Headlight washer (xenon) problem - stuck out

[Spud]

Hello!

No sooner have I had my suspension arms, bushes & tracking done (and replacing my nicked stubby!), there's now something else to sort! Though I suspect this may be because of the cold weather.

My headlight washers are sticking out from the bonnet, the driver's side in particular.
Driver's:

Passenger:

A gentle-ish push on both doesn't do anything - they won't go in. Now, I've read this thread from last winter, which was quite helpful. I can't see any fluid coming out of them when I use the windscreen washers, though it's difficult to see on your own! I'm only using plain water too - ran out of screenwash.

Adding all those up, does it suggest that the water in the headlight washer pipes/whatever is frozen, rather than them being broken?
Should I just wait for it to warm up? Will it do any damage leaving it as it is?
Add some screenwash and hope it mixes to clear it?

I'm just not fully convinced it's frozen because the windscreen washers are still working fine at this temperature. Or does engine warmth heat those a bit better than the headlight ones, being closer?

Cheers guys!

 

[cj10jeeper]

They are just frozen. Heat from the engine will keep the windscreen jets working

Just warm the car naturally in a garage and they should return to normal. Pressing will just damage them.

Once working put headlights on fill washer with correct dilution of fluid and run some through pipes by cycling the washers many times.

 

[Spud]

Ah, great to have a (cheap) suspicion confirmed!

When I say 'pressing' I do mean gently, felt resistance, so didn't do any more. Only problem with warming it in my garage is that my garage is bloody cold too! Will it damage the mechanism if it's let sat out like that for a day or two until it warms?

Thanks for the prompt response, cj! :driving:

 

[jamiecarpenter]

Its happened to mine too. Just hope it is down to being cold as Phil had said. I'll take a good luck tomorow.

 

[paddy wright]

Yep- wait fo the thaw and all fine!

 

[aquazi]

I cant imagine leaving them up like that will cause any damage... only thing maybe is that if you plan to drive on the motorway or something with them up it may increase the likely hood of that little plasic cap getting blown off.

 

[Spud]

Hmm, you could say that. Just checked them tonight (after doing 100 miles in the last couple of days) and not only has the plastic cover gone, but so has the top of the black nozzle.

Anyone got any idea on part numbers & cost?

 

[Alzay]

Mines did this and I poured hot water over it, by the time I put the kettle back, it had eased back into place.

 

[Taz]

as alzay said, i would poor water on them, but only look warm, not hot

then try and wash fresh water through that contains screen wash

 

[Spud]

Too late now chaps, need part numbers!

Can't seem to find 'em in the lights section on the RealOEM page, must be looking in the wrong place.

 

[Taz]

why too late, what as happened

edit. just spotted - oh dear

 

[Spud]

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&btnr=61_1604&hg=61&fg=45

61677057452

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=BT52&mospid=47797&btnr=51_4848&hg=51&fg=15

51110031026


I think those are the two I'm going to need? Will take a pic in the light tomorrow to show what I mean.

 

[Trut01]

Hi Spud,

Same thing happened to me yesterday on the passenger side :thumbsdown: I would be interested to see your pictures to see if I'm in the same boat as you

 

[Trut01]

Hi Spud,

Having now done some research on this I agree with the part numbers you have listed.

As far as I can tell, looking at Gannets psot in the following thread it should either be an easy repair whereby the nozzle just neatly clicks back into place (fingers crossed), or the tab holding it in place has broken in which case its a bumper off job to replace the whole nozzle :headbang:

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=15822

 

[aquazi]

As you have lost the whole stork its most likely a bumper off jobbie.

As your car is silver you will also need to get a can of primer, paint and lacquer to colour match it... bmw will charge stupid amounts to paint this for you.. much easier to diy the painting.

I had one of mine replaced under the warranty in sep as it was sticking out too much (kept catching my microfibre when i cleaned my car) they replaced the whole unit and total cost inc labour was £400 something and had to wait a week for the damn thing to be painted!!

 

[Spud]

Hello! I thought I might not be alone in this predicament, if I'm honest.

Mine looks like this (apologies for large size, no re-sizing on my laptop like I have on my desktop):

So, I'm hoping that the top bit will just slot in. And then obviously replace the cover on top of it.

Are we in definite agreement about the part numbers? Worth calling BMW and checking?

 

[Trut01]

Exactly the same as mine. I agree with the part numbers but it never harms to double check.

Key question is - has it been oushed out by the ice? or snapped of by wind resistance due to protrusion? Hopefully the former, else bumper of and loads of hassle.

If the former whole nozzle (61677057451/2) replacement part is not needed, so might be worth asking if just the relevant bit can be supplied?

 

[Spud]

I would doubt they'll split parts - I imagine it's just as the catalogue presents it.

Total: £89.08
Tax Total: £13.27

£38 for the smallest piece of trim ever!

 

[encee]

Gents, gents, gents.............I sooooooooo wish that I had seen this thread a couple of days ago, and could have helped out before yours got damaged !!

Mine did EXACTLY the same thing a few days ago; pulled up in the garage at home, walking past the front of my car to go in the house, and saw them stuck out, frozen solid.

Dead easy to sort out..........all I did was got out the wife`s hairdryer and thawed out all the ice around them straight away; worked a treat !! Took no more than about 5 minutes.......

Since then, if I`ve had to wash my windows when my headlamps were on, I`ve merely flicked off the headlamps very briefly, pulled the wash-stalk, and put the lamps straight back on.........saves getting them frozen up again.

OP: Good luck with getting them sorted mate, hope it`s not too expensive for you bud.

 

[Ewazix]

I did one last winter, you will find that the cover clips on to a fragile plastic clip on top of the nozzle, if the clip is missing (which I expect it is) you can only order the whole nozzle unit. From memory the cap was about £25 unpainted and the unit £75 ish. I ended up getting a used unit that leaked, took the clip off the top and fitted the clip and cap in-situ which I sprayed myself. Note that all washer unit parts including the cover are handed.