Possible blockage of washers.
Discussion
Hi There.
My wife's washer bottle was completely empty the other day, i top it up again, now the water hardly comes out.
Motor runs fine, i suspect there is a blockage in the line somewhere. Water initially shoots out then drops right back to a trickle.
Is it easy to get to the bottle to clear line.
I know its by the front drivers wheel, but dont want to take wheel and liner of for nothing.
Any help would be great please.
Regards.
Dave.
Car is a 2013 328i estate.
My wife's washer bottle was completely empty the other day, i top it up again, now the water hardly comes out.
Motor runs fine, i suspect there is a blockage in the line somewhere. Water initially shoots out then drops right back to a trickle.
Is it easy to get to the bottle to clear line.
I know its by the front drivers wheel, but dont want to take wheel and liner of for nothing.
Any help would be great please.
Regards.
Dave.
Car is a 2013 328i estate.
BMW use a screenwash additive that congeals with the screenwash everyone else on the planet uses. This punishes you for daring not to pay through the nose for genuine screenwash additive.
You will find the fine gauze inside the washer bottle, accessed once you have removed the pump, all gung'd up with sludge.
Remove wheel and arch liner to access the pump.
Blow it ot with an airline if possible or otherwise clean it, refill and you will be fine.
Just tell them NOT to use their crappy screenwash when they service it next.
You will find the fine gauze inside the washer bottle, accessed once you have removed the pump, all gung'd up with sludge.
Remove wheel and arch liner to access the pump.
Blow it ot with an airline if possible or otherwise clean it, refill and you will be fine.
Just tell them NOT to use their crappy screenwash when they service it next.
Thanks for the reply, will sort it hopefully Friday PM.
I have never ever had this problem in any other cars i`ve owned, always used Halfords stuff or screenwash from say costco and Makro.
Seen another posts re this problem, seems quite common. People have said, although not much more money, that the BMW stuff is best as does not clog up like other additives do. How true this is, i dont know.
As i said, never had this before, so, other additives cant be all that bad surely.
I have never ever had this problem in any other cars i`ve owned, always used Halfords stuff or screenwash from say costco and Makro.
Seen another posts re this problem, seems quite common. People have said, although not much more money, that the BMW stuff is best as does not clog up like other additives do. How true this is, i dont know.
As i said, never had this before, so, other additives cant be all that bad surely.
Whoa! Before you go to all that faff check the line where it runs under bonnet into engine bay as these are prone to kinking when shut carelessly.
I had nothing from my front washers when I got the car back from a service and sure enough the clowns had slammed the bonnet in such a way the line had been pinched.
I had nothing from my front washers when I got the car back from a service and sure enough the clowns had slammed the bonnet in such a way the line had been pinched.
Had a similar problem on the 640 recently and the washers were just trickling, I tried the washers with the bonnet up and the water was coming out the other side of the pipeline.
It was as if a cover or bung had come off, I blocked it back up and they work fine again so that might be worth checking too if the washers are a similar set up.
It was as if a cover or bung had come off, I blocked it back up and they work fine again so that might be worth checking too if the washers are a similar set up.
Thanks for that.
Water does come from the washers, or it did, nothing at all now. If i left it about 30 seconds then operate washers they would shoot water out then stop as quick. It is as if water is slowly getting through but not enough to feed the pump, so i reckon well blocked up.
Water does come from the washers, or it did, nothing at all now. If i left it about 30 seconds then operate washers they would shoot water out then stop as quick. It is as if water is slowly getting through but not enough to feed the pump, so i reckon well blocked up.
Dropping a crushed up Calgon tablet can sometimes clear the blockage - this worked wonders for me first time round, second time not so much - had to go to BMW to get them to clean the whole lot out as I didn't have a jack.
I had to clean it out again last year after someone helpfully filling up the bottle with the non-BMW stuff - this time I did have a jack, so did it myself, and had to take the actual bottle out as well as the pumps. Be prepared to spend a lot of time swearing.
I had to clean it out again last year after someone helpfully filling up the bottle with the non-BMW stuff - this time I did have a jack, so did it myself, and had to take the actual bottle out as well as the pumps. Be prepared to spend a lot of time swearing.
I get blocked nozzles alot, its a mankey old tank, full of crud slime and mold. I carry a can of air duster in the glove box. Whenever it gets blocked fire some air down the blocked nozzle until you hear bubbling in the tank and its unblocked. It doesn't always work i have 3 out of 4 working nozzles. It will get blocked up again unless you clean out the tank, but its a quick easy temporary fix.
My BMW Owners Guide clearly states not to use silicone-based fluids and not to mix BMW and non-BMW fluids or anti-freeze with big warning triangles re damage, so I don't know how much more BMW can do to underline this. Or you can take the advice of someone on a forum who says they've never had a problem using non-BMW fluid. Feedback indicates that if you completely wash-out the system first you may be OK with alternatives, but given the cost of a repair, I don't see the point.
It's worth buying the 5L BMW screen wash as it's usually cheaper, and certainly less hassle, than five 1L bottles. Part number [83 12 2 298 207]. This is the blue liquid with anti-freeze that you dilute as required. People complain that this is still pricey but it's more concentrated than, say Halfords stuff so apples-for-apples isn't so pricey. I'd still concede it's 50%+ more expensive but I calculated its about £8-12/year more for my usage: doesn't seem worth risking £300+ garage bill to save this on a car that costs £40K in the first place.
I would agree, though, that BMW should point out this and a few other things to new owners. On the assumption that not everyone will read diligently through their Owners Guide before they refill their screenwash.
It's worth buying the 5L BMW screen wash as it's usually cheaper, and certainly less hassle, than five 1L bottles. Part number [83 12 2 298 207]. This is the blue liquid with anti-freeze that you dilute as required. People complain that this is still pricey but it's more concentrated than, say Halfords stuff so apples-for-apples isn't so pricey. I'd still concede it's 50%+ more expensive but I calculated its about £8-12/year more for my usage: doesn't seem worth risking £300+ garage bill to save this on a car that costs £40K in the first place.
I would agree, though, that BMW should point out this and a few other things to new owners. On the assumption that not everyone will read diligently through their Owners Guide before they refill their screenwash.
Edited by msej449 on Tuesday 31st January 20:55
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