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      04-30-2007, 05:47 PM   #1
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DIY - Headlight Washers (install and disable instructions)

I recently installed headlight washers on my car and it worked so here is a DIY on how to do it. This modification required dealer programming to allow the car’s computer to recognize the washers. The part number is 61670400875 and I bought mine directly from the stealership. The kit comes with all of the hoses, a new washer fluid tank, retractable nozzles, clips, nozzle covers, a fuse, a relay, and all wires. This kit is the same as the one that comes with the xi models (in Canada, and I think in the US).

For all you in the southern states that can keep your car clean all year, you can probably ignore this. Where I live, there is dirty snow on the ground for nearly half the year so these keep me from having to stop at the gas station every day during winter.

Headlight Washer Disable
Refer to Part 3 below for instructions on how to disable the headlight washer. This may have been posted elsewhere but I figured I would show it here in case it hasn't. I tried this in my car and it didn't cause an error code.

Part 1 – Remove the wheel arch

The first step is taking off the passenger side front wheel. I will assume that you know how to do this.
Next, remove the wheel well cover. There are a bunch of screws that have to be taken off to do this.
Once the wheel arch cover is off, you will be able to see the washer fluid tank in the front quarter panel. Unclip all of the cables and undo the screw (there is only one) that holds the tank in place. You will have to tip the tank to drain most of the fluid out of it before you can unclip the filler hose. This was rather messy and I dumped a lot of fluid on the garage floor. I tried to catch most of it in a bucket.
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      04-30-2007, 05:49 PM   #2
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Part 2 – Connect the electrical wires

To install the cables, you have to take off the cabin air filter cover. There are about 6 screws that have to remove to do this. Once removed you will have access to the ECU box on the passenger side of the car. Take off the cover by sliding the clips and lifting the cover up. Inside the box are a bunch of terminals and the ECU. Slide out the terminals as far as possible. Run the power cable (black/brown) through the rubber hose into the box. At the back of the box, you will see a small passage into the passenger compartment. Feed the power cable into this hole and you should be able to get at the cable from the passenger foot well inside the car.
The small clip at the end of the cable connects into the back of the fuse block where the headlight washer fuse goes. You will have to take out the little panel at the back of the glove box to access the fuse box. I found the easiest way (and it wasn’t that easy) to clip the power cable into the fuse box was to stick a long tie-wrap through the hole where the fuse goes, to the back of the fuse box, clip the end of the power cable to it, and pull the tie-wrap back with the cable attached to it, then feel blindly and try to push the clip into the fuse box. Curse a few times, it helps. I think there is a DIY somewhere on accessing the fuse box that would make this task easier. Once you make this connection you have completed the hardest part. Push the fuse and the relay into their spots and close the glove box back up.
Back in the engine compartment connect the neutral wire to the negative battery terminal lug. Push the pump connector end of the cable through the hole into the wheel area (see picture above). Connect the cable to the pump and reconnect the cables that were attached to the old fluid tank to the new one. Put the tank back in (there is a clip on the end you have to line up) and screw the tank to the car’s body.
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      04-30-2007, 05:50 PM   #3
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Part 3 – Remove the bumper and install the hose and nozzles

Remove the bumper. There are a bunch of screws on the bottom of the bumper. Remove these, they are easy to find. Next remove the two screws on each side that are hidden in the wheel arch. The drivers side of the car will have to have the wheel arch pulled back to access these. Unclip the foglight wires from the foglights. Next remove the 4 screws on the top of the grill where the hood meets the body. The bumper can now be pulled away.
Install the nozzles in the slots behind the bumper. They should just click into place. Next install the hose. There are clips provided that clip onto the bumper. Connect the hoses to the nozzles and to the tank. Make sure they are on properly. One of mine came loose and most of my washer fluid dumped out onto the garage floor overnight. Connect the hose to the tank. You will now have to cut holes in the bumper for the nozzles to pop through. Fortunately, BMW marked the location and shape of these on the inside of the bumper. Backing plates are provided with the kit that provides support around the holes you cut. These are put on with stickers that are included. Now you can put the bumper back on and snap on the nozzle covers to the tops of the nozzles. Replace the wheel arch and wheel and you are good to go. The dealer will have to program the car and once that is done, it should all work fine. The covers come unpainted so you will need to get them painted somewhere or paint them yourself.

