[nomiS330d]

The other day I went to clean the screen. All went well as normal for a second or 2 then all of a sudden the strong spray pattern became more of a dribble! There is plenty of fluid in the bottle so I’m wondering if there is a filter that got blocked. When I had an E46 I discovered that had a filter on the pump which when cleaned made a big difference. Are the E9x cars the same?

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

The other day I went to clean the screen. All went well as normal for a second or 2 then all of a sudden the strong spray pattern became more of a dribble! There is plenty of fluid in the bottle so I’m wondering if there is a filter that got blocked. When I had an E46 I discovered that had a filter on the pump which when cleaned made a big difference. Are the E9x cars the same?

Yup.

[Silver Streek]

Only E9X's are a pain in the arse as you have to take the inner wing liner out to get to the screenwash reservoir and then to the filter.

[nomiS330d]

Yeah just looked on YouTube. What a ball ache. I presume it’s the same as the e46? Pull the pump out then prize the gauze plastic filter out of the bottle?

[Chappers 71]

There is an easier way. Ideally empty the washer bottle, yeah it's a bit of a pain if it's not coming out well but if you have head light washers it's not so bad. Dilute a small amount of plughole unblocker & pour it into the washer bottle & leave it for a while, disconnect the washer jets and secure the fluid pipes into a container & give the washers a squirt, it may take a few goes but eventually they should start working, then just empty out the screen wash bottle & flush it through & put the jets back on. Worked for me.

[nomiS330d]

I’ve just tried it with the pipe at the back left side of the engine bay that goes to the jets disconnected. It sounds like the pump is working too hard but only a weak stream of water coming out. I tried blowing down the pipe back into the bottle. At first there was resistance but then went easy and I could hear the water bubbling. I thought that would sort it but it’s not much better. The pump still sounds a lot louder than it used to so I’m thinking a seal has gone in it so it’s not creating enough pressure.
Think I’ll order a new pump which I was thinking of doing anyway considering it’s a pita to get to so may as well replace it while I’m there.
Anybody any ideas where to get one from?

[nomiS330d]

Found one on amazon. Should be ok being febi and only a tenner! Definitely worth doing whilst I’ve got the bottle out anyway.
febi bilstein 26495 Washer Pump for windscreen- and headlight-washer system, pack of one https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006DHT4..._oqiMDb2GVWY9E

[Sxanth]

This happened to mine the other week. Took it to a local garage and they removed the washer bottle and cleaned everything out, all good now. Only charged me £20 couldn't believe it.

The pump will sound louder if it's running dry but yeah if you have tried running it for a long time with no water coming through they can overheat.

[nomiS330d]

Sorted. While I had the wheels off to flush the brake fluid I took the washer bottle out. A bit fiddly but not difficult. The little plastic filter was blocked up with a blue jelly like substance. I’m sure the pump is fine but as i had got a replacement off amazon for only a tenner I thought I might as well fit it. I also flushed out the bottle with a hose on high pressure as there was quite a lot of ‘stuff’ in the bottom and cleaned the headlight washer filter as well.

[Silver Streek]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

cleaned the headlight washer filter as well.

Where is the headlight washer filter located??

[nomiS330d]

Originally Posted by Silver Streek

Where is the headlight washer filter located??

There are 2 pumps, one for the screen the other for the headlights. They are next to each other on the fluid bottle. You pull the pumps out and up out of the rubber grommet looking thing the pumps go into are the filters. Just prize them out, clean and replace. The headlight pump, pipe work and filter are much larger than the windscreens weirdly.

[therealdb1]

Originally Posted by nomiS330d

The headlight pump, pipe work and filter are much larger than the windscreens weirdly.

Presumably because the headlamps are jet washed but the windscreen has wipers to shift the dirt. Therefore you need more pumping action for the headlights washers.

[nomiS330d]

Yeah I guess so.