Headlight Washer Leak

NaweedM

NaweedM

Member
 Eindhoven NL
My washer fluid has been leaking for a while, so I was preparing to replace the reservoir. I didn't drive the car for quite some time and even when I did, i refrained from using the washer fluid at all and it runs out leading me to believe it is from the reservoir.

The other day i noticed a wet patch on the front left corner and now I am a bit confused as to where the leak is coming from. I am aware the headlight washers only work based on water pressure, but if the headlight washers are not activated at all, that means there's no liquid flow from the water pump so I'm wondering how the reservoir is emptying out on the opposite end of where it sits if the pump is never activated.

Any tips on what to check? Ideally I would like to verify/seal the leak with the front bumper on. My understanding is that if it was the reservoir itself, then I would expect liquid directly underneath where it is seated in the engine bay.

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Get the wheels off with the car jacked up and open the lower inspection hatch

A quick check will tell you if it’s the headlight washer leaking (possible) the rubber o ring in the connecting union as perished (probable) or the washer pipe has failed/fallen off
 
The washers are lower than the reservoir so if the jet leaks it empties the reservoir, like mine did the day after I bought it!

It turned out to be an "O" ring in the washer jet so after it was fixed I pulled Fuse 40 IIRC to stop them activating. But then in 2024 the same jet started leaking again so I disconnected the "T" piece in the engine bay and plugged the short pipe from the headlamp washer pump so that I'd still be able to use the screen washers on a trip to Scotland less than a week later.

On cars registered before 2009 you don't need them for the MOT even if you have Xenons so I've left them disconnected as they're more trouble than they are worth. (n)
 
Pull Fuse 40, remove the pipe from the pump and plug the pump nozzle.
Never use them again. They are an abomination with the sole purpose of making messy streaks up your bonnet.
I went one step further and fitted a washer bottle from a car without headlight washers.
 
Hah, wasnt aware I can see the hose from the inspection hatch. Thats something i couldnt find when searching for this specific issue in the forums.

Also wasnt aware the headlight washing system is mostly a curse than a blessing. Always thought it was a cool feature to have in the 4 years of driving this car however, never really saw a benefit as i wash my car regularly anyways.

Mr Tidy said:
It turned out to be an "O" ring in the washer jet so after it was fixed I pulled Fuse 40 IIRC to stop them activating.
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Any idea what O rings i need to get? Maybe a generic box of multisize O rings from Aliexpress is sufficient?
 
NaweedM said:
Any idea what O rings i need to get? Maybe a generic box of multisize O rings from Aliexpress is sufficient?
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Mine got fixed with one from a box like that so it might be worth a try as they cost so little.

The problem is you need to be careful you don't break the "D" clip that holds the cover onto the washer, and ideally need 3 hands to get the jet out of the washer body. It's a really fiddly job but shouldn't cost much more than time when the other option is a complete washer jet from BMW that I don't think includes a cover, and covers don't come painted.

If you need better access you need to take the front section of the wheel-arch liner out.
 
Perfect, thanks! I will probably schedule this job for when I swap my winter wheels out. I will also pull the fuse for the washer system and plug up the hose. When you mention plugging the hose from the T, i would imagine placing a plug where the arrow points, right?

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Yes, that's it.

I just wound a bolt into the end of the pipe.
 
Diagram doesn’t look quite right to me? Looks like E89?
Washer bottle is at the front. Undo the bolt and lift it out for access.
The outlet from the pump is a male fitting. I used a short piece of garden hose, filled with gasket sealant and a bolt on one end held with a jubilee clip. Then fit it to the pump outlet and secure with another jubilee clip. The loose end of the pipe going to the washers may rattle about so cable tie it up to something to hold it tight.
 
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enuff_zed said:
Diagram doesn’t look quite right to me? Looks like E89?
Click to expand...
This is what I got from RealOEM so I was also confused. Had some time to poke around and noticed the T junction isnt in an easy to reach spot. was hoping to just put a simple bolt to plug it up.
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You reckon I can just seal the male part of the headlight washer pump outlet?

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Just to confirm, the leak is definitely coming from the washer pump. Not interested in buying a new unit. I was also wondering, I could just plug the hose from here and ziptie the hose to something. What do you think?

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I took the T piece out of the pipe from the pump and plugged the end of that.

If you want a more permanent solution you could always fit a reservoir from a Z4 that didn't have headlight washers so it will only have one pump for the windscreen washers. Hopefully someone on here would have one.
 
Mr Tidy said:
I took the T piece out of the pipe from the pump and plugged the end of that.
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How easy was it for you to reach it? Wheel lining access cover or you reached down? I removed the radiator plastic cover thinking the T connector is accessible from the engine bay
 
NaweedM said:
How easy was it for you to reach it? Wheel lining access cover or you reached down? I removed the radiator plastic cover thinking the T connector is accessible from the engine bay
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I'm in the same boat as you. Just discovered it today. It looks like - and I have yet to check, but that T-piece could be accessible from the RHS wheel liner hatch, or failing that, removing the wheel liner itself. I'd like to fix it if all it needs is an o-ring, but I may end up doing the plugging operation myself. I just like to keep my Z4 as original as possible.
 
I managed to remove the T piece from the outlet pipe on the pump and plug the end of it from inside the engine bay. That way the pump is still there as are the T piece and the two pipes to the washers so it could be fairly easily reinstated if required, well once the leaking headlamp washer was fixed!

The fuse is still out from before the washer started leaking (again) so the pump won't be putting pressure on my bung.
 
Mr Tidy said:
I managed to remove the T piece from the outlet pipe on the pump and plug the end of it from inside the engine bay. That way the pump is still there as are the T piece and the two pipes to the washers so it could be fairly easily reinstated if required, well once the leaking headlamp washer was fixed!

The fuse is still out from before the washer started leaking (again) so the pump won't be putting pressure on my bung.
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Where's your t-junction? I couldn't see it, but maybe wasn't looking hard enough!
I did think of putting in an in-line stopcock. What do you think the diameter of the pipe is?
 
Well I managed to get a blurry photo.

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The pipe from the pump goes through an aperture in the slam panel just below the A/C hose (Eaton label on it) but I've pulled it back on itself so the bolt head is visible pretty much in the centre of the photo. I think I must have had the reservoir out when I disconnected the pipe from the T piece as there would be a bit more access. The pipe is about 6 to 8 inches long. Not sure about the pipe diameter though as I didn't want to take the bolt out!
 
Thanks, so I located my T-junction, and it's down on the lower tray, just before it heads off to go off to the LHS jet. I'm going to get a new (2nd hand) jet from a member here and try that. Failing all that I'll 3D print a plug/adapter to plug both the hole and connect the outlet hose to it. Like a dummy pump. Once I do it, I'll share the file here. Something like this.

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