F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > Headlight washing frequency?!
Extreme Powerhouse
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-12-2012, 02:32 PM   #1
Sprocket
Private
7
Rep
63
Posts

Drives: BMW F31 328i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Headlight washing frequency?!

I and my father both live in Sweden and have recently picked up an F31 and F30 respectively.

We are having problems with the frequency of the headlight washers activating. They tend to activate very seldom, causing lack of light when you really need it.

Our winters are generally quite snowy and when the temperature fluctuates around -3C -> 0C the roads get pretty slushy and dirty. Imagine driving along on a dark and wintery road, unable to wash your headlights?

Has anyone else noticed this problem? Have you managed to resolve it in any way?

According to BMW, there is a formula dictating when the headlight washers should be activated. So it's not every time you use the washers, nor is it every Xth time. It's something like if enough time has passed and a threshold value of activations has been passed, and you are driving at certain speed - THEN the washers will activate. All according to BMW.

So basically you can't decide when you need clean headlights. The car decides that for you whether you like it or not. Maybe not a big problem in Germany, but in Scandinavia (and all other snowy / dark regions) it is.

Thoughts?
__________________
Melbourne Red F31 328 M sport
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2012, 04:47 PM   #2
Elk
Major
32
Rep
1,285
Posts

Drives: 2012 335i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: *

iTrader: (0)

I have wondered about this as well. I find that the headlight washers activate sufficiently often to help, but I have no idea when they will activate.
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2012, 07:10 PM   #3
wdlv
Lieutenant
wdlv's Avatar
United_States
46
Rep
420
Posts

Drives: 2019 X5 40i M Sport
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Atlanta, GA

iTrader: (0)

I find if I use the windshield washers twice in succession it will always activate the headlight washers for me.

See if that works for you.
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2012, 07:21 PM   #4
Sladester100
Lieutenant
Sladester100's Avatar
United Kingdom
128
Rep
588
Posts

Drives: F30 320d & G29 M40i First Edtn
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: South East, UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Is it not a variable setting in the iDrive menu's?

After reviewing an online owners manual it states that they are washed at ''regular intervals when the headlights are on''

I presume your lights have been on when you have tried to wash them... does it perhaps make a difference if using auto lights as opposed to the manual on position?? Merely a guess..?
__________________
F30 320d ED Melbourne Metallic, Vis Pack, Dakota Leather, & Other Goodies
G29 M40i First EditionFrozen Orange

Last edited by Sladester100; 12-12-2012 at 07:43 PM..
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2012, 07:44 PM   #5
MNBart
Private
United_States
22
Rep
95
Posts

Drives: '22 X5MC; '97 M3
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Minneapolis

iTrader: (0)

headlight washers? Wondered what that was haha
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2012, 07:44 PM   #6
Sladester100
Lieutenant
Sladester100's Avatar
United Kingdom
128
Rep
588
Posts

Drives: F30 320d & G29 M40i First Edtn
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: South East, UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Comes with the visibility package / xenons
__________________
F30 320d ED Melbourne Metallic, Vis Pack, Dakota Leather, & Other Goodies
G29 M40i First EditionFrozen Orange
Appreciate 0
      12-12-2012, 07:46 PM   #7
MNBart
Private
United_States
22
Rep
95
Posts

Drives: '22 X5MC; '97 M3
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Minneapolis

iTrader: (0)

I have the xenons and the cold weather package. I was wondering what that was driving but didn't think about it until i read this post. Still very new to this game
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2012, 07:16 AM   #8
bcl0328
Major
127
Rep
1,185
Posts

Drives: 2012 328i
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Abingdon, MD

iTrader: (0)

the only thing i know is that they come on when your headlights are on. the times i have used the windshield washers the headlights came on too.
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2012, 12:23 PM   #9
Sprocket
Private
7
Rep
63
Posts

Drives: BMW F31 328i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by bcl0328 View Post
the only thing i know is that they come on when your headlights are on. the times i have used the windshield washers the headlights came on too.
They don't always come on. That's the problem. Even though the headlights are on and you engage the windshield washer, the headlight washers only engage when they want to...
__________________
Melbourne Red F31 328 M sport
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2012, 12:29 PM   #10
Runnin and Gunnin
Enlisted Member
1
Rep
42
Posts

Drives: 2013 BMW 328i X Drive M-Sport
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Colorado

iTrader: (0)

Gee golly, I wonder what people did without headlight washers...3 years ago...
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2012, 12:33 PM   #11
ZMM_OMG
First Lieutenant
ZMM_OMG's Avatar
United_States
143
Rep
399
Posts

Drives: '15 M3
Join Date: May 2012
Location: SF Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2015 M3  [0.00]
2009 BMC Pro Machine  [10.00]
Okay, don't quote me on this 'cause I could totally be wrong, but I seem to remember reading something about the headlight washers coming on with every 5th pull of the stalk.
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2012, 01:26 PM   #12
Sprocket
Private
7
Rep
63
Posts

Drives: BMW F31 328i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Runnin and Gunnin View Post
Gee golly, I wonder what people did without headlight washers...3 years ago...
Seriously, how old are you?
On older cars you had low pressure washers and wipers. On most cars I have driven these came on every time you engaged the windshield washers.
On the newer cars I have driven (that have high pressure headlight washers) they have been separately controlled. For example, on my last SAAB you pulled the wiper stalk beyond a resistance point to activate the headlight washers.

My BMW is the first car I have owned where *I* am not in control over when I want the headlights to be cleaned. At night on unlit roads in bad weather, this IS a big deal.

Now, please go troll in some other thread. Thanks.
__________________
Melbourne Red F31 328 M sport
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2012, 01:28 PM   #13
Sprocket
Private
7
Rep
63
Posts

Drives: BMW F31 328i
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Sweden

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ZMM_OMG View Post
Okay, don't quote me on this 'cause I could totally be wrong, but I seem to remember reading something about the headlight washers coming on with every 5th pull of the stalk.
As far as we have been able to tell, there is no real pattern to be found. The answer from BMW is that it is "a formula" that weighs in a number of factors (as described above). I have no idea what to believe, but they haven't been able to describe this in more detail nor do they have a solution for the problem.

And the difference between clean and dirty headlights at night is substantial.
__________________
Melbourne Red F31 328 M sport
Appreciate 0
      12-13-2012, 10:57 PM   #14
Sladester100
Lieutenant
Sladester100's Avatar
United Kingdom
128
Rep
588
Posts

Drives: F30 320d & G29 M40i First Edtn
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: South East, UK

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Might be worth posting in a coding thread in case there is a modification that can be done in the settings to change it to a set 3 washes or everytime or something
__________________
F30 320d ED Melbourne Metallic, Vis Pack, Dakota Leather, & Other Goodies
G29 M40i First EditionFrozen Orange
Appreciate 0
      12-14-2012, 03:53 PM   #15
ramonE90-NL
Second Lieutenant
Netherlands
35
Rep
239
Posts

Drives: bmw F30 320iA
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: The netherlands

iTrader: (0)

I always thougt it washes the headlights once in 5 windshid wash times.

It only irritates me during the summertime when the car is completly clean and waxed. They even come up when you pull the stalk very fast for a little windshield wash
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:31 PM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST