windshield washer fluid

joz · 02-17-2015, 09:11 AM

I have a F30 335xi and have noticed that once the temp gets below -10C (14F) or so the low windshield washer fluid warning pops up every time I start the car (parked outside). The reservoir is pretty much full and the washer fluid system works without issue as soon as I start the car. Fluid I use is good to -45C so it shouldn't be icing up...if it did i would expect issue with operation.

I've had the car for over a year and don't recall ever having this issue come up last year.

More of an annoyance than anything.. Anyone else having this pop up?

S4NoMore · 02-17-2015, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joz

I have a F30 335xi and have noticed that once the temp gets below -10C (14F) or so the low windshield washer fluid warning pops up every time I start the car (parked outside). The reservoir is pretty much full and the washer fluid system works without issue as soon as I start the car. Fluid I use is good to -45C so it shouldn't be icing up...if it did i would expect issue with operation.

I've had the car for over a year and don't recall ever having this issue come up last year.

More of an annoyance than anything.. Anyone else having this pop up?

I've experienced this in a previous car (VW) when I used rain-x washer fluid, and I've heard it's common. If you aren't using fluid from the dealer, you might consider switching back to it.

spuntyb · 02-17-2015, 09:44 AM

In my E90, it would tell me it was low even at like the halfway point if I used low quality stuff. When I switched to the BMW version, it stopped. I never noticed it reacting this way in response to low temps. I think there's another thread that talks about how the sensors for this fluid have issues with the yellow stuff, but not the blue stuff. I may have that backwards though...I don't have the link handy right now, but I'm pretty sure it was somewhere in the F30 subforums

BavarianFanatic · 02-17-2015, 12:03 PM

The fluid is frozen. There's been a ton of chatter about it for years. The Rain X fluid freezes at temps much higher than it's published to support. Try adding some extra washer antifreeze.

joz · 02-17-2015, 12:30 PM

I'm using rain-x so maybe that's the issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

The fluid is frozen. There's been a ton of chatter about it for years. The Rain X fluid freezes at temps much higher than it's published to support. Try adding some extra washer antifreeze.

Don't think its frozen because the system cleans without issue. I would expect the pump to starve and no washer fluid to come out if it were frozen.

spuntyb · 02-17-2015, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joz

I'm using rain-x so maybe that's the issue.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

The fluid is frozen. There's been a ton of chatter about it for years. The Rain X fluid freezes at temps much higher than it's published to support. Try adding some extra washer antifreeze.

Don't think its frozen because the system cleans without issue. I would expect the pump to starve and no washer fluid to come out if it were frozen.

I think that's what I was using in my E90 when I had the same issue. The nozzle worked just fine and there was plenty of fluid, but the dash light would go on and say the level was low. I think the rain-x stuff causes the same issue with F30s.

crono06 · 02-17-2015, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spuntyb

I think that's what I was using in my E90 when I had the same issue. The nozzle worked just fine and there was plenty of fluid, but the dash light would go on and say the level was low. I think the rain-x stuff causes the same issue with F30s.

Correct, it does. Multiple F3x owners have reported this.

mge92 · 02-17-2015, 03:10 PM

Sometimes when you drive the wheels off your car the fluid can swish around and might go over the overflow port but going with bmw washer fluid is the best for the sensor .. get it at getbmwparts or your dealership. getbmwparts only charges you a penny for a small bottle of the concentrate which you can mix with water.

CHCCubs · 02-17-2015, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joz

I'm using rain-x so maybe that's the issue.

Don't think its frozen because the system cleans without issue. I would expect the pump to starve and no washer fluid to come out if it were frozen.

It's definitely not frozen as I had the same issue in past winters as well when I was using rain-x fluid and in all cases there was plenty of fluid and it sprayed out fine. I think it's something to do with the chemicals used in the rain-x fluid as ever since I switched to different fluid I haven't had any false warning lights.

ingenieur · 02-17-2015, 06:20 PM

Verified last winter and posted again here:

http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=26

RedlinePSI · 02-18-2015, 02:59 PM

On a similar note, I got my last refill at BMW and there is no way it's empty already. Yet, nothing sprays out. No low washer fluid warning either. I think it's just frozen. Isn't most fluid supposed to be good to at least -20F? Does BMW dilute it with so much water that it freezes over at a much higher temp?

