Washer Filter Blocked??

R

RustyZ4

Lifer
 Maidstone, Kent
Went to use my screen washers today, and to say all I got was a dribble, would sum it up, the bottle is full so obviously not that,

I have found a few threads on this, but just checking I have it right,,, there appears to be a filter by the pump on the bottle which becomes blocked, so my question, is it an easy job to do myself?

I would appreciate any advice if someone has done this,,

Thanks in advance :thumbsup:
 
RustyZ4 said:
Went to use my screen washers today, and to say all I got was a dribble, would sum it up, the bottle is full so obviously not that,

I have found a few threads on this, but just checking I have it right,,, there appears to be a filter by the pump on the bottle which becomes blocked, so my question, is it an easy job to do myself?

I would appreciate any advice if someone has done this,,

Thanks in advance :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

I remember someone else had this problem and I think they removed the bottle and took the pump out to clean the filter..which was quite blocked. It was on here and the photos to show the muck on the filter.
I'm sure some clever dickie will be along soon with a link Rusty :thumbsup:
 
Just done this for the third time in four years today. I should have taken some photos sorry!

Its really easy to do. If you go on youtube you may find a video walk through.

My advise is to absolutely flush out and clean the whole container too, I did what a mess in there.. Amazed how much sludge has built up.

:cry:

Sat in the car for 10 minutes after watching the wipers clean with the flood of water after :oops:

Found one, this should help...

https://youtu.be/XXNOi11txqo

:thumbsup:
 
Cheers guys, that's a thought I never thought of you tube :oops: and I searched on here, but guess im not putting the right words in search :oops:
 
Just added a youtube video in my post above. Hope it helps.. :thumbsup:

There are two filters to clean so make sure you are careful when pulling the pumps out. Then pull the rubber thats left in the hole out carefully and the filters are attached.

Patience is your friend as the bits are plastic :D
 
JimsZ said:
Just added a youtube video in my post above. Hope it helps.. :thumbsup:

There are two filters to clean so make sure you are careful when pulling the pumps out. Then pull the rubber thats left in the hole out carefully and the filters are attached.

Patience is your friend as the bits are plastic :D
Click to expand...


Cheers Jim :thumbsup:
 
RustyZ4 said:
JimsZ said:
Just added a youtube video in my post above. Hope it helps.. :thumbsup:

There are two filters to clean so make sure you are careful when pulling the pumps out. Then pull the rubber thats left in the hole out carefully and the filters are attached.

Patience is your friend as the bits are plastic :D
Click to expand...


Cheers Jim :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Good luck, I hope it goes well. Mines 100% again so happy with the result :thumbsup:
 
Dead easy to do. I did mine at the end of the summer.

As the washer fluid will leak out, be ready to rinse out the engine bay as it might affect uncoated surfaces and smells a bit if it gets on hot surfaces.
 
If you are strapped for time you can blast most of it away just using a garden hose into the tank with a trigger spray head thing set to jet. Not as thorough as doing it properly as described above but can be done in 2 mins and you don’t have to remove anything. Just keep spraying until the bottle overflows and all the green crap comes out.
 
Not sure what access is like on an E89, but it was an easy job on my E46 and E86 - seems to be a common problem with BMWs! :(

A quick flush might help, but most of the gunge on mine was stuck to the filters on the washer pumps so I'd at least pull them out and clean the filters up.

I did my Z4 2 and a half years ago and haven't had a problem since - but I only ever use the same brand of screen-wash. Mixing brands seems to contribute to the problem.
 
Mr Tidy said:
I did my Z4 2 and a half years ago and haven't had a problem since - but I only ever use the same brand of screen-wash. Mixing brands seems to contribute to the problem.
Click to expand...

You got it. The problem comes from mixing different types of screenwash.

BMW use a different chemical to most other screenwash. The best thing to do is buy a 5L bottle of the BMW stuff from the dealer and top it up yourself. If you go and buy some supermarket screenwash and then it goes into BMW for a service and they top it off with some BMW brand stuff you end up with clogged washers and a tank full of gunk.
 
JimsZ said:
Just done this for the third time in four years today. I should have taken some photos sorry!

Its really easy to do. If you go on youtube you may find a video walk through.

My advise is to absolutely flush out and clean the whole container too, I did what a mess in there.. Amazed how much sludge has built up.

:cry:

Sat in the car for 10 minutes after watching the wipers clean with the flood of water after :oops:

Found one, this should help...

https://youtu.be/XXNOi11txqo

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Why have you had to do it so often?
We have not had to touch ours in the 5 years we have owned it and we don't use BMWs stuff either.
We use stuff from Halfords that must be mixed with water to dilute.
Is it something to so with water hardness?
On a similar note though after we bought the X6 the headlight washers were not retracting fully and after stripping them down they were pretty gunky, it came from Peterborough.
 
Nictrix said:
JimsZ said:
Just done this for the third time in four years today. I should have taken some photos sorry!

Its really easy to do. If you go on youtube you may find a video walk through.

