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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > head light washers sitting proud...



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      07-29-2017, 04:01 AM   #1
Andy198712
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head light washers sitting proud...

Hi,

got a LCI E91,

MY headlight washers, once used return but stop an inch or so proud of the bumper, they never used to do this.
they both sit out the same amount which is odd as i wouldn't expect both to fail exactly the same time and amount...?

i think it happened after i removed the bumper but that may be coincidence....
only thing i can think of is i pinched the line so struggling to push back the fluid... but then they don't return slowly over time.

Any ideas or things to check?

Cheers
Andy
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      07-29-2017, 05:02 AM   #2
E60525d
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Common practice problem this. Over time the washers get blocked with dirt and therefore can't retract.

I got a replacement pump on eBay for £10
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      07-29-2017, 05:17 AM   #3
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Make sure there's plenty of water in the system, mine didn't retract fully topped up the screen wash & they were fine. You could also try giving the mechanism a squirt of WD40.
Lastly check you aligned the bumper correctly & didn't damage anything.
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      07-29-2017, 05:20 AM   #4
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      07-29-2017, 09:21 AM   #5
dragerboy
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Great video. Another job on my list as well although I thought on an E90 its a bumper off job.
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      07-29-2017, 09:21 AM   #6
Andy198712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E60525d View Post
Common practice problem this. Over time the washers get blocked with dirt and therefore can't retract.

I got a replacement pump on eBay for £10
pump or washer unit? i saw a how to on youtube to strip and clean out that gunk. didn't look too bad, free to try as well i guess, thank you


Edit, same video Len kindly posted
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      07-29-2017, 09:24 AM   #7
Andy198712
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chappers 71 View Post
Make sure there's plenty of water in the system, mine didn't retract fully topped up the screen wash & they were fine. You could also try giving the mechanism a squirt of WD40.
Lastly check you aligned the bumper correctly & didn't damage anything.
Cheers i just emptied it and refilled it to the top (didn't want to mix screen wash mixes) so will see if it helped.

Can you expand on bumper alignment? are we talking panel gaps or?
when i get chance i'll take the bumper off if the above fails and double check everything, probably strip and clean the units too while its off if nothing seems wrong....

will update how i get on!

i pulled them out and silicone sprayed them and it didn't help, they don't "seem" to be contacting the bumper, i tried wiggling the bumper and washer to see it would then snap closed but no.

worse case i just need to buy new but at £70dd each ? i'll try and see if its a silly little issue first

Thanks guys
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      07-29-2017, 09:48 AM   #8
dragerboy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy198712 View Post
Cheers i just emptied it and refilled it to the top (didn't want to mix screen wash mixes) so will see if it helped.

Can you expand on bumper alignment? are we talking panel gaps or?
when i get chance i'll take the bumper off if the above fails and double check everything, probably strip and clean the units too while its off if nothing seems wrong....

will update how i get on!

i pulled them out and silicone sprayed them and it didn't help, they don't "seem" to be contacting the bumper, i tried wiggling the bumper and washer to see it would then snap closed but no.

worse case i just need to buy new but at £70dd each ? i'll try and see if its a silly little issue first

Thanks guys
Ive bought 2 chinese copies for £16 lol. Figured I would use them whilst I clean and sort the genuine BMW ones.
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      07-29-2017, 10:11 AM   #9
Andy198712
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let us know how they work! worth a shot. its a simple design!

another point to note, about the same time i filled up my screen washer with premix from the water and air at TEXCO so what ever they use, works great as a cleaner and can't imagine its my cause but....
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      07-29-2017, 10:17 AM   #10
dragerboy
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Yep will do, as said they are a poop design. I'm guessing it all comes down to how clean they stay and how good the o-ring is.
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      07-29-2017, 10:19 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Andy198712 View Post
pump or washer unit? i saw a how to on youtube to strip and clean out that gunk. didn't look too bad, free to try as well i guess, thank you


Edit, same video Len kindly posted
The washer unit. Yes you can clean it out but not worth the effort as the new one was less than a tenner.
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      07-29-2017, 11:40 AM   #12
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I bought the Chinese copies. They've been on for over a year with no issues.

And I sold one of the originals for a tenner not realising they could be cleaned.
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      07-29-2017, 12:39 PM   #13
Andy198712
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interesting cheers guys!

so filled it up with new (different) fluid, the right one is sightly lower after spraying now.... will keep an eye on it till i get chance to have a look behind the bumper
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      08-01-2017, 03:36 AM   #14
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Hi Andy I did mine recently, e90 330d I took mine off by removing the wheel and front wheel arch. Remove the wheel arch cover, gently release the tabs and pull it out, disconnecting the hose in the process. Took me 15 mins or so, per side.

There's a load of muck that collects in the bottom of the mechanism (effectively a big syringe with a spring) so I wouldn't think that changing washer fluid will affect this.

You could separate the old unit, clean and reassemble per the video or pay £60ish each from BMW or buy cheap copies from eBay - as I and others have.

Your inner OCD will be sated once done and your jets will sit flush... :-)
Matt
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      08-01-2017, 11:30 AM   #15
Andy198712
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it will indeed! i think i'll strip them first when i get chance, hopefully this weekend. and if that fails... get the cheap eBay ones lol

thanks guys i'll report back
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      08-01-2017, 11:56 AM   #16
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You can also delete them then permanently fix cap in place.....should be a thread or 2 if searched in matter.
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      08-01-2017, 01:13 PM   #17
Andy198712
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Pretty sure it's an MOT requirement in the U.K. With xneons other wise I would!
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      08-04-2017, 06:03 AM   #18
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I've got this problem too

Only had the car 3 days so quite annoyed!

When you guys say new pump is that literally the whole unit?

I watched throw the video that was linked in a previous post, if I follow that guide it's just cleaning out the existing kit right?

Would you say a washer unit replacement can be done by someone who hasn't really done much work on cars? I don't mind the odd bit of DIY but I don't want to break it!

Thanks!
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      08-04-2017, 07:29 AM   #19
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I'm going to attempt the cleaning fix this weekend I think. One of mine has this issue from time to time and it's finally time to sort it. I thought you needed an airline but you don't it seems.

It seems pretty straight forward really. Worth trying to clean it first before fitting a new unit as it has to come out anyway right.
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      08-04-2017, 11:25 AM   #20
Andy198712
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As a plus, if they are sitting proud it saves you have to lever it up to get the cover off
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      08-06-2017, 09:59 AM   #21
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I've to replace them every 3 yrs...they're rubbish design but used to be reasonably cheap from BMW but are now around £70 each!
The problem is when they get muck inside, they don't retract fully back and then the bumper cover can fly off. That's even more expense to get new bumper covers and getting them painted.
I tried to follow the video to clean them out but the tabs broke off and I hurt my hand when trying to separate the body.
So I just bought couple copies from ebay for £6 each - working fine...don't use them anyway...but had to change them to stop the covers flying off...wish I could switch them off tbh
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      08-06-2017, 11:05 AM   #22
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Have you got a link handy for those copies? I can only see them at around £16. Probably best if I have a plan B heh.
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