Washer Jets

networkguy · 12-07-2008, 05:03 PM

I left my car in a hotel car park near Marlow last night and this morning, my windscreen washer jets were frozen solid (it was a few degrees below zero last night) when I set off in the car this morning.

Now clearly my washer fluid mix is not strong enough but it beg the question, are the washer jets heated on these things.

Now I know that my headlamp washers are heated because I have Xenons and it is a legal type approval requirement but what about the windscreen? Am I making an incorrect assumption?

hmi1750 · 12-07-2008, 05:40 PM

They should be heated, mine take a while to get going, but if its just water (v dilute soln) in the bottle and nozzles then its likely to take longer to melt and defrost.

NFS · 12-07-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by networkguy

I left my car in a hotel car park near Marlow last night and this morning, my windscreen washer jets were frozen solid (it was a few degrees below zero last night) when I set off in the car this morning.

Now clearly my washer fluid mix is not strong enough but it beg the question, are the washer jets heated on these things.

Now I know that my headlamp washers are heated because I have Xenons and it is a legal type approval requirement but what about the windscreen? Am I making an incorrect assumption?

I'm sure that they were heated in the e46, but mine freeze quite regularly in the e90. I don't think they are heated.

xenon · 12-08-2008, 02:20 AM

They are heated, on mine anyway. This doesn't really help overnight freezing though when the reservoir or the fluid in the pipes freezes - the heated jets just prevent refreezing due to wind chill.

networkguy · 12-08-2008, 02:32 AM

OK

Well I did have (what I thought) was a good quantity of washer fluid in the bottle so it wasn't just pure water.

So the next question:

How do you turn them on?

Are they automatic?
Do they come on with the heated rear screen?
Do I need to say the magic word?

Thanks

xenon · 12-08-2008, 02:33 AM

On all the time.

networkguy · 12-08-2008, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

On all the time.

Hmmm. Thanks

Looks like mine are not working then

NFS · 12-08-2008, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

They are heated, on mine anyway. This doesn't really help overnight freezing though when the reservoir or the fluid in the pipes freezes - the heated jets just prevent refreezing due to wind chill.

I'm sure that the ones on the e46 used to defrost themselves in the morning.

The e90 ones only seem to free up once the engine is good and warm. Mine have also refrozen a couple of times when driving through freezing fog.

One of the 'steps backward' that BMW made with the e90 generation, which also include the door and boot opening warning that only operates AFTER you have driven off and the heated wing mirrors that only switch on AFTER you have activated the rain sensor so that your wipers drag over a frozen windscreen.

xenon · 12-08-2008, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by networkguy

Hmmm. Thanks

Looks like mine are not working then

They quite possibly are, they're just not all that effective. They weren't on the e46 either.

SixDegrees · 12-08-2008, 12:23 PM

Hmmm, mine have frozen each time and took ages to work, was almost at work by the time the fluid came through, I assumed they weren't heated. How to test?!?!?

SoYank · 12-08-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xenon

They are heated, on mine anyway. This doesn't really help overnight freezing though when the reservoir or the fluid in the pipes freezes - the heated jets just prevent refreezing due to wind chill.

Wind chill does not affect metal or plastic, only flesh.

SoYank · 12-08-2008, 04:59 PM

Anything's better than the washer system I had on a 1970 Plymouth Valiant. There was actually a bellows type foot pump next to the brake pedal. Sometimes, on really cold days, the pump itself would be frozen.

misterS3 · 12-08-2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoYank

Anything's better than the washer system I had on a 1970 Plymouth Valiant. There was actually a bellows type foot pump next to the brake pedal. Sometimes, on really cold days, the pump itself would be frozen.

Mark 1 Fiesta's had that. The basic Fiesta pop in 1982!

Thetoycollector · 01-01-2009, 03:43 AM

They are heated, sometimes on a cold day you can see the water steaming after it is sprayed onto the screen.

Saying that mine have still frozen (again 2 days ago) when it is really cold.

media116 · 01-01-2009, 04:33 AM

A word or warning with regard to windscreen washer concentrate, when I had my E90 330iSE I used cheap washer concentrate from Halfords which, over a period of a few months, clogged-up the system completely so that the screen washers stopped working.

