[scoss]

Mines are useless this morning. Is this a standard feature on BMWs or am I not working? My 2014 plate Audi TDI has heated Jets.

Do I have to do anything to turn them on?

[roundy]

Wish mine had them aswell!! Didn't have this issue with my older 2011 525.

Caught me off guard actually and had to pull over on a short journey as the screen was starting to smear with road salt/crap.

[martin10chk]

Not sure if standard but very easy to see if you have them -- is there an electrical wire wrapped around washer tube and going to the jets. If so that's the heater. Weather is extreme at moment and depending on how strong your screenwash concentration is it may just defeat the system. I am not sure how it is switched on but mine has always worked and is a great feature.

[AlwynMike]

According to the parts list, the jets do have electrical connectors, so I'd assume they are heated.
However, if your reservoir is a block of ice, you're not going to get much. Likewise, after a squirt, residual water may freeze around the jet causing a blockage.

It's been a while since I've carried a washing up liquid bottle with water in to squirt on the screen when the washers froze! Care was needed not to get it up your arm, because of course you wouldn't stop (or slow down!) to give it a squirt.

[scoss]

Originally Posted by martin10chk

Not sure if standard but very easy to see if you have them -- is there an electrical wire wrapped around washer tube and going to the jets. If so that's the heater. Weather is extreme at moment and depending on how strong your screenwash concentration is it may just defeat the system. I am not sure how it is switched on but mine has always worked and is a great feature.

Pretty sure i saw cables going into them. My washer fluid is good for -15 so that should be fine. Not sure how they are activated though.

Do model is yours?

[Mr NSB]

I think all Fxx cars have heated washer jets. I would assume they are controlled by the car as the door mirrors are.

What is really needed for these temperatures is a heated washer bottle. If the washer bottle is frozen the heated washer jets are not going to help.

[xenon]

They all have heated jets but, as mentioned above, it's of limited or no use if the fluid is frozen downstream of them. If the fluid is concentrated enough not to freeze in the tubes then the heated nozzles will prevent freezing at the extremities but no more than that.

[gippy]

Originally Posted by scoss

Mines are useless this morning. Is this a standard feature on BMWs or am I not working? My 2014 plate Audi TDI has heated Jets.

Do I have to do anything to turn them on?

Lol mine stopped this morning as well.
I think I'd run the tank dry and it's sucked up gunk and blocked everything, that's my working theory.
I now need to do the "blowback" method with an airline and see if I can fix it.
Total PITA, had to stop at a garage this morning and clear the screen.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by scoss

Pretty sure i saw cables going into them. My washer fluid is good for -15 so that should be fine. Not sure how they are activated though.

I've got heated washers on my 5-series and washer fluid down to something like -10C.

I got caught out on Tuesday, went to clean the screen after about 5 miles driving, smeared all the road spray into a film on the screen. Wasn't totally covered, but was intending to pull into a layby to spray the screen from my 'emergency' hand bottle. Before I got to the layby tried again, fluid started flowing, couple of attempts and a full spray, no more issues.

My take, and I've noticed this before. It can take a few miles to heat and thaw out at the jets, even if the fluid is fine in the reservoir.

[Alscoob]

Yesterday my journey started at -1.5 deg which was OK washers worked fine, the mix I use will go to -20 undiluted so tend to do 60-40 water / fluid mix so OK for our temps generally. Used it for years and never any bunged up problems.

Bugger me 10 miles into the journey -6 deg and washers stopped working bit further -8.5 deg still didn't work just a smear of salt over the screen, ok without sunshine but soon as I headed SE, could see bugger all. Must have been the heated washer jets that got frozen because the rear was wipe worked perfectly.

Boshed some washer fluid in neat and bought some cheapo screen wash en route to slosh over screen (interestingly had ice in the bottle!) left car in sun outside clients house, came out an hour later -4deg and all fine. Gave the screen a good wash just to get fluid through and hey-presto service back to normal now.

My 2014 also hat heated washer jets BTW

[Rick Sanchez]

I got caught out this week in that my screenwash mix wasn’t anywhere good enough for -6 or colder, just didn’t think. Put some Autoglym in neat and now front washers are fine but the rear on my F31 has not worked all week. Guessing the line is frozen, maybe the jet is frozen? Any suggestions on how to get the rear back up and working?

[Allworth]

Originally Posted by Rick Sanchez

I got caught out this week in that my screenwash mix wasn’t anywhere good enough for -6 or colder, just didn’t think. Put some Autoglym in neat and now front washers are fine but the rear on my F31 has not worked all week. Guessing the line is frozen, maybe the jet is frozen? Any suggestions on how to get the rear back up and working?

I had a similar issue, mine was down to -5, I bought some concentrate to dilute it, will now always be going to -10 for peace of mind.

You can add some strong concentrate that will mix with what you already have in a tank.
For example:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/carplan-c...er-500ml/585gy

[Rick Sanchez]

Originally Posted by Allworth

I had a similar issue, mine was down to -5, I bought some concentrate to dilute it, will now always be going to -10 for peace of mind.

