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Used wiper motors vary between vehicles - and whether you call it used, second hand or a replacement, matching the right one matters. These are the details breakers need to match the right part to your car - our request form asks them so you only hear from suppliers with the correct part:
The BMW 5 Series has run through several well-established generations: E39 (1995–2003), E60/E61 (2003–2010), F10/F11 (2010–2017, facelift 2013), and G30/G31 (2017–2024). Generation is the single most important factor for wiper motor fitment, as the front wiper motor, linkage, and fixings are designed around the bodyshell of each generation. Always quote your generation or full registration to the breaker so they can pull the right unit.
Both a 2012 and a 2015 5 Series fall within the F10/F11 generation (2010–2017), but the F10 received a facelift in 2013 and it is worth confirming with the breaker whether the facelift brought any changes to the wiper motor or linkage for your specific build date. In many cases pre- and post-facelift wiper motors within a generation are interchangeable, but this is something to verify against your registration rather than assume. Ask the breaker to cross-reference the part number from your car before committing.
The E60/E61 (2003–2010) and F10/F11 (2010–2017) are entirely different generations with different bodyshells, so their front wiper motors and linkage assemblies are not interchangeable. You should only be looking at parts pulled from the same generation as your car. Always give the breaker your full registration so they can confirm the correct unit.
Trim level — whether SE, Sport, M Sport, or any other variant — does not affect wiper motor fitment; the motor is determined by the generation and whether you need the front or rear unit, not by the trim specification. xDrive (four-wheel drive) models share the same wiper system as their rear-wheel-drive equivalents within the same generation, so that makes no difference either. The one thing to be aware of is that a used motor may arrive with minor cosmetic differences such as bracket colour, but these do not affect function.
Yes — front and rear wiper motors are completely different units and are not interchangeable. Not all 5 Series body styles have a rear wiper, so make sure you know which you need and confirm with the breaker that the donor car matches your setup. Give them your registration and specify front or rear to avoid receiving the wrong part.
Within the E60/E61 generation, the E60 is the saloon and the E61 is the Touring (estate), and their rear wiper arrangements differ because the saloon has no rear wiper while the Touring does. For the front wiper motor, fitment is generally shared across the saloon and Touring within the same generation, but part numbers can occasionally vary, so confirm against your registration with the breaker before purchasing.