Washer Fluid Leak :(

[Iceman_Jay]

Well I had a look today at removing the washer tank with no success, after filling it with water around the tank seems bone dry, it seems to be like someone here else said coming from the vicinity of the front rhs headlight washer - there is a drip coming from underneath the bumper.

Maybe someone can help me now? I had a better today tho having cleaned the window

Oh and I saw another Z4 on the A449 - someone wearing sunglasses and a wooly hat?

 

[sp3ctre]

I had exactly the same issue today. Washer has been empty for a while, filled it up on Friday only for it to be empty now... filled it up again and indeed there is a drip from behind the bumper near the headlight.

 

[sp3ctre]

interesting, seems the headlight washer didn't errr... wash... I am guessing the hose has come off. Anyone know hw to get to it?

 

[Welshclown]

hi all,
yup i had the same problem when i turned up to collect my 05 car from BMW in Bath on saturday. There was a consant drip from under the passenger side bumper when we walked in to when he was showing us all round the car 1/2 hour later. I pointed it out, the salesman then took it round back, and they closed it off and ordered "the correct part in" and are replacing it tomorrow, giving me a replacement car for the trouble whilst its gone. So I dont think its just a hose comming off issue. I'll ask what exactly has been done when they drop it off.

If its any help the salesman told me it wont drip straight away as the pump doesnt start putting any pressure in the lines until its been run for a short while, which is supposedly why they didn't catch it when they were doing all the checks.

Hope this helps.

 

[sp3ctre]

uh oh, more expense... oh joy! I appreciate you finding out for us though, will be interesting to see what part it is

 

[cj10jeeper]

It's a simple system that uses a second pump off the washer tank. It immediately pressurises the hoses when activated and takes a few seconds to fill the jets with water and raise above the bumper hydraulically to wash the lights. Once the pump is shut off a spring returns the washer to normal closed. The system has about 4 pipe joins in that are push fit with an 'o' ring and securing clip.

You will have either a leaking pipe joint or leaking washer jet that will drip until the jet is empty or the pipe/tank empty depending upon the fault

It's bumper cover off to locate and replace.

 

[Sticks]

I had a similar problem on my E46. In short, the headlight washer cover wasn't closing properly after use and siphoned the tank dry. Tell tale drip nr headlight I thouht was just residual water from somewhere at first. Needed replacing....and a few weeks later so did the other one.

 

[Iceman_Jay]

Mine is going in tommorow for its 2 month out of date MOT... ooops! and I've asked the garage to have a look at the leak for me hoping it was somthing simple but it dosent seem like it is going to be its looking like its gonna be a re-test already.

 

[Welshclown]

It was the washer jet on mine, not sure on price of it, as not on good terms with the stealer as they didnt fix another small problem due to a miss comunication between the salesman and the service manager!! Anyways, hope it dont turn out to be too expensive as the one on the otherside of mine looks loose compared to the newly put in one.

Good luck

 

[Iceman_Jay]

Well thankfully it sailed thru its MOT yesterday, the only advice given was about the rear tyres being close to the legal limit which I knew 6 months ago anyway, nothing about the leak, I checked it before it went in and it was still 3/4 full so its either magically fixed itself or I disturbed somthing when I was messing around with it the other week.

Hopefully problem solved :?

 

[sp3ctre]

It's bumper cover off to locate and replace.

Thanks Phil. Do you have instructions for this somewhere? I had a look but couldn't see. I am by myself today, is it possible to do it as a 1 man job?

 

[cj10jeeper]

They're in the TIS if you have access to it and there is a 'how to on here somewhere, but in essence:

Under the wings push the securing pins through and collect them later. Remove the push in connectors
Under the bumper undo the 6 or so hex headed screws
Under the bonnet remove all the torx headed bolts, remove the metal frame and put one bolt back in loosely (stops the bumper falling on the ground)

Each wing pull the plastic bumper off the metal wing, just above the side reflector). Be brave and a few gentle tugs. ( I tend to put fingers behind the bumper cover and thumb on the wing to brace and pull/lever)

That's it - all loose. Cloth on floor. Undo last bolt at top and pull bumper forward.

Disconnect fog lights.

See if you can see the leak. If you need to move bumper away to see, unclip hose across bumper.

Takes no more than 15 minutes (45 the first timne...lol)

Replacement is the exact reverse. just need to get everything aligned, espcilayy the locating clips at the rear lower corners and the side reflectors.

That's it

 

[sp3ctre]

Thanks, will go see if I have the correct scredrivers first, then see if I have the bottle to do it this afternoon LOL!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Thanks, will go see if I have the correct scredrivers first, then see if I have the bottle to do it this afternoon LOL!

Just get on with it.. and you don't need any screwdrivers otyher than to pry the sideclips out
10mm socket a torx set and you're good

 

[sp3ctre]

Just get on with it.. and you don't need any screwdrivers otyher than to pry the sideclips out
10mm socket a torx set and you're good

LOL, first I need to sober up... had a bit of an Aebous evening last night and am suffering for it now :lol:

 

[Iceman_Jay]

It does sound like a bit of a complex job for someone like me whose toolset consists soley of hammers

c10jeep, do you know a good garage bmw or not, Im thinking I need a service soon

 

[cj10jeeper]

My local garage in Shenstone would do it no probs. (as would I if I had time, or it's not urgent)

Frankly any local garage can do this as it's so simple. You only need 2 tools a 10mm socket and a torx drive (can't remember the size)