My advise is to absolutely flush out and clean the whole container too, I did what a mess in there.. Amazed how much sludge has built up.

:cry:

Sat in the car for 10 minutes after watching the wipers clean with the flood of water after :oops:

Found one, this should help...

https://youtu.be/XXNOi11txqo

:thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Why have you had to do it so often?
We have not had to touch ours in the 5 years we have owned it and we don't use BMWs stuff either.
We use stuff from Halfords that must be mixed with water to dilute.
Is it something to so with water hardness?
On a similar note though after we bought the X6 the headlight washers were not retracting fully and after stripping them down they were pretty gunky, it came from Peterborough.
Click to expand...

Good point, my rationale... :?

1st time, i cleaned filters only
2nd time, had it done at the service and the garage did it
3rd time, I stripped it down and flushed out the tank thoroughly, I am hoping this will last a good few years.

Tank flush was not done on the 1st two cleans so my thoughts are after me switching to Halfords (Easier to buy) the garage used a different brand so probably started the cycle again.

Cant think of any other reason why tbh :rofl:
 
R.E92 said:
Mr Tidy said:
I did my Z4 2 and a half years ago and haven't had a problem since - but I only ever use the same brand of screen-wash. Mixing brands seems to contribute to the problem.
Click to expand...

You got it. The problem comes from mixing different types of screenwash.

BMW use a different chemical to most other screenwash. The best thing to do is buy a 5L bottle of the BMW stuff from the dealer and top it up yourself. If you go and buy some supermarket screenwash and then it goes into BMW for a service and they top it off with some BMW brand stuff you end up with clogged washers and a tank full of gunk.
Click to expand...

BMW stuff. :o I've only ever used cheapy Prestone screen-wash from Tesco since I cleaned it all out. Did the same with my E46 and that worked for 3 years until I sold it.

Seeing as my Z4 won't ever be going to a BMW dealer it won't get topped up with their "snake-potion"!

Although I did buy some of the BMW branded stuff for my E91 as it has full BMW service history up to 132K miles, and the reservoir is hidden in a front wheel-arch!
 
Mr Tidy said:
R.E92 said:
Mr Tidy said:
I did my Z4 2 and a half years ago and haven't had a problem since - but I only ever use the same brand of screen-wash. Mixing brands seems to contribute to the problem.
Click to expand...

You got it. The problem comes from mixing different types of screenwash.

BMW use a different chemical to most other screenwash. The best thing to do is buy a 5L bottle of the BMW stuff from the dealer and top it up yourself. If you go and buy some supermarket screenwash and then it goes into BMW for a service and they top it off with some BMW brand stuff you end up with clogged washers and a tank full of gunk.
Click to expand...

BMW stuff. :o I've only ever used cheapy Prestone screen-wash from Tesco since I cleaned it all out. Did the same with my E46 and that worked for 3 years until I sold it.

Seeing as my Z4 won't ever be going to a BMW dealer it won't get topped up with their "snake-potion"!

Although I did buy some of the BMW branded stuff for my E91 as it has full BMW service history up to 132K miles, and the reservoir is hidden in a front wheel-arch!
Click to expand...

If you're never going to visit a dealer then it's no problem. I'd take over-priced screenwash over having to clean out the washer bottle again.

To be fair, the BMW stuff works really well at getting rid of grime so it's not a complete ripoff. I last paid £18 for 5L and It's pretty concentrated stuff (Works down to -63C) so I use 1 part screenwash to 4 parts water. I tend to get 3 years out of a 5L tub.

For anyone reading this who's interested in the BMW stuff, it's available on the BMW store: https://shop.bmw.co.uk/bmw-uk/en_GB/p/genuine-bmw-accessories/cleaning-and-care-products/other-products/windscreen-washer-with-anti-freeze-1000ml/PID_963005000ml/

Or for the more discerning person with a little more cash than sense there's the organic ginger infused option (that's got to be an april fools joke they forgot to remove!!):
https://shop.bmw.co.uk/bmw-uk/en_GB/p/-/all-season-screenwash-with-organic-ginger-extract/2405483/
 
Old screen wash can "go off" as well so watch out for gunge in the bottom of the bottle before using it.

Use an old tooth brush on the filter (do both filters at the same time, screen and headlights) and make sure you clean the tank out (best to remove it first, only a few screws) with a hose on jet.
 
R.E92 said:
To be fair, the BMW stuff works really well at getting rid of grime so it's not a complete ripoff. I last paid £18 for 5L and It's pretty concentrated stuff (Works down to -63C) so I use 1 part screenwash to 4 parts water. I tend to get 3 years out of a 5L tub.
Click to expand...


Sound advice :thumbsup:
I use the stuff in Summer (more diluted) and Winter.
 
So glad I’d done mine I had the seagull from hell unload it’s intestines on my bonnet and windscreen this morning 🤢

The washers worked perfectly but I had to go get a bucket of hot water and cloth to clean the bonnet
 
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