[on_the_virge]

Morning

Topped the washer fluid up last night and there is hardly anything come out, but the headlight washer seems to be fine....any ideas?

Cheers
Virge

[planemad]

Pump fault, blockage or frozen.

I put my money on blockage or congealed washer bottle.

[liam_]

Same thing happened to mine this time last year.

Filter at the bottom of the washer fluid bottle was blocked with gunk.

[xenon]

Gunk in washer bottle / filter if you have not been using pukka screenwash. BMWs are very sensitive to supermarket screenwash and / or mixing screenwash.

[moonshine]

IMO, it doesn't sound like gelling of the screen-wash due to mixing or a broken pump if the headlamp washers are working OK.

• frozen pipes to the bonnet?
• Has a washer hose become disconnected somewhere (due to a frozen pipe and pump pressure?
• Is there a puddle somewhere under the car if you use the washer?

• was the engine warm? that will help defrost the washer pipes in the engine bay and the heated nozzles can then work.
• Has it been cold enough to freeze your pipes?
• Have you have antifreeze in the screen-wash at a strength sufficient to deal with low temps you have been experiencing ?

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by xenon

Gunk in washer bottle / filter if you have not been using pukka screenwash. BMWs are very sensitive to supermarket screenwash and / or mixing screenwash.

This all day long... very common.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by moonshine

IMO, it doesn't sound like gelling of the screen-wash due to mixing or a broken pump if the headlamp washers are working OK.

• frozen pipes to the bonnet?
• Has a washer hose become disconnected somewhere (due to a frozen pipe and pump pressure?
• Is there a puddle somewhere under the car if you use the washer?

• was the engine warm? that will help defrost the washer pipes in the engine bay and the heated nozzles can then work.
• Has it been cold enough to freeze your pipes?
• Have you have antifreeze in the screen-wash at a strength sufficient to deal with low temps you have been experiencing ?

Headlamp washer intake is higher up the washer bottle though (so it 'runs out' before screen wash) and the gunk collects right at the bottom of the tank.

[on_the_virge]

Originally Posted by ukbeemerboy

This all day long... very common.

How do you sort this? How accessible is the washer bottle?

[moonshine]

Originally Posted by xenon

Headlamp washer intake is higher up the washer bottle though (so it 'runs out' before screen wash) and the gunk collects right at the bottom of the tank.

Are you sure? Is there a second pump for the headlight washer?

edit... maybe there is - looks like up to 3 pumps in total - 1 for windscreen, separate ones for rear Wash wipe and Headlights
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=61_2896

[moonshine]

Originally Posted by on_the_virge

How do you sort this? How accessible is the washer bottle?

If it is anything like the e81, it's a PITA. front offside wheel off, wheel arch liner off and the tank sits down behind the wheel arch

[evdok]

I tend to fill before it collects all the crap from the bottom.

[on_the_virge]

Originally Posted by moonshine

If it is anything like the e81, it's a PITA. front offside wheel off, wheel arch liner off and the tank sits down behind the wheel arch

Brilliant sounds like a fantastic job to do, not.....

[liam_]

Originally Posted by moonshine

If it is anything like the e81, it's a PITA. front offside wheel off, wheel arch liner off and the tank sits down behind the wheel arch

Exactly this I'm afraid.

Washer bottle is nestled behind the front offside wing/arch liner.

Not the best of jobs to do in the freezing cold!

[xenon]

Originally Posted by moonshine

Are you sure? Is there a second pump for the headlight washer?

edit... maybe there is - looks like up to 3 pumps in total - 1 for windscreen, separate ones for rear Wash wipe and Headlights
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=61_2896

Yes there has to be a separate pump otherwise the headlamps would get washed every time. The pickup for the headlamp washer is highest, followed by the rear, followed by the windscreen.

[teaston]

What you could try is run the washer dry then fill it up with very hot water and go for a drive so it sloshes around and dissolves the gunk and spray it all out.

[on_the_virge]

Originally Posted by teaston

What you could try is run the washer dry then fill it up with very hot water and go for a drive so it sloshes around and dissolves the gunk and spray it all out.

Think this is worth a go! It's a pity there is the filter at the top of the bottle or else you could try to dislodge the gunk with a power refill....

[t5pilot]

This has been covered before. Seperate the washer pipe at the joint in the corner of drivers side bonnet, it's a release-type connection. put a small amount of drain cleaner in the washer bottle, Mr. Muscle for example.
leave it for half an hour. direct the now-seperated pipe into a jug or similar & activate the washers. Empty the lot & repeat until water runs clear... You do NOT want any of the contaminated water on your car.

[Soul_Glo]

Happened to me before as I used sub par washer fluid. After replacing it with oem there were no issues. So that might be a possibility.