Touring rear wire harness

[ScottyWM]

Okay, I finally have some time to look at this problem I've had since this thread:
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=35167&highlight=rear+harness

What I'm hoping is that someone can help me find where I should be looking for the busted wires. I'm thinking that it is in the circled area in this picture here.
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/371/371092/folders/282967/2262478PC280038.JPG

Am I looking in the correct area?

[Black 535i]

... I have found in the past that you have to go a bit further as well. Sometimes there is drag or pull on the loom that causes breaks somewhere else. Check every wire individually before rewrapping it all up again.

[attack eagle]

LEFT!!! (if you are still worried abut the wiper, not the defroster.
take the channel off, take the covers off, and pull the expanding sheath up about 2 feet.

they'lll be broken somewhere between where they come out f the body and go into the gate, usually right where they bend

[ScottyWM]

Here's what I found for the defroster after removing the sheath:
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/371/371092/folders/282967/2262703PC280039.JPG

and
http://216.77.188.54/coDataImages/p/Groups/371/371092/folders/282967/2262704PC280040.JPG

Cleaned all that up and routed the wires a little better than they were so maybe they'll last another 15 years - and now the rear defroster works!

Didn't really have time to look very much for the rear wiper home park problem. But yeah, Attack Eagle, it would be in the wire bundle to the left of the defrost ones. I took off the covers and "felt" down the whole sheath - didn't find anything suspect like the defrost wires.

I have a suspicion though that it is either right at where the wires go through the body, or inside (upstream?) the cavity in the rear fender. About 3 weeks ago, I had to change the turn signal bulb on that side. As you know, that requires a small hand and moving some wire bundles out of the way. I don't think I've ever changed that bulb before, and it took a good bit of persuasion to free it. After I got the new one in and started the car up, I heard some thing like a motor running back there for a few seconds. Surprised, I looked back, and it appeared that the wiper had moved about 15° to it's park position! So I'll probably try that again - turn the wiper on and jiggle wires around to see if I can get it to park - and that should show me where the problem is... or blow the fuse.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

Did mine a few weeks ago.

Had to do both sides.

You'll find a few wires holding on by a thread.

[attack eagle]

if your defrost wires are that bad, you definitely need to look where the wires make that U turn next to the rear glass strut. you'll have several bad unless the PO replaced em. ithink I had all but 3-4 damaged on the left side, and 4-5 on the right side that needed repair, plus one that fell apart into about 5 ~4" long sections and needed to be patched with new wire.

wiper in park signal is in the left bundle
rest of the wiper wires are in the right bundle


http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/maintenance/E34Touring/Harness.htm

http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/maintenance/E34Touring/Data/E34%20Touring%20harness%20wiring.pdf