Headlamp washers

[Angie4m]

It dawned on me prior to today that I've never seen the mist from the headlight washers when spraying the windscreen. I know on the ae46 it used to be every third Pull so tonight I tried it. Sat in the car, engine running, lights on bad the other half standing outside pulled the stalk 30 times for a good 4 to 5 seconds each time.......nothing! No noise, no nothing. Clearly that's not right?

I've read that it only does it so often and only does it every half hour or so but surely this should be from start up? Advice is much appreciated on this because the manual tells you F all!

 

[ric19]

mine seems to do it every 3 or 4 times I wash the screen

Sent via Tapatalk from my Galaxy S3

 

[Angie4m]

mine seems to do it every 3 or 4 times I wash the screen

Sent via Tapatalk from my Galaxy S3

I'm just thinking that I'd be best taking it to the steelers......but I'm not too fussed about it to be honest just thought in two months I would if seen them working by now.

 

[xedbot]

Check the filters on the screen wash bottle. There are two pumps (black cylinders with wires running to the top), the closest to the front of the car is the pump for the headlight washers.

Unclip the wire from the top then a twist and upward pull will remove the pump. When I have done the is the filter (white mesh cylinder with black rubber top) usually remains in the bottle and needs to be pulled out. This will drain the bottle so either plug the hole with blue-tac or use the opportunity to empty and clean the bottle thoroughly. Clean the filter and reassemble.

Its worth checking the other filter as well for good measure. The whole tank can easily be removed from the car then, with the single obvious screw and some jiggery.

When I first got my car this was happening all the time until I realised how easily it was to fix. No problems since.

 

[Angie4m]

Check the filters on the screen wash bottle. There are two pumps (black cylinders with wires running to the top), the closest to the front of the car is the pump for the headlight washers.

Unclip the wire from the top then a twist and upward pull will remove the pump. When I have done the is the filter (white mesh cylinder with black rubber top) usually remains in the bottle and needs to be pulled out. This will drain the bottle so either plug the hole with blue-tac or use the opportunity to empty and clean the bottle thoroughly. Clean the filter and reassemble.

Its worth checking the other filter as well for good measure. The whole tank can easily be removed from the car then, with the single obvious screw and some jiggery.

When I first got my car this was happening all the time until I realised how easily it was to fix. No problems since.

As I have a warranty I'll just take it to the dealers to sort. If I didn't live in the city centre I would investigate a bit further but no point in having a warranty and doing it all myself.

 

[xedbot]

Just noticed we are talking about the E89 so you can ignore what I've said anyway! I saw your username and assumed you had an E85/6 ///M



Hope you get it sorted

 

[Angie4m]

Just noticed we are talking about the E89 so you can ignore what I've said anyway! I saw your username and assumed you had an E85/6 ///M



Hope you get it sorted

That's alright. I thought that was the case. I'll take it a spin tomorrow and see if I have any joy.

 

[flybobbie]

If i select auto lights (2009 23i) it sprays at least first time i operate the windscreen wipers.
I know the later models have no auto select but permanent auto.

Not sure if headlight washers not working could be a fail come MOT.

 

[Angie4m]

If i select auto lights (2009 23i) it sprays at least first time i operate the windscreen wipers.
I know the later models have no auto select but permanent auto.

Not sure if headlight washers not working could be a fail come MOT.

I'm sure it technically should be. I took the lights off auto and put them on myself last night, still nothing. Unfortunately the 35is isn't the most discreet sounding car so couldn't take too much time trying them last night.

 

[Angie4m]

Fills you with confidence when you phone the garage to book it in and they say 'are you sure you have them?' I drive a E89, all E89s come with Xenons and so yes I do. It's the law.....two garages said this to me even thought they knew it was a E89 Z4.

Turns out they will need it for a whole day........I'll find the time at some point. Not a huge issue at the moment but it should work first time

 

[Angie4m]

I've noticed I can hear the headlamp washer motor running and my windscreen has some sticky residue left from spraying the windows. Clearly there is 'gunk' in there and there was very little water in the bottle as it took 4.5 litres.

