectly now, no more ghost activations or dead spots. They're smooth as butter, just like when the car was new. And nope, haven't seen any other electrical quirks pop up since the fix. These old BMWs can be finicky with their electronics sometimes, but once you sort out the actual problem, they're usually good to go. For what it's worth, my Z3's been pretty reliable otherwise. Just keep an eye on those electrical connections, they can get temperamental with age. But hey, better a small fix now than waiting for bigger problems down the road, right? Hope you get yours sorted soon! Let us know how it goes.

Thanks for the update! I finally took my Z4 to a mechanic yesterday. Just like you said, it was an electrical issue, corroded wiring connections near the motor. The repair was quick and didn't break the bank either. Paid around 120 for parts and labor, which honestly feels like a steal considering how worried I was initially. The mechanic was great too, actually showed me the corroded bits and explained everything. Much better experience than my last repair shop! The wipers are working perfectly now, no more unusual movements or complete failures. Feel so relieved it wasn't anything major. Guess we both lucked out with similar, straightforward fixes. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it helped me approach the mechanic with a better idea of what to expect. These old BMWs definitely keep us on our toes, but they're worth the occasional hassle! Thanks again for all the help!