I took the car to the dealership to have it put right and straightaway they asked me if I'd been using genuine BMW concentrate or an 'inferior' alternative? There was much tutting when I confessed, followed by an £70 bill to strip the system and flush it out. I've stuck to the genuine product ever since!

grey man · 01-01-2009, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by media116

A word or warning with regard to windscreen washer concentrate, when I had my E90 330iSE I used cheap washer concentrate from Halfords which, over a period of a few months, clogged-up the system completely so that the screen washers stopped working.

I took the car to the dealership to have it put right and straightaway they asked me if I'd been using genuine BMW concentrate or an 'inferior' alternative? There was much tutting when I confessed, followed by an £70 bill to strip the system and flush it out. I've stuck to the genuine product ever since!

I have had my X5 clog up too from some (presumably cheap) fluid that was in there when I bought the car (BMW main dealer) that went all mouldy. Being in a warm tank of water under the bonnet is a good recipe for mould growth! It was a pig to clean out too as the tank is a very odd shape.

G82Dude · 01-01-2009, 07:17 AM

Always thought that the heated jets and mirrors were activated based on the outside temp...

It is more likely that the fluid in the pipes has frozen, given their size and the small amount of fluid in them though.

Never heard of the mirrors warming up after the rains sensor has been activated. Mine certainly don't! Maybe it's been changed on later vehicles?

roofer · 01-01-2009, 07:41 AM

As above, jets come on when the mirrors do. Its down to outside temp, or defrost activation. They only stop the jets from freezing, not the fluid contents in the pipes/bottle. This has always been thus.

G82Dude · 01-01-2009, 09:27 AM

I was right then!

PeteJ · 01-01-2009, 11:31 AM

Well we where at -7 the other day and washers where working ok, both the headlamp and window screen. I'm guessing mine are heated however i've never checked the spec.

