F31 washer fluid Jets

[wastedyouth86]

Hi All, my 2016 F31 has developed an annoying issue that no water is coming out of the washer jets for the windscreen. the Back window jet works fine and there is plenty of washer fluid in the car.

i can hear the motor wizz up like it is trying to jet water up but only a tiny amount comes out?

the car has had very limited use and i have checked the nozzles and seem fine and clear.

any help would be appreciated.

[_Hoppers]

Try disconnecting the rubber hose leading to the jets and put an air pump on it. If that’s clear it could be a blockage on the pump pick up within the reservoir?

[g3org3y]

What kind of screenwash are you using?

Later BMWs are notorious for the filters in the washer bottle to get gunged/blocked up if not using Original BMW.

Where is the screenwash tank in the F31 - under the bonnet or under the arch like E90s?

[Pica-Pica]

_Hoppers said:

Try disconnecting the rubber hose leading to the jets and put an air pump on it. If that’s clear it could be a blockage on the pump pick up within the reservoir?

... there are some reports regarding mixing different washer fluids which results in a gel in the washer reservoir. I use the BMW stuff.

https://bimmertips.com/pro-tip-dont-use-rain-x-was...

[_Hoppers]

g3org3y said:

Where is the screenwash tank in the F31 - under the bonnet or under the arch like E90s?

It’s in the front wing (behind wheel arch)

[wastedyouth86]

I am using the stuff they put in when last serviced so from sytner, it is defiantly a blockage as it makes the same noise and does the same thing when there is no fluid left in the reservoir

[Pica-Pica]

wastedyouth86 said:

I am using the stuff they put in when last serviced so from sytner, it is defiantly a blockage as it makes the same noise and does the same thing when there is no fluid left in the reservoir

Get back to them, make a booking. If blocked, the car is (potentially) illegal. Do you know whether BMW are the only people who have filled the reservoir? They may claim that there has been a mixture of BMW OEM, and another fluid (with silicone additive) that has been added. The handbook states do not use silicone based fluids or additives.

[Pica-Pica]

I use these two BMW washer fluids. On the left is for summer use. It is tiny, at 50ml, but VERY concentrated, and makes 5 litre of screen wash when water is added. On the right is for winter use and is 1000ml (the ‘A/F’ scribbling on the bottle is mine because the bottle is silmilar to BMW car wash). It will go down to minus 63 deg C when used neat, or if 1 part A/F and 2 parts water down to minus 12 deg C.

[wastedyouth86]

Nope just the stuff from last service, haven't filled it up since, like i said it comes out fine on the rear window but the front windscreen nothing, if it was clogged surely both the front and back would have issues,

[b14]

wastedyouth86 said:

Nope just the stuff from last service, haven't filled it up since, like i said it comes out fine on the rear window but the front windscreen nothing, if it was clogged surely both the front and back would have issues,

The blockage may have developed in the piping up to the windscreen, after the feed tees off to the rear? If the pump is working etc and there's fluid in it, it can't be much beyond a blockage or detached pipe somewhere.

[_Hoppers]

wastedyouth86 said:

Nope just the stuff from last service, haven't filled it up since, like i said it comes out fine on the rear window but the front windscreen nothing, if it was clogged surely both the front and back would have issues,

I have the F30 but I was kinda assuming that there may be a pump for front and one for rear

[_Hoppers]

wastedyouth86 said:

Nope just the stuff from last service, haven't filled it up since, like i said it comes out fine on the rear window but the front windscreen nothing, if it was clogged surely both the front and back would have issues,

PS if you get an airline/tyre pump on the hoses you can try blowing back to the pump side, this may help for a few weeks, I found it wasn’t a permanent fix (also did same on my previous car (Honda Civic))

[g3org3y]

_Hoppers said:

wastedyouth86 said:

Nope just the stuff from last service, haven't filled it up since, like i said it comes out fine on the rear window but the front windscreen nothing, if it was clogged surely both the front and back would have issues,

I have the F30 but I was kinda assuming that there may be a pump for front and one for rear

My E46 330Ci had gunged up filters in the tank. 2 separate pumps, one for the windscreen washers and the other for the headlamp washers.

[Monty Python]

Put some swimming pool algicide in it and don't use tap water.

[panholio]

In my experience it is mixing concentrate with tap water, rather than mixing brands that causes the issue.

I always use various brands of ready mixed up stuff in mine and *touch wood* not had an issue.

[Mr Tidy]

I've had "gunked" up washer pump filter issues twice.

The first time was in an E46 that the selling trader had filled with neat tap-water and the second time was in an E86 (Z4 Coupe) that had been filled with different brands of screenwash.

Thankfully both of those had the reservior in the engine bay!

I keep using OE BMW screenwash in my E90 as I don't fancy having to remove the arch-liner to get to the reservoir.

[320d is all you need]

I use any cheap normal type of Screenwash in my 320d that's on special discount from ECP. Plonk a quarter to half of the concentrate tub in and the rest I fill up with the hose pipe. Never had any issues. ( This stuff : https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/triple-qx-15c-conce...

A friend of mine had a 330d E90 and we had to remove the washer bottle to clear the filter.

Really don't know why some get soiled and others don't.

I guess it's trying to ensure that you don't get any sort of reaction between the different brands/types of screenwash
and perhaps the material on the filter itself??

My advice would be to try and empty your screenwash bottle from time to time, and top up with a decent brand (non-beading/additive) and ensure it's of a reasonable strength to ensure that there's no microbiological stuff going on!

I wouldn't ever buy the "genuine BMW stuff".

[BFleming]

wastedyouth86 said:

Hi All, my 2016 F31 has developed an annoying issue that no water is coming out of the washer jets for the windscreen. the Back window jet works fine and there is plenty of washer fluid in the car.

i can hear the motor wizz up like it is trying to jet water up but only a tiny amount comes out?

the car has had very limited use and i have checked the nozzles and seem fine and clear.

any help would be appreciated.

There's a joint in the hoses around the bonnet hinge; unclip it there & blow into it, that'll clear it. No need to access the reservoir, which is a big job. My F20 used to gunk up once per year, so off came the hose, blow into it, then empty the reservoir into a jug by pulling on the lever (or put a hose into the reservoir), rinse it through, and refill it with screenwash again.

[Pica-Pica]

320d is all you need said:

!

I wouldn't ever buy the "genuine BMW stuff".

It is not that dear at all.