Washer fluid low warning on Cold Morning

rjc32000 · 01-02-2013, 12:03 PM

Took my 328 into service last week for squealing brakes and faulty low wiper fluid warning. Service diagnosed the windshield washer issue as a faulty sensor which fails at lower temperatures. New part is on order. Will post updates when repair is complete.

TreborDrolet · 01-02-2013, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hayir

May be the fluid is freezing. Did you put the ones for -32F.

Happened to me this AM. Was -23C. Got a gut feeling that there was some residual cheap fluid that froze. Trying to squirt it all out. And I get the squealing cold brakes too.

PK2348 · 01-02-2013, 08:20 PM

Today was the first cold day, below 30. I got the same message

hockeyno93 · 01-03-2013, 08:10 AM

Picked up my car yesterday.....last night I got in it and it was about 20 degrees F out and I got the false warning. Seems to be pretty common.

I've got to run back to the dealer anyway to pick up something I left in the car I traded. I guess I'll mention it to my CA and let him know about it. At this point, I don't really want to cough up the car I just picked up, so I may not address it for a month or two. It's not like it's a HUUUGE problem, but it's not like I enjoy the false alarm either.

PK2348 · 01-03-2013, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK2348

Today was the first cold day, below 30. I got the same message

Today was 30+. No warnings.

carda · 01-09-2013, 03:54 PM

Hi I'm new to this forum and have been reading this thread with interest.

I have experienced the same problems with the low level warning and headlight washers that don't spray. I told a friend about the problem and mentioned that it was probably a conductive sensor that was used for the measuring. He then suggested to increase the conductivity of the washer fluid by adding a small amount of salt...

I tried with 1/10 of a teaspoon in half a cup of water - stirred it well until it was completely dissolved and then added it to the almost full washer fluid reservoir. After 5 km of driving the headlight washers started working again and when I turned of the ignition and turned it back on the warning light had disappeared and it has stayed like that since

I know this is not a solution to the real problem being a conductive sensor with incorrect sensibility but I hope you can use this information until BMW comes up with a permanent fix.

Micleg · 01-09-2013, 04:20 PM

I've thought of the salt solution myself and only found the corrosive side of salt to be a potential problem. Any views on that? Say like a corroded and even more useless capacitive sensor?

chrisv_335EBII · 01-09-2013, 04:38 PM

Same issue here + squealing brakes when cold. The car has not been driven in the rain, snow or any salty raods. Its annoying. The breaks are embarassing...

bnekic · 01-09-2013, 05:07 PM

Well once the weather warmed up my warning light went away. Dealer said it probably froze during the cold week we had.

Kristof · 01-11-2013, 01:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK2348

Today was the first cold day, below 30. I got the same message

same problem here with my euro 328I from 2012 April. It seem to happen around and below 0C (about 30 F).

hrosenberg33 · 01-16-2013, 10:33 AM

Car was at the dealer and they checked out this problem. The work order details are as follows:
- Checked circuit, and level sensor, found OK
- Found PUMA measure 51384106-02, emptied cleaning agent from factory, refilled with BMW washer fluid 83 12 2 293 318
- Client to monitor

So it appears that this is in fact a known problem and apparently above is the recommended fix. I will monitor it as things are supposed to cool off again over the next few weeks here in Ottawa (it has been a balmy 5 to -5 Celsius over the last two weeks). Hopefully it's as simple as switching the cleaning agent from the factory.

Micleg · 01-16-2013, 11:37 AM

So the solution was to just drain the factory fluid? What does the PUMA thing mean?

hrosenberg33 · 01-16-2013, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Micleg

So the solution was to just drain the factory fluid? What does the PUMA thing mean?

That's what they say. We shall see.

As for PuMA this is the best definition/explanation I could find:
"Product and Measures Management Aftersales". It is actually "Produkt- und Maßnahmenmanagement Aftersales"
PuMA is BMW's online technical hotline for dealers. The dealer fills out a form for submittal to BMW's technical gurus and then they send back a response outlining what they (BMW) want you (the dealer) to do to fix the car. Sometimes it's "replace such-and-such" and sometimes they ask for more diagnostic info.

