[xenon]

Has the operation of the headlamp washers changed on the F3x? On all my other BMWs, assuming your lights were on, then the headlamp washers would wash every three or four applications of the screen wash.

On my F31 I haven't noticed them activate in the couple of weeks I've had it. As the e9x were forever busting the washers in cold weather I wonder if the F3x washers stop working below a certain temperature?

Any ideas?

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by xenon

Has the operation of the headlamp washers changed on the F3x? On all my other BMWs, assuming your lights were on, then the headlamp washers would wash every three or four applications of the screen wash.

On my F31 I haven't noticed them activate in the couple of weeks I've had it. As the e9x were forever busting the washers in cold weather I wonder if the F3x washers stop working below a certain temperature?

Any ideas?

Mine worked today at -3c stationary on driveway.

They should always work first time you have either full lights on or adaptive green light showing.

[xenon]

Yes, that's how they've always worked before.

Must be fcuked

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by xenon

Yes, that's how they've always worked before.

Must be fcuked

Sounds like it.

Put them on normal lights and try them with engine just started.

Assume you have xenons

[malc1]

Just make sure that there is a strong enough brew of washer fluid in the bottle for those cold times ahead.
Made the mistake last year and ended up loosing both of mine on the E91 and then had a £400+ bill to get new ones fitted.
Very wary now.

[Pablo68]

They don't wash if the washer fluid level is low.

[xenon]

The fluid is not low, it has adaptive xenons, but no dice....

[Carjack]

Originally Posted by malc1

Just make sure that there is a strong enough brew of washer fluid in the bottle for those cold times ahead.
Made the mistake last year and ended up loosing both of mine on the E91 and then had a £400+ bill to get new ones fitted.
Very wary now.

Hi! Might I ask what ratio of washer fluid to water you used and what you are proposing now?
I have used for some time BMW Washer Fluid, summer & winter, a ratio of 1 : 1 which gives cover down to minus 23 deg C.
Hoping this will always be ample for the London area and controlling calcium corrosion generally.

[xenon]

Yeah I use the BMW stuff at 1:1 too, mainly because it smells nice.

Anyone know the if the fuse for the headlamp washers is in the box under the boot floor or the one under the bonnet? (F31)

[malc1]

Originally Posted by Carjack

Hi! Might I ask what ratio of washer fluid to water you used and what you are proposing now?
I have used for some time BMW Washer Fluid, summer & winter, a ratio of 1 : 1 which gives cover down to minus 23 deg C.
Hoping this will always be ample for the London area and controlling calcium corrosion generally.

Use BMW fluid at 1:1 now but was caught out that time and trusted what ever the dealer had put in the car after a service.
Should have checked really before winter started.

[....,,,,..,,..]

On a side note. I popped to my local dealers parts bit and got some bits and pieces.

For princely sum of £8:46

I got a winter pack - neat little bag, small version of car care kit.
2x1 litre of BMW winter screen wash
Demist pads / cloth
De-icer
And some other bits

Nice getting little deals like that

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by Brigand

On a side note. I popped to my local dealers parts bit and got some bits and pieces.

For princely sum of £8:46

I got a winter pack - neat little bag, small version of car care kit.
2x1 litre of BMW winter screen wash
Demist pads / cloth
De-icer
And some other bits

Nice getting little deals like that

Is this on at every dealer do you know? What should I ask for and is there a part number? Thanks

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

Is this on at every dealer do you know? What should I ask for and is there a part number? Thanks

Just have a friendly chat with the parts guy.

The actual winter bag thing contains
500ml screen wash
De-icer
Smell nice cleaning stuff?
Scraper - I rejected it, it's ok for decapatating people - hard sharp plastic.
And the bag, same material as the car care lit but smaller.

That should be 25 quid, however guy said that was too expensive so we agreed on £8 and on top of that I got the stuff I orginally went in for for free lol
2x 1 litre winter wash and bits n bobs.

Also putting feelers out for some alloys for next year, was a nice EBII M235i with black winters on.

Also said they need to be nice to me in spring when I get black grills fitted.
So bit of a gentlemans agreement there.

[BMWSKI]

Originally Posted by Brigand

Just have a friendly chat with the parts guy.