Having covered little miles since purchase and it's been raining almost every time I've had it out I've not used the washers so the garage clearly hasn't checked prior to pick up and I've asked re checking of the washers prior to pick up which they assure me they did but I find it very hard to believe given the little water and the 'gunk'. Can't be arsed that it's going to be needed by the dealer for a whole day and they seem to be constantly booked up as I'll need time off work to be able to pick it up. Grrrrrrr!!!

 

[flybobbie]

Last time i let my bottle go dry it took a while for the headlamp washer to operate normally.
Perhaps it had an owner like my colleague, " Whats the windscreen washer reservoir? The garage fill that up every two years when i take it in to be serviced!"

 

[chasBMW]

They should work every time (if lights are on) or at least mine do

 

[awwalker]

so do mine!

 

[Angie4m]

Issue I have is the car has done 500 miles since January mostly during the day and the weather has been kak up here, constantly raining so I've not had any real reason to use the headlamp washers so I thought I'd give them a go and nope, nothing. Strange there was little fluid in the bottle so I filled it.

Now thinking I should possibly siphon off the 6l of water and washer fluid I've put into the tank and fill it with warm water, take it a drive, siphon it off then try putting warm water around the system to maybe breakdown any kak. Failing that it's a trip to the stealers. I'm not a huge fan of the two I can use hence buying from another dealer in Newcastle and leaving it with them for a whole day fills me with dread.

 

[awwalker]

you know what.... I wouldn't bother, can't really see how it can wash off the crud without a wiper anyway!

 

[Angie4m]

It's a MOT fail that's why I would like to bother. If I don't attend to it, it won't get better. I've never had an issue with any other headlamp washers, even my 2003 E46 still works perfectly.

I know they clean jack all really but if they are fitted they must be tested and if not working it's a fail

 

[Jembo]

It's a MOT fail that's why I would like to bother. If I don't attend to it, it won't get better. I've never had an issue with any other headlamp washers, even my 2003 E46 still works perfectly.

Evening Angie4m - I took the fuse out of my Z4 headlamp washers as I got miffed off with the water spraying all over my shiney bonnet.

So, did you buy it new or 2nd hand, as if so the previous owner might have removed the fuse - every MOT it went for never showed up as a fail, so hope for us all though u a right it's an MOT failure

 

[Angie4m]

It's a MOT fail that's why I would like to bother. If I don't attend to it, it won't get better. I've never had an issue with any other headlamp washers, even my 2003 E46 still works perfectly.

Evening Angie4m - I took the fuse out of my Z4 headlamp washers as I got miffed off with the water spraying all over my shiney bonnet.

So, did you buy it new or 2nd hand, as if so the previous owner might have removed the fuse - every MOT it went for never showed up as a fail, so hope for us all though u a right it's an MOT failure

I bought used from BMW at two years old and when I checked with them confirmed that they 'checked' the headlamp washers which I doubt, I did think maybe it was the fuse but no. I'm sure my local Indy isn't that bothered about checking them. Just a bit annoying but not as annoying as when they spray the bonnet. It's a no win

I just don't like the dealers as each time my car has been returned it's been damaged in some way, washed even thought i ask them not to, once it was covered in muddy water marks and they always seem to use half a tank of fuel road testing it even when the item doesn't require road testing ie fixing a dodgy boot latch :thumbsdown:

Next time I'm buying new again....not that it solves much apart from I know how it's been treated and costs me a fortune as I do less than 2k a year at most. But the car was mint when I bought it, just like the one I traded.

Good to know yours have passed, given the amount of people with aftermarket xenon and HID kits going about its clear these aren't being checked as they should be a failure too.

 

[Angie4m]

The other reason I was curious was because the E46 does it every 3 sprays. I'm off work on Friday to get the tracking and alignment done so I'll have another bash at seeing if I get it to work. Might get it up and check filters etc. that's if I can stop driving it as I'm hoping for roof down weather for once!

Thank you for all your help guys, you are MUCH more helpful than a manual