BMW washer jets clogged

Elessar

Anyone know an easy way to fix this?

The washer jets in my BMW 330e just today stopped working properly. Water comes out, but at a dribble. The motors are working fine, just no water getting to the windscreen. The reservoir is full. I'm thinking the filters are clogged or there is an airlock in the system somewhere.

It's a big job to get the reservoir out, wheel off, wheel arch cover off etc. I don't really have the space or tools to do it. Would rather avoid forking out a few hundred quid to a dealer 😱

I was thinking if I could get a car tyre pump and maybe stick the hose into the bottle and pump air into it, any debris might get dislodged….not sure really, any ideas appreciated!

Iguarantee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058345438/bmw-washer-jets-clogged

I don't know a thing about cars but I would recommend that you stop using the washer function until you get this fixed.

A blocked pipe will cause the pump to deadhead i.e. it'll hit a brick wall instead of flowing freely. That puts it under stress, and as they're probably largely made of plastic, are also small and are likely cheap so the pump casing could crack if you keep stressing it.

I could be wrong!

tphase

Had a similar issue with a 520.

First thing I would check if the blockage is in the jets or hoses to them

Second, blow into the hose back to the reservoir. That should dislodge whatever crap is blocking the inlet to the pump. Pump or flush out the water in the reservoir to try to remove the crud, otherwise it'll end up blocking the pump again

It's possible the problem is due to a mixture of different washer fluids - apparently the BMW version reacts with some other types and forms a gel which can block the pump.

endacl

pump is goosed

prawnsambo

It's unlikely to be an airlock in a pumped system. Unless it ran dry at some point. But even then, that should have worked its way out. You generally get airlocks in gravity fed systems because the pressure isn't there to deal with high points in the system.

Most likely cause is a blockage in the jets. Airline (if you have one) into the jet with the lid off the washer bottle. Otherwise a needle into the jet.

If you can get at where the pipe joins the jet and disconnect it, then run the pump, it could also clear it and/or let you know if the jets are blocked or (as said above) the pump is goosed.

barneygumble99

Have all nozzles blocked at the same time?

Luna84

I had a car with one blocked nozzle. In my particular car it was as easy as open the bonnet pull off the small hose and press two clips and it came off and I got a needle and then blew into the nozzle and it unblocked it. Worked perfect since then.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058345438/bmw-washer-jets-clogged

Park the car on a dry patch and check that no water is under the car when you do this to eliminate one of the lines coming loose

Luna84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121985285#Comment_121985285

Being a BMW your lines are probably covered. My car they were exposed so it was very easy. Plus in my car I pulled off the hose and had someone hold it and then I turned on washer jets to confirm water rushed out. I knew it was a blockage as one side worked but you should do the same on a hose to see if it is a pump or a blockage.

Harcrid

There is a small filter at the bottom of most BMW washer tanks that the pump is pushed into. In my opinion it is this filter that is blocked. I had to clean my own a few times in the past after I had similar symptoms myself. It could be accessed by loosening the wheel arch liner enough to get you hand in to remove the pump, then the filter. Not sure what the setup is on the 330e

See below the process for the F10.

http://www.beemerlab.org/2018/02/bmw-f10f11-cloggedblocked-washer-pump.html

Magown3

This happened to me also. It’s most likely the plastic gauze/ filter in the bottom of the reservoir.

Wheel off, arch liner off, disconnect the pumps, remove the reservoir and clean the gauze. An hours work.

kdevitt

Its one of few things - all have been mentioned I think

• Gauze on the washer reservoir blocks up with algae etc, water can't get through
• Pump is gone - I'd imagine this one is unlikely as you're still getting flow, they've always just gone totally dead on me - never had one barely function
• Nozzles on the washer blocked with limescale - only ever had this on a 20 + year old one
• Hoses connections to the nozzles have blocked up, or detached slightly - really common if you've triued to use them at any stage when frozen

Stephenc66

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121984981#Comment_121984981

We had that Gel issue with a 1Series only solution was to take out the washer bottle to clean it out properly and flush the lines. Pig of a job

Stephenc66

Welding nozzle cleaner very handy for cleaning the spray jets especially if blocked with limescale. I've also used a small amount of Cilit Bang limescale remover sprayed in to the spray jet then flush with an airline. Always works better if you can get the pipe of the nozzle

Elessar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121984981#Comment_121984981

Thanks all. This is what fixed it. At lunch I disconnected the hose pipe that led to the washer jets and then used an old tyre compressor to blow air back through it into the reservoir. Also pumped air back the other hose leading to the washer jets to clear those out just in case. Took a few tries but washers are working again! It was obviously gunk at the filter. It could happen again obviously but at least I've an interim solution.