The actual winter bag thing contains
500ml screen wash
De-icer
Smell nice cleaning stuff?
Scraper - I rejected it, it's ok for decapatating people - hard sharp plastic.
And the bag, same material as the car care lit but smaller.

That should be 25 quid, however guy said that was too expensive so we agreed on £8 and on top of that I got the stuff I orginally went in for for free lol
2x 1 litre winter wash and bits n bobs.

Also putting feelers out for some alloys for next year, was a nice EBII M235i with black winters on.

Also said they need to be nice to me in spring when I get black grills fitted.
So bit of a gentlemans agreement there.

Well done!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by BMWSKI

Well done!

I do take them biscuits now and then

I have not properly bought screen wash for over 2 years.
Usually I pop the car in and have everything topped up.

Rule is, you don't get if you don't ask.

Bought daughter new 46 tv, had 50% off Samsung blu Ray player as part of deal.

Far too many people just accept things.

[xenon]

An update on this: The headlight washers do work but they've changed the operation over every other BMW I've had and perhaps it's a new thing (car is October 2014 build).

On previous cars the headlamps were washed every three times the screen was washed which sometimes was too frequent IMO, leaving to rapid reservoir emptying. On this they wash every ten times but crucially this is not reset by switching the engine off.

As suggested above, I started the car, switched on headlights, activated washers but nothing happened. However, on my journey home after a couple of more washes, the headlamp washers sprang into life.

Looking at the coding in FEM_BODY there is WW_ANZAHL_WASCHBET_ZUR_SRA which is Number of washes (screen) before headlamp reactivation, and this is set at 10.

I confirmed this by washing the windscreen ten times and then the headlamp washers reactivated. I now need to fill the reservoir but at least it works and that level of frequency is about right.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by xenon

An update on this: The headlight washers do work but they've changed the operation over every other BMW I've had and perhaps it's a new thing (car is October 2014 build).

On previous cars the headlamps were washed every three times the screen was washed which sometimes was too frequent IMO, leaving to rapid reservoir emptying. On this they wash every ten times but crucially this is not reset by switching the engine off.

As suggested above, I started the car, switched on headlights, activated washers but nothing happened. However, on my journey home after a couple of more washes, the headlamp washers sprang into life.

Looking at the coding in FEM_BODY there is WW_ANZAHL_WASCHBET_ZUR_SRA which is Number of washes (screen) before headlamp reactivation, and this is set at 10.

I confirmed this by washing the windscreen ten times and then the headlamp washers reactivated. I now need to fill the reservoir but at least it works and that level of frequency is about right.

Well spotted, seems crazy not having them spray when car first starts and first use. Invariably they are minging from driving to destination or from drive home night before.

[xenon]

True, it's codable. On the other hand, it might stop them from activating when the car is freezing in the morning. Sometime on my F10, when it was safe, I'd actually switch the lights off before washing the windscreen because I thought it washed the headlamps far too frequently.

On the other hand, they do FA good anyway!

[ukbeemerboy]

Originally Posted by xenon

An update on this: The headlight washers do work but they've changed the operation over every other BMW I've had and perhaps it's a new thing (car is October 2014 build).

On previous cars the headlamps were washed every three times the screen was washed which sometimes was too frequent IMO, leaving to rapid reservoir emptying. On this they wash every ten times but crucially this is not reset by switching the engine off.

As suggested above, I started the car, switched on headlights, activated washers but nothing happened. However, on my journey home after a couple of more washes, the headlamp washers sprang into life.

Looking at the coding in FEM_BODY there is WW_ANZAHL_WASCHBET_ZUR_SRA which is Number of washes (screen) before headlamp reactivation, and this is set at 10.

I confirmed this by washing the windscreen ten times and then the headlamp washers reactivated. I now need to fill the reservoir but at least it works and that level of frequency is about right.

This confirms why I've never seen mine work yet (Nov 2014 build)

[magic77]

I suspect the part numbers have changed but if you ask parts department you can get the screen wash in large bottles 5L works out cheaper then the 1l refils

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by magic77

I suspect the part numbers have changed but if you ask parts department you can get the screen wash in large bottles 5L works out cheaper then the 1l refils

I don't pay for 1l bottles as it is.

So not sure 5l will work out cheaper