CE750Jockey · 01-16-2013, 02:44 PM

Happened to me today. Temp around 30F. Rats.

rjc32000 · 01-20-2013, 12:07 PM

Just picked up my car from dealer yesterday. They wound up swapping the entire washer fluid tank, which apparently was more practically accomplished than replacing just the sensor inside the tank. So far, warning light is gone, but I'll wait until we have another cold snap to pronounce it completely fixed.

It is interesting to see that other SA are recommending simply changing out the washer fluid rather than swapping any parts. Keep us posted on whether that solves the issue.

hrosenberg33 · 01-20-2013, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjc32000

Just picked up my car from dealer yesterday. They wound up swapping the entire washer fluid tank, which apparently was more practically accomplished than replacing just the sensor inside the tank. So far, warning light is gone, but I'll wait until we have another cold snap to pronounce it completely fixed.

It is interesting to see that other SA are recommending simply changing out the washer fluid rather than swapping any parts. Keep us posted on whether that solves the issue.

Quick update, it has been well below -15 C 3 out of the 5 days since I got back my car and good news.....no warning!!!

zibawal · 01-21-2013, 12:33 AM

same here

dealer says no leak!

kcidymkcus321 · 01-24-2013, 12:41 PM

I got the low fluid warning as well...had it over the last few days, although it was not caused by a cold snap, it was 60 degrees...I used the windshield wiper fluid MAYBE 3 times, so i know i did not run out, but i am hoping maybe the dealer did not fill it up all the way and only had a little left when i used it all up...

I dropped off the car at the dealership today due to the wind noise that some F30s are experiencing and I mentioned the low fluid warning as well, so we will see what the issue ends up being for that....

Micleg · 01-24-2013, 01:34 PM

Minus 20 degrees Centigrade. Got the warning and later during the day, at minus eleven, no warning any more. Did not fill it at all during the day.

PK2348 · 01-24-2013, 04:31 PM

Mine is all over the place. One day its on, next day its off. Shit is busted.

bnekic · 01-24-2013, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK2348

Mine is all over the place. One day its on, next day its off. Shit is busted.

Same here

CE750Jockey · 01-24-2013, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PK2348

Mine is all over the place. One day its on, next day its off. Shit is busted.

Same with mine. On again, off again.

