Help with leak e90. 330d.

[lewis328]

Sorry about photo, but hopefully you can make out where the water leak is coming from, n/s front bumper. Noticed it a few days ago, and now washer fluid is showing low. Is this a bumper off to investigate? Also all washers still work fine.

[Welshbeef]

Someone else had this very same issue recently - it is the headlight washer jet either broken or pipe has come off

[lewis328]

Hopefully something obvious, the leak is slow but consistent. Can you recall if the washer was removed with bumper intact?

[Welshbeef]

lewis328 said:

Hopefully something obvious, the leak is slow but consistent. Can you recall if the washer was removed with bumper intact?

Dealer did it but its a quick job so bumper stays on - have you tried your other half in the car lights on and you standing in front of the car if the headlamp apart is not working you will see also you may see gushing of fluid under the car near the headlamp - if so bingo that's the fault.

Just replace the whole thing they don't repair - if you don't sort it then you will empty the screen wash in no time time after time until it is fixed.

[Jimbo666]

I've had the exact same problem. The headlight washer will be at fault. You can get your arm in the washer from in the engine bay. You'll feel if it has been leaking.

[Jimbo666]

I've had the exact same problem. The headlight washer will be at fault. You can get your arm in the washer from in the engine bay. You'll feel if it has been leaking.

[Jimbo666]

Oh and I've just bought a new headlamp washer from honking on ebay. It's priced at 13.99 compared to the BMW price of £60ish. I'll let you know if it's any good...

[lewis328]

Jimbo666 said:

Oh and I've just bought a new headlamp washer from honking on ebay. It's priced at 13.99 compared to the BMW price of £60ish. I'll let you know if it's any good...

Good work, I will try the above to try locate leak, I do hope it's the washer. Let me know how you get on with the eBay part, am sure it will do the job.

[lewis328]

Jimbo666 said:

Oh and I've just bought a new headlamp washer from honking on ebay. It's priced at 13.99 compared to the BMW price of £60ish. I'll let you know if it's any good...

Good work, I will try the above to try locate leak, I do hope it's the washer. Let me know how you get on with the eBay part, am sure it will do the job.

[Jimbo666]

Hi Lewis. Did you manage to find the leak? The 'Hong Kong special' arrived today and is fitted. It's taken 7 days to get here which isn't bad. Upon inspection, the part seems to have had the BMW emblem buffed off. Whether it is a bmw part or not, I don't care as long as it doesn't leak! I'll have to give it a couple of days to see if it cures the leak as my drive way and engine bay is wet with residual water at the moment. I'll let you know in a day or two if it holds up.

[philmots]

Deffo headlight washer..

Replace both, I had one leak on my old 335d which I replaced which then caused the other to leak!

Easiest way is jack up, remove front wheel and front arch liner, you'll see the assembly straight away, pull off tube then unclip, you'll need a torch and flat head screwdriver.. Budget half hour a side.

[Welshbeef]

philmots said:

Deffo headlight washer..

Replace both, I had one leak on my old 335d which I replaced which then caused the other to leak!

Easiest way is jack up, remove front wheel and front arch liner, you'll see the assembly straight away, pull off tube then unclip, you'll need a torch and flat head screwdriver.. Budget half hour a side.

Spot on - when mine failed BMW did both.

How are you enjoying the best real world car? (Phase comes from countless articles re its handling pace efficiency "the accountants car". Still miss mine + realise had I kept it another year the £6.5k I got for it I'd get that every day of the week now so zero depreciation. Oh well YOLO.

[lewis328]

Jimbo666 said:

Hi Lewis. Did you manage to find the leak? The 'Hong Kong special' arrived today and is fitted. It's taken 7 days to get here which isn't bad. Upon inspection, the part seems to have had the BMW emblem buffed off. Whether it is a bmw part or not, I don't care as long as it doesn't leak! I'll have to give it a couple of days to see if it cures the leak as my drive way and engine bay is wet with residual water at the moment. I'll let you know in a day or two if it holds up.

How did you fit the part? Was it a case of taking washer out of bumper, and swapping over? Both my washers still working. But with the washer tank full I still get the leak? Hopefully getting bumper re sprayed in a couple of weeks, going to get garage to investigate with bumper off the car.

[mike-r]

For reference the easiest way to locate a leak would be to taste the water. Sweet will be coolant, soapy will be washer fluid, nothing will be the aircon condenser.

[Jimbo666]

Lewis,

I'm well versed at taking the damn thing out now as I've tried and failed to seal the old one with tiger seal. It's easy to do but you're in danger of breaking the bottom plastic lug when fitting it on. You're probably better off with either doing as Philmots said and taking the wheel liner off or wait until your bumper is off so you can see what you're doing.

Where in the world are you? I could lend a hand if you're local to Northants.

So far so good with the new jet. I've used it a few times and it's as dry as a bone.

[lewis328]

Jimbo,

I am in Edinburgh, but thanks for the offer of help. I think I will wait till the bumper is coming off, and see what's what. I take it you don't have any photos do the parts and fitting it? Glad it seems to have done the trick.

Was yours leaking all the time? As mine has stopped for the past few weeks, so it appears it was only leaking when the washer tank was full.

[Jimbo666]

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of the part or fitting process. Mine was leaking pretty much all of the time. It really is easy to fit, just be careful of the plastic lugs.

[lewis328]

Jimbo666 said:

Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures of the part or fitting process. Mine was leaking pretty much all of the time. It really is easy to fit, just be careful of the plastic lugs.

Jimbo,

Looking into the engine bay I can see water gathering on the scuff plate, I can't quite see where the water is coming from, when reaching in to locate washer from behind was your one wet? And did it pull off or are there clips to be removed? I will prob wait until bumper off and see what the garage can see. I am just impatient and curious to see if I can sort myself.

[Jimbo666]

Yes it was wet. My new one is completely dry.

I did just pull it off with brute force. You'll have to take the blanking plate off from the nozzle end on the outside of the bumper. If you get that off you should see how it's attached.

[lewis328]

Thanks for update, I checked it later on and can now feel it wet on the washer, so will order the part, and get body shop to fit it once bumper off. Thanks again, will update in a few weeks once done.