12-07-2008, 05:03 PM	#1
networkguy Private First Class 12 Rep 168 Posts Drives: 335D SE Touring Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lincolnshire UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 (08MY) 335D SE ... [0.00]	Washer Jets - Hot or not I left my car in a hotel car park near Marlow last night and this morning, my windscreen washer jets were frozen solid (it was a few degrees below zero last night) when I set off in the car this morning. Now clearly my washer fluid mix is not strong enough but it beg the question, are the washer jets heated on these things. Now I know that my headlamp washers are heated because I have Xenons and it is a legal type approval requirement but what about the windscreen? Am I making an incorrect assumption?
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12-07-2008, 05:40 PM	#2
hmi1750 Major 25 Rep 1,130 Posts Drives: M135i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	They should be heated, mine take a while to get going, but if its just water (v dilute soln) in the bottle and nozzles then its likely to take longer to melt and defrost.
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12-08-2008, 02:20 AM	#4
xenon Major General 1405 Rep 8,095 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	They are heated, on mine anyway. This doesn't really help overnight freezing though when the reservoir or the fluid in the pipes freezes - the heated jets just prevent refreezing due to wind chill. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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12-08-2008, 02:32 AM	#5
networkguy Private First Class 12 Rep 168 Posts Drives: 335D SE Touring Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lincolnshire UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 (08MY) 335D SE ... [0.00]	OK Well I did have (what I thought) was a good quantity of washer fluid in the bottle so it wasn't just pure water. So the next question: How do you turn them on? Are they automatic? Do they come on with the heated rear screen? Do I need to say the magic word? Thanks
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12-08-2008, 02:33 AM	#6
xenon Major General 1405 Rep 8,095 Posts Drives: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Coventry iTrader: (0)	On all the time. __________________ Ian Current: 2021 G21 330i M-Sport Previous: 2018 A6 Avant S-Line MMI+, 2014 F31 320d M-Sport, 2013 F10 520d M-Sport, 2011 F10 530d M-Sport, 2008 320i M-Sport Coupe, 2002 325i, 2001 318i valvetronic, 1998 318i, 1996 525i, 1990 Porsche 944S2
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12-08-2008, 12:23 PM	#10
SixDegrees Lieutenant 12 Rep 445 Posts Drives: M135i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 Abarth 500 [0.00]	Hmmm, mine have frozen each time and took ages to work, was almost at work by the time the fluid came through, I assumed they weren't heated. How to test?!?!? __________________ 2014 [14] M135i, 3dr, MG, Auto, SP, CP, HS, HK and FBP Recent Past..... 2011 [61] Abarth 500, Funk White, Leather, H&R 2007 [57] 320d M-Sport Touring Pre 2007 - GT TDI 4MO, Mk4 R32, A3 TQ, A3T, Cupra R and on and on and on.....
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12-08-2008, 04:59 PM	#12
SoYank Major General 571 Rep 7,519 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 335i MT Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Vinton, Virginia iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW E90 335i S ... [9.00]	Anything's better than the washer system I had on a 1970 Plymouth Valiant. There was actually a bellows type foot pump next to the brake pedal. Sometimes, on really cold days, the pump itself would be frozen. __________________ **2009 E90 335i Montego Blue · Black Leather · Burl Walnut · 6MT · US Spec** SatNav • ZPP • ZCW • 6FL • TPMS • iDrive • PDC • HWS • Xenons • BMW Assist • Power Rear Sunshade • Logic 7 European Taillights • Rear Foglamp • OEM Alarm • PicoTray • DataToys XM-DVR • Multi-view Processor Quaife ATB LSD • Short Shift Knob • Hartge Anti-Roll Bars • AP Racing Front Brakes • 19" Style 269
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01-01-2009, 03:43 AM	#14
Thetoycollector The Toy Collector 0 Rep 19 Posts Drives: 08 320D SE E90 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Margate, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 320D SE E90 [0.00] 2004 Harley-Davidso ... [0.00] 2003 Yamaha XJR1300 [0.00] 1967 Chevrolet C-10 [0.00] 1998 Chrysler Grand ... [0.00] 1971 Oldsmobile Cut ... [0.00]	They are heated, sometimes on a cold day you can see the water steaming after it is sprayed onto the screen. Saying that mine have still frozen (again 2 days ago) when it is really cold. __________________ 2008 BMW 320D SE (177) E90
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01-01-2009, 04:33 AM	#15
media116 New Member 1 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 05 535d M Sport, silver grey Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Uckfield, E Sussex iTrader: (0)	A word or warning with regard to windscreen washer concentrate, when I had my E90 330iSE I used cheap washer concentrate from Halfords which, over a period of a few months, clogged-up the system completely so that the screen washers stopped working. I took the car to the dealership to have it put right and straightaway they asked me if I'd been using genuine BMW concentrate or an 'inferior' alternative? There was much tutting when I confessed, followed by an £70 bill to strip the system and flush it out. I've stuck to the genuine product ever since!
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01-01-2009, 07:17 AM	#17
G82Dude - 294 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: M4CMxD Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Always thought that the heated jets and mirrors were activated based on the outside temp... It is more likely that the fluid in the pipes has frozen, given their size and the small amount of fluid in them though. Never heard of the mirrors warming up after the rains sensor has been activated. Mine certainly don't! Maybe it's been changed on later vehicles?
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01-01-2009, 07:41 AM	#18
roofer Lieutenant 22 Rep 584 Posts Drives: 335D M Saloon Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Essex iTrader: (0)	As above, jets come on when the mirrors do. Its down to outside temp, or defrost activation. They only stop the jets from freezing, not the fluid contents in the pipes/bottle. This has always been thus.
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01-01-2009, 09:27 AM	#19
G82Dude - 294 Rep 2,602 Posts Drives: M4CMxD Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	I was right then!
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01-01-2009, 11:31 AM	#20
PeteJ Diesel Head 12 Rep 550 Posts Drives: 320d M Sport Convertible E93 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Edinburgh iTrader: (0)	Well we where at -7 the other day and washers where working ok, both the headlamp and window screen. I'm guessing mine are heated however i've never checked the spec.
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