01-02-2013, 12:03 PM	#45
rjc32000 Lieutenant 153 Rep 487 Posts Drives: 2014 335Xi M Sport 6MT Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	Took my 328 into service last week for squealing brakes and faulty low wiper fluid warning. Service diagnosed the windshield washer issue as a faulty sensor which fails at lower temperatures. New part is on order. Will post updates when repair is complete.
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01-02-2013, 08:20 PM	#47
PK2348 First Lieutenant 167 Rep 377 Posts Drives: 2021 330i xdrive Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Brooklyn iTrader: (0)	Today was the first cold day, below 30. I got the same message
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01-03-2013, 08:10 AM	#48
hockeyno93 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 34 Posts Drives: '13 328i Xdrive Sportline Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: St. Louis, MO iTrader: (0)	Picked up my car yesterday.....last night I got in it and it was about 20 degrees F out and I got the false warning. Seems to be pretty common. I've got to run back to the dealer anyway to pick up something I left in the car I traded. I guess I'll mention it to my CA and let him know about it. At this point, I don't really want to cough up the car I just picked up, so I may not address it for a month or two. It's not like it's a HUUUGE problem, but it's not like I enjoy the false alarm either. __________________ 2013 328i XDrive // Sportline // Mineral Gray // Sport Auto // Tech // Premium // Cold // Lighting
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-09-2013, 03:54 PM	#50
carda Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: BMW F30 320d Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Denmark iTrader: (0)	Hi I'm new to this forum and have been reading this thread with interest. I have experienced the same problems with the low level warning and headlight washers that don't spray. I told a friend about the problem and mentioned that it was probably a conductive sensor that was used for the measuring. He then suggested to increase the conductivity of the washer fluid by adding a small amount of salt... I tried with 1/10 of a teaspoon in half a cup of water - stirred it well until it was completely dissolved and then added it to the almost full washer fluid reservoir. After 5 km of driving the headlight washers started working again and when I turned of the ignition and turned it back on the warning light had disappeared and it has stayed like that since I know this is not a solution to the real problem being a conductive sensor with incorrect sensibility but I hope you can use this information until BMW comes up with a permanent fix.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-09-2013, 04:20 PM	#51
Micleg iX1 2022 35 Rep 331 Posts Drives: iX1 msport, 520d F11 X08 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sweden, Linköping iTrader: (0)	I've thought of the salt solution myself and only found the corrosive side of salt to be a potential problem. Any views on that? Say like a corroded and even more useless capacitive sensor?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-09-2013, 04:38 PM	#52
chrisv_335EBII Second Lieutenant 10 Rep 238 Posts Drives: 335i 6sp EBII Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Same issue here + squealing brakes when cold. The car has not been driven in the rain, snow or any salty raods. Its annoying. The breaks are embarassing...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-09-2013, 05:07 PM	#53
bnekic First Lieutenant 20 Rep 371 Posts Drives: 2013 328i xDrive Sport Line Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (1)	Well once the weather warmed up my warning light went away. Dealer said it probably froze during the cold week we had.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-16-2013, 10:33 AM	#55
hrosenberg33 Second Lieutenant 630 Rep 226 Posts Drives: 2023 M3 Competition X-drive Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	Car was at the dealer and they checked out this problem. The work order details are as follows: - Checked circuit, and level sensor, found OK - Found PUMA measure 51384106-02, emptied cleaning agent from factory, refilled with BMW washer fluid 83 12 2 293 318 - Client to monitor So it appears that this is in fact a known problem and apparently above is the recommended fix. I will monitor it as things are supposed to cool off again over the next few weeks here in Ottawa (it has been a balmy 5 to -5 Celsius over the last two weeks). Hopefully it's as simple as switching the cleaning agent from the factory.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-16-2013, 11:37 AM	#56
Micleg iX1 2022 35 Rep 331 Posts Drives: iX1 msport, 520d F11 X08 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sweden, Linköping iTrader: (0)	So the solution was to just drain the factory fluid? What does the PUMA thing mean?
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01-16-2013, 02:44 PM	#58
CE750Jockey First Lieutenant 77 Rep 369 Posts Drives: '19 M240 'vert 6MT Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Midwest iTrader: (0)	Happened to me today. Temp around 30F. Rats.
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01-20-2013, 12:07 PM	#59
rjc32000 Lieutenant 153 Rep 487 Posts Drives: 2014 335Xi M Sport 6MT Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Alaska iTrader: (0)	Just picked up my car from dealer yesterday. They wound up swapping the entire washer fluid tank, which apparently was more practically accomplished than replacing just the sensor inside the tank. So far, warning light is gone, but I'll wait until we have another cold snap to pronounce it completely fixed. It is interesting to see that other SA are recommending simply changing out the washer fluid rather than swapping any parts. Keep us posted on whether that solves the issue. __________________ 2014 335Xi M Sport 6MT - Black Sapphire Metalic - RETIRED 2003 M3 Coupe 2008 Audi RS4 2013 328Xi M Sport - Glacier Silver - RETIRED
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01-21-2013, 12:33 AM	#61
zibawal Major 36 Rep 1,105 Posts Drives: 2012 X5D Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: SFO BAY AREA iTrader: (0)	same here dealer says no leak!
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01-24-2013, 12:41 PM	#62
kcidymkcus321 New Member 0 Rep 10 Posts Drives: 2013 328i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	I got the low fluid warning as well...had it over the last few days, although it was not caused by a cold snap, it was 60 degrees...I used the windshield wiper fluid MAYBE 3 times, so i know i did not run out, but i am hoping maybe the dealer did not fill it up all the way and only had a little left when i used it all up... I dropped off the car at the dealership today due to the wind noise that some F30s are experiencing and I mentioned the low fluid warning as well, so we will see what the issue ends up being for that....
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-24-2013, 01:34 PM	#63
Micleg iX1 2022 35 Rep 331 Posts Drives: iX1 msport, 520d F11 X08 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sweden, Linköping iTrader: (0)	Minus 20 degrees Centigrade. Got the warning and later during the day, at minus eleven, no warning any more. Did not fill it at all during the day.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-24-2013, 04:31 PM	#64
PK2348 First Lieutenant 167 Rep 377 Posts Drives: 2021 330i xdrive Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Brooklyn iTrader: (0)	Mine is all over the place. One day its on, next day its off. Shit is busted.
	Appreciate 0 Quote