Windscreen washer jets spitting rather than spraying

[Usy777]

Hi, my f80 m3 has an issue with the windscreen washer jets. It seems to spit out a small amount of water rather than spraying it as it should, there is plenty of washer liquid in the tank. Any ideas what it could be?

[Saleen836]

Blocked jets?

[anonymous-user]

Does it continually spit out water or does it start and then stop?

If the former the blocked jets is likely otherwise something electrical such as the pump.

I wouldn't recommend using a pin or needle to unblock it, get a proper tool as I broke the needle in the jet and had to replace it.

[johnoz]

My Sprinter has a filter on the motor in the tank, mine does it too pull the motor out the rubber bung and wash it off. ( I appreciate there may be less space around yours).

[Mave]

For whatever reason, the only cars I've had blocked jets on have been Bmws, normally for to the screenwash sludging. Did he top up BMW screenwash with supermarket screen wash?

[Haltamer]

johnoz said:

My Sprinter has a filter on the motor in the tank, mine does it too pull the motor out the rubber bung and wash it off. ( I appreciate there may be less space around yours).

This is a primary cause of flow reduction; Can be worth trying a couple of drops of bleach and running the system through incase there's some kind of bacterial bloom in the screenwash.

[ddom]

Pump is probably knackered, or it's all blocked up because you need BMW screenwash.

[HasToBeV8]

Are the rubber pipes intact? We had those symptoms on one of our cars when a rodent chewed a hole in one of the pipes (they like the taste of alcohol apparently)

[normalbloke]

[johnoz]

Haltamer said:

johnoz said:

My Sprinter has a filter on the motor in the tank, mine does it too pull the motor out the rubber bung and wash it off. ( I appreciate there may be less space around yours).

This is a primary cause of flow reduction; Can be worth trying a couple of drops of bleach and running the system through incase there's some kind of bacterial bloom in the screenwash.

Yep that, a mushy opaque mush.

[Chris32345]

Mave said:

For whatever reason, the only cars I've had blocked jets on have been Bmws, normally for to the screenwash sludging. Did he top up BMW screenwash with supermarket screen wash?

Why is it BMW seems 5o be only brand that ever has this issue

Not heard of any other manufacturer

[E-bmw]

Chris32345 said:

Mave said:

For whatever reason, the only cars I've had blocked jets on have been Bmws, normally for to the screenwash sludging. Did he top up BMW screenwash with supermarket screen wash?

Why is it BMW seems 5o be only brand that ever has this issue

Not heard of any other manufacturer

Because people buy a premium brand car & run it using bangernomics.

When BMW service the car they fill with BMW washer fluid, the owner then tops it up with "cheap cr@p" which is what causes the issue.

If you completely empty & flush the system before putting anything else in, they are fine.

[Fermit]

ddom said:

Pump is probably knackered, or it's all blocked up because you need BMW screenwash.

This is a thing? The Germans have always taken the piss out of their customers with optional extras, but this is taking the proverbial! I used to love BMW, but this is another reason to not give them my custom.

[amoeba]

Fermit said:

ddom said:

Pump is probably knackered, or it's all blocked up because you need BMW screenwash.

This is a thing? The Germans have always taken the piss out of their customers with optional extras, but this is taking the proverbial! I used to love BMW, but this is another reason to not give them my custom.

BMW screenwash reacts with 'normal' screenwash to form a jelly, that completely blocks everything and requires manual dissasembly and cleaning.

It must have taken quite a lot of effort to invent this magic screenwash.

[ddom]

Fermit said:

This is a thing? The Germans have always taken the piss out of their customers with optional extras, but this is taking the proverbial! I used to love BMW, but this is another reason to not give them my custom.

Yes. You have to use the BMW stuff, otherwise the bottle will clog up, this eventually knackers the pump, blocks pipes etc.

The dealers actually offer a little blue pill (ahem) which is supposed to help break down the sludge. They usually give them away if you moan, as literally everyone moans about them. The other little gem is that like all manufacturers they mount the reservoirs in really brilliant places. Usually a mornings work and the replacement of a load of horrible QR plastic clips, with the inevitable loss of skin

[JohnCarlisleApeiron]

Blocked filter in the reservoir due to sludge build up, happened to my 535 F11. Interestingly doesn't seem to decrease the force of spray to the front lights, so something else going on there.

Loving the bangernomics comments I would suggest it has less to do with cost and more to do with the inconvenience of a 40 mile round trip to buy some bloody screen-wash.

I've never heard of a magic blue pill from BMW to pep it up, sounds like a windup to me.

[ddom]

JohnCarlisleApeiron said:

Blocked filter in the reservoir due to sludge build up, happened to my 535 F11. Interestingly doesn't seem to decrease the force of spray to the front lights, so something else going on there.

Loving the bangernomics comments I would suggest it has less to do with cost and more to do with the inconvenience of a 40 mile round trip to buy some bloody screen-wash.

I've never heard of a magic blue pill from BMW to pep it up, sounds like a windup to me.

It's a different pump and line.

[Pica-Pica]

1) I have never had jets blocked in decades of BMW use
2) I always use BMW screenwash
3) BMW screenwash is not expensive
4) Blockages do occur when incompatible screen washes are used on pumps with fine filters.

So: fine filters prevent jets blocking, but the filters get blocked if you use a (mixture of) screen washes that create a gel.

[ddom]

Pica-Pica said:

1) I have never had jets blocked in decades of BMW use
2) I always use BMW screenwash
3) BMW screenwash is not expensive
4) Blockages do occur when incompatible screen washes are used on pumps with fine filters.

So: fine filters prevent jets blocking, but the filters get blocked if you use a (mixture of) screen washes that create a gel.

Yes, but it’s a uniquely st BMW problem. And in this day and age something which isn’t necessary,

[Mave]

ddom said:

Yes, but it’s a uniquely st BMW problem. And in this day and age something which isn’t necessary,

I agree. The solution is to use up all the BMW fluid, flush out through with fresh water, then use whatever screenwash you want.