BavarianFanatic · 02-18-2015, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedlinePSI

On a similar note, I got my last refill at BMW and there is no way it's empty already. Yet, nothing sprays out. No low washer fluid warning either. I think it's just frozen. Isn't most fluid supposed to be good to at least -20F? Does BMW dilute it with so much water that it freezes over at a much higher temp?

The dealer probably diluted it too much. It's a concentrate that's added to straight water.

Take the ratings on washer fluid with a grain of salt. I've never had fluid that didn't freeze once we hit single digits.

02-17-2015, 09:11 AM	#1
joz First Lieutenant 85 Rep 306 Posts Drives: 2014 335xi Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: t.o iTrader: (0)	windshield washer fluid - low level indicator in cold weather I have a F30 335xi and have noticed that once the temp gets below -10C (14F) or so the low windshield washer fluid warning pops up every time I start the car (parked outside). The reservoir is pretty much full and the washer fluid system works without issue as soon as I start the car. Fluid I use is good to -45C so it shouldn't be icing up...if it did i would expect issue with operation. I've had the car for over a year and don't recall ever having this issue come up last year. More of an annoyance than anything.. Anyone else having this pop up?
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02-17-2015, 09:44 AM	#3
spuntyb Brigadier General 4055 Rep 4,979 Posts Drives: 2019 F90 Competition Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	In my E90, it would tell me it was low even at like the halfway point if I used low quality stuff. When I switched to the BMW version, it stopped. I never noticed it reacting this way in response to low temps. I think there's another thread that talks about how the sensors for this fluid have issues with the yellow stuff, but not the blue stuff. I may have that backwards though...I don't have the link handy right now, but I'm pretty sure it was somewhere in the F30 subforums __________________ <b>2023 M5C SRG\|Aragon \|\| 2018 Macan GTS</b> 2019 F90 Comp MBB\|Black (sold) 2018 F80 ZCP TB\|SS (sold) 2015 F30 335 AW\|CR (sold) 2015 F31 MG\|CR (sold) 2011 E90 JB\|Oyster (sold)
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02-17-2015, 12:03 PM	#4
BavarianFanatic Too much is never enough 655 Rep 3,079 Posts Drives: Too Many Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SE PA iTrader: (0)	The fluid is frozen. There's been a ton of chatter about it for years. The Rain X fluid freezes at temps much higher than it's published to support. Try adding some extra washer antifreeze.
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02-17-2015, 03:10 PM	#8
mge92 SPEED RACER 375 Rep 740 Posts Drives: BMW X5 M50d BMW M2 CS Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: London iTrader: (2)	Sometimes when you drive the wheels off your car the fluid can swish around and might go over the overflow port but going with bmw washer fluid is the best for the sensor .. get it at getbmwparts or your dealership. getbmwparts only charges you a penny for a small bottle of the concentrate which you can mix with water. __________________ 2019 BMW X5 M50d Artic Grey \| 2020 BMW M2 CS Misano Blue Incoming - Ginetta G56 GT Academy \| Incoming - BMW X5M Comp Oxford Green RIP - 2020 Mini JCW GP Racing Grey \| RIP - 2013 X3 xDrive28i Carbon Black
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02-17-2015, 06:20 PM	#10
ingenieur Private First Class 24 Rep 196 Posts Drives: 2011 335d MSport Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Horse country iTrader: (0)	Rain-X affects the sensor signal Verified last winter and posted again here: http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...9&postcount=26
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02-18-2015, 02:59 PM	#11
RedlinePSI Lieutenant 127 Rep 502 Posts Drives: Something else Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: LI, NY iTrader: (0)	On a similar note, I got my last refill at BMW and there is no way it's empty already. Yet, nothing sprays out. No low washer fluid warning either. I think it's just frozen. Isn't most fluid supposed to be good to at least -20F? Does BMW dilute it with so much water that it freezes over at a much higher temp?
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