You can add some strong concentrate that will mix with what you already have in a tank.
For example:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/carplan-concentrated-screenwash-booster-500ml/585gy

I use normal Sonax concentrate for most of the year but the cold weather managed to catch me out. Sonax concentrate with antifreeze is OOS most places. Went with Autoglym, has available immediately at Halfords. Won’t be caught out next year! Rear is now working, maybe the fluid has worked it’s way through, maybe being parked in sunlight has helped either way happy 😁

[danb1979]

I've stuck with OEM BMW washer fluid now for a good few years after dealing with not just my car, but my dads and father in laws too of serious gunk build up in the tanks, that then blocked the filters and nozzles etc...

If you mix them, this is what happens unfortunately...

But you can do this with any other washer fluid I'd say. Used Holts or Autoglym only and didn't have issues before...

But BMWs stuff is cheap enough in the 5l bottles, more so vie eBay

I think when it comes to defrosting the rear washer jets & lines, only time in the sun will sort that.

My E39 touring would do this, even with neat solution through the line. Would be a nightmare when we're up in the Highlands!

[Allworth]

Originally Posted by danb1979

If you mix them, this is what happens unfortunately...

Yes, but I think it is more harmful to have a frozen system due to ice, as it may cause damage to components, so in some cases I would think it is reasonable to do so..

[3-GT]

Looks like they're on to some degree up to temperatures of 15 degrees. Not sure why they need to be on at 15 degrees, seems high to me.

[Rick Sanchez]

[QUOTE=danb1979;29646759]I've stuck with OEM BMW washer fluid now for a good few years after dealing with not just my car, but my dads and father in laws too of serious gunk build up in the tanks, that then blocked the filters and nozzles etc...

If you mix them, this is what happens unfortunately...

But you can do this with any other washer fluid I'd say. Used Holts or Autoglym only and didn't have issues before...

But BMWs stuff is cheap enough in the 5l bottles, more so vie eBay

I think when it comes to defrosting the rear washer jets & lines, only time in the sun will sort that.

My E39 touring would do this, even with neat solution through the line. Would be a nightmare when we're up in the Highlands!

I think the BMW screenwash is made by Sonax? I’m aware of the gauze/filter issues with BMs but hoping using a product like Autoglym will reduce chances of issues until I get hold of either Sonax concentrate or BMW equivalent. Got a Mini that will no doubt need similar attention 😏

[danb1979]

[QUOTE=Rick Sanchez;29647176]

Originally Posted by danb1979

I've stuck with OEM BMW washer fluid now for a good few years after dealing with not just my car, but my dads and father in laws too of serious gunk build up in the tanks, that then blocked the filters and nozzles etc...

If you mix them, this is what happens unfortunately...

But you can do this with any other washer fluid I'd say. Used Holts or Autoglym only and didn't have issues before...

But BMWs stuff is cheap enough in the 5l bottles, more so vie eBay

I think when it comes to defrosting the rear washer jets & lines, only time in the sun will sort that.

My E39 touring would do this, even with neat solution through the line. Would be a nightmare when we're up in the Highlands!

I think the BMW screenwash is made by Sonax? I’m aware of the gauze/filter issues with BMs but hoping using a product like Autoglym will reduce chances of issues until I get hold of either Sonax concentrate or BMW equivalent. Got a Mini that will no doubt need similar attention 😏

I think you’ll be fine over short term

My previous F01 was a bugger as it’s a cassette like washer bottle in the wing, so had to strip the arch liner & lose a few shreds of skin getting it out…

My Dads X3M was even more faffy, I bled for that stupid design!

That’s why I advise once sorted, stick with 1 fluid etc

[TurboWeasel]

Yup, they're no good if the water tank is full of permafrost

I put maximum strength screenwash in mine on Monday, allegedly good for minus 20 according to the sticker, but yeah, the tank still froze solid

I miss the good old days of Decasol screenwash that had ethanol in it, but I think they banned it.

The screenwash from VW dealers is brilliant and I normally use that, but haven't been able to get there this winter, so had to use some cheap old Halfords shat instead, which doesn't work.

[MarsKy]

Was in LIDL's (13th Dec 2024) and saw screenwash to -30'C: 5 litres for £2.99.
Some might argue cheap stuff will block nozzles, but I've never had a problem with LIDLs stuff.

[Ennoch]

Originally Posted by MarsKy

Was in LIDL's (13th Dec 2024) and saw screenwash to -30'C: 5 litres for £2.99.
Some might argue cheap stuff will block nozzles, but I've never had a problem with LIDLs stuff.

Good shout, I used to use their stuff years ago but they stopped doing it 6 or 7 years back which was annoying as I found it to be about the best you could get for the money. Almost BMW strength but 10% of the price (and BMW gets expensive if you're only diluting it 50%). Most non-expensive ones freeze solid even when used neat as it's pretty common for me to be driving in temps below -8c. Fine if it's dry but frequently the roads have a sheen on them so if there's traffic you can't help but use the washers.

[MidtownMike]

Yeah boiiiii Lidl is da shizzle. Also, it doesn't smell nasty like some anti freeze wiper liquids.