To Disable Headlight Washers
To disable the headlight washer feature, remove the fuse in position 43 on the fuse box. To access the fuse box, open the glove box and then open the cover at the back of the glove box. Twist the two catches 1/4 turn and you will be able to open the panel. Use the fuse puller to pull the fuse. I did this on my car and it did not cause an error code.
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Last edited by dubber1; 05-02-2007 at 09:30 PM.. Reason: Added method to disable headlight washers
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      04-30-2007, 05:50 PM   #4
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Why would you really want those? Their worthless and now you'll be spraying washer fluid on your car all summer long. Happy daily washings...

Edit: I see you're in Calgary, but IMO unless they have wipers like Volvo they aren't doing much.
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      04-30-2007, 05:58 PM   #5
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My car gets as dirty as it is in the photos coming home from the car wash, and in the summer I will just pull the fuse. They do make a difference here, though wipers would clean them even better. I just get sick of having to wipe the lights off when I get home.
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      04-30-2007, 06:07 PM   #6
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Awesome write up, thanks just another option to those that don't have these that were curious as to how bad this was to do
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      04-30-2007, 06:09 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubber1 View Post
My car gets as dirty as it is in the photos coming home from the car wash, and in the summer I will just pull the fuse. They do make a difference here, though wipers would clean them even better. I just get sick of having to wipe the lights off when I get home.
True. But wouldn't pulling the fuse in the summer cause a error?
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      04-30-2007, 07:07 PM   #8
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The headlight washer doesn't get activated all the time.

I noticed mine only works when the headlight is on and only when I pull the washer stalk long enough will the headlight washer get activated.
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      04-30-2007, 07:34 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SGxi View Post
The headlight washer doesn't get activated all the time.

I noticed mine only works when the headlight is on and only when I pull the washer stalk long enough will the headlight washer get activated.
+ they work every 7th time even it you pull the lever just enough to spray the windshield.
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      04-30-2007, 08:09 PM   #10
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What is the price of that kit?
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      04-30-2007, 08:24 PM   #11
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I would not do this since it involved cutting the bumper. However, props for what seems to be a very nice dyi...
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      04-30-2007, 08:34 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by discoboy1 View Post
What is the price of that kit?
The cost of the kit was about $285 CDN and the cost of the programming was about $230. The programming cost was more than I expected.
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      04-30-2007, 10:00 PM   #13
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Awesome DIY....

But I hate my headlight washer, I wish there's a seperate button to activate the washers
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      04-30-2007, 10:47 PM   #14
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Awesome DIY!! I'm sure that when winter approaches, there will be more souls looking for this DIY. Thanks for breaking the ground.

Def add for the DIY stickies.
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      05-01-2007, 11:17 AM   #15
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DIY - Headlight washers

In Europe the manufacturer has to by law fit the car with headlight washers if the car comes with Xenon headlights. Is that not the same in the US
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      05-01-2007, 12:04 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dubber1 View Post
The cost of the kit was about $285 CDN and the cost of the programming was about $230. The programming cost was more than I expected.
How did yo manage the cutting part? Do you get rid of the cutout portion and install a new cap? did you have to paint it?
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      05-01-2007, 12:31 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Petermack View Post
In Europe the manufacturer has to by law fit the car with headlight washers if the car comes with Xenon headlights. Is that not the same in the US
In Canada the 325 and 330 came standard with Xenon headlights but only the xi models got the headlight washers as far as I know. I think that goes for the 328 and 335 models as well. The 323 had halogen headlights.
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      05-01-2007, 12:42 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by discoboy1 View Post
How did yo manage the cutting part? Do you get rid of the cutout portion and install a new cap? did you have to paint it?
I cut the bumper using a sharp utility knife. That was the scariest part of the project. I considered using a Dremel style tool but was worried that the heat of the bit would melt the plastic at the edge of the cut. I don't know how hot the bits get.
The cap that comes with the kit covers the hole. It looks and works exactly like the ones that come standard from BMW. I did have to paint the caps. I bought the paint at an automotive paint shop in town.
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      05-01-2007, 01:09 PM   #19
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Next we'll have someone writing a DIY on how to remove it and fill in the holes in the bumper.

Good job, BTW. But where are the pictures of the results?
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      05-01-2007, 01:37 PM   #20
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good job!!!!!
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      05-01-2007, 02:00 PM   #21
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Man, you guys do some scary shit to your cars!! Nice work, but you are a far braver soul than I.
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      05-01-2007, 03:45 PM   #22
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eh thats to much work for something small like that....u took apart most of the front end just for stupid headlight washers IMO thats a waste of time.....but thats just my 2 cents....
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