[K9Leader]

2010 E91 328xi - windshield washer fluid not coming through at the windshield nozzles but it is working at the headlights and rear window. There was a little sputtering earlier today but it stopped and now I get nothing.

According to Real OEM, it looks as though there are three pumps, so at least one pump needs replacing/cleaning.

I have started reading up on pump failure and filter cleaning - guess I will be looking into that over the holiday break. If I am going to have it all apart, is it worth it to do all three pumps?

K9Leader

[Thorin]

My rear failed and I thought nothing of it. A few months later my front failed too.

Not sure if this is a useful datapoint, but just letting you know my experience with it.

[K9Leader]

Originally Posted by Thorin

My rear failed and I thought nothing of it. A few months later my front failed too.

Not sure if this is a useful datapoint, but just letting you know my experience with it.

Well, that's why I am debating. Thinking about usage, the windshield and the headlight motors would have gotten the most use. The rear would be the least used of the three so, in theory should last longer than the other two. I've ordered the windshield unit and may go ahead and get the other two to avoid having to pull everything out again when one of the others fails.

K9Leader

[banglenot]

Easy fix.

Use newtis (or youtube) for pump replacement method. Forward of passenger door, remove front wheel and liner.

Pumps plug into fluid tank. Failure is usually a crack around the part that pushes into the tank.

No need for BMW part; the pumps plug into the fluid reservoir and are about $20-25 each at local parts store. Or go to your favorite BMW aftermarket supplier with the part number. If you have three (my E91 only had two) and plan to keep the car, do them all so you don't have to go back in -- your call.

About two hours in the driveway. Everything's easy to reach.

[K9Leader]

Originally Posted by banglenot

Easy fix.

Use newtis (or youtube) for pump replacement method. Forward of passenger door, remove front wheel and liner.

Pumps plug into fluid tank. Failure is usually a crack around the part that pushes into the tank.

No need for BMW part; the pumps plug into the fluid reservoir and are about $20-25 each at local parts store. Or go to your favorite BMW aftermarket supplier with the part number. If you have three (my E91 only had two) and plan to keep the car, do them all so you don't have to go back in -- your call.

About two hours in the driveway. Everything's easy to reach.

Yep, I've already read up on it and watched some videos and it looks not too difficult (famous last words, though).

[K9Leader]

It looks as though there are aftermarket options for the windshield and headlight pumps but not for the rear window pump. Makes sense - every E9X uses the windshield pump and most (or many?) use the headlight pump but only E91s use the rear pump, so much smaller scale and not worth it to the aftermarket to produce it.

Actually, there is one aftermarket but it is by an unknown company (FerretMotors) and is insanely cheap on Amazon. On the one hand, cheap, cheap, cheap. On the other hand, "you get what you pay for" and "if it sounds too good to be true it probably is."

[PichaDis11]

Only 1 thing to add. Get a new filters also.

[K9Leader]

Originally Posted by PichaDis11

Only 1 thing to add. Get a new filters also.

Yep, ordered those along with the pumps. For the few dollars they cost it is worth it to not have to clean the old ones and to have new ones for the next 125,000 miles.

[Boland01]

Ours just failed on our 2007 335i. ordered both the windshield and headlight pumps. I think one was $6 and the other around $10. I ended up ordering them from Rock Auto.

[Sgop335]

I just ordered uro pump and grommet screen from amazon prime for the 535i. May be i bought the car like that, don't remember, since the spray doesn't work. Strangely, car passed maryland inspection, can it pass w non working washers?

[NathanK24]

If your washer fluid gets low enough, the headlight pump will not send any fluid because it sits higher than windshield pump. Found out today because I am troubleshooting an unknown location washer system leak. Was not the tank, so I am guessing it is one of the hoses for headlight washers.

[drawz]

Seems that these pumps leak a lot. Filter screens can get blocked. Had to replace in both my cars. Not actually hard, but mildly annoying to get to since it's behind the wheel well liner.

[Sgop335]

Originally Posted by drawz

Seems that these pumps leak a lot. Filter screens can get blocked. Had to replace in both my cars. Not actually hard, but mildly annoying to get to since it's behind the wheel well liner.

what did you replace? pump stop working?

[drawz]

Originally Posted by Sgop335

what did you replace? pump stop working?

My pump was leaking and I would get a puddle under the passenger side front wheel, but the pumping function was fine. I replaced only the windshield washer pump and the screen. My screen was fine, but it was cheap and you won't know if you need it until you get in there. Seems that some washer fluids are more likely to gum up the filter and/or pump (I think RainX is notorious for this). Another possibility is washer fluid freezing in the system, leading to cracks as it expands.

I did not touch the headlight washer pump and it's still fine 3 years later. I did later get a leak from the headlight washer nozzle assembly. I initially thought it was a broken pump again, but fortunately my indy diagnosed it correctly before I tried to fix it myself.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Hey guys I want to add to this thread instead of making one in itself as I think maybe I've got a leak.

When my fan is full blast and I spray some, I can smell the antifreeze windshield washer. Is this normal since the washer and intake cabin air is so close or could I have a leak? Anyone else gets smell.

[K9Leader]

So, replaced all three pumps and filters today. Filters were all gunked up with slime/sludge. To clean out the tank I filled a 5 gallon bucket with hot water and used a submersible pump and hose to run the hot water through it (water to outside/garage is off for the winter). Had a little trouble getting the tank back into place and never did get it situated exactly back in place - had to muscle the wheel well liner up against it.
All pumps are working. Filled up with BMW washer fluid.

[PichaDis11]

Originally Posted by K9Leader

So, replaced all three pumps and filters today. Filters were all gunked up with slime/sludge. To clean out the tank I filled a 5 gallon bucket with hot water and used a submersible pump and hose to run the hot water through it (water to outside/garage is off for the winter). Had a little trouble getting the tank back into place and never did get it situated exactly back in place - had to muscle the wheel well liner up against it.
All pumps are working. Filled up with BMW washer fluid.

Nicely done.. Is it that easy to get the old gunk out of the tank?
I saw how nasty it looked and ordered a tank for replacement. Premature I know but my excuse is I had a part number so here goes throwing parts!

[K9Leader]

Originally Posted by PichaDis11

Nicely done.. Is it that easy to get the old gunk out of the tank?
I saw how nasty it looked and ordered a tank for replacement. Premature I know but my excuse is I had a part number so here goes throwing parts!

It was pretty easy. You could probably do and even more thorough job by removing the tank entirely.