Headlamp washer pipework routing

Need technical Q/A then you're in the right place

Moderator: martauto

Post Reply
User avatar
Rusty318IS
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:00 pm

Sat Feb 22, 2020 10:58 am

Please can someone share a picture with me the correct routing of the pipes and t pieces under the bonnet. I haven’t changed it shortened the pipes but can’t get all the t- pieces in without the pipes folding up. I have a grey clip and 1x t-piece that are not shown in pic.

Cheers

Russ
Attachments
119E2ABC-8297-4594-9B6B-066A58F4D679.jpeg
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Sat Feb 22, 2020 12:06 pm

A few years ago I uploaded a large file of the original BMW dealer's instructions of how to fit the various options for E30s. This file ended up in the wiki, and contains the full instructions, with pics, of how to fit the intensive washer system, an about eighty other options.
These instructions were easy to find on the 'old zone', via a 'sticky' in the tech. help section, but this is no longer there.
Presumably, they are still in the wiki, somewhere!
User avatar
Rusty318IS
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:00 pm

Sat Feb 22, 2020 12:44 pm

Thanks Brian, I’ve had a good look but I can’t see it, shame that sounds like exactly what I need!
User avatar
Rusty318IS
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:00 pm

Sat Feb 22, 2020 3:04 pm

That looks handy thanks Stones
Seems I should swap the t-pieces for y-pieces
User avatar
Lemon98
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:16 am

Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:43 pm

The white pieces at the top of the bonnet look new, where did you buy them from and do you know their part numbers? One of mine is leaking and needs replacing alongwith the smaller white connector at the back of the headlights on the drivers side.
1990 4-door 320i SE
User avatar
Lemon98
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:16 am

Mon Feb 24, 2020 6:22 pm

IMG_20200220_130854.jpg
IMG_20200220_130852.jpg
Not sure if this helps but it looks like the pipe from the left white piece goes behind the right one and tucks in sooner than yours are currently.

I can take better pictures tomorrow as I took these originally to post in the Cotswold forum to get a price for replacements.

(mine is a 1990 with the intensive system so not sure if there's a difference or not in the routing)
1990 4-door 320i SE
User avatar
Rusty318IS
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:00 pm

Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:53 pm

Cheers for these pics they help. Looks like yours has t-pieces too so maybe they are correct after all. Mine is also a 1990. If you can post another couple of pics one showing wider angle and another with the other t piece
Thanks

Russ
User avatar
Lemon98
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:16 am

Mon Feb 24, 2020 10:30 pm

Rusty318IS wrote:
Mon Feb 24, 2020 8:53 pm
Cheers for these pics they help. Looks like yours has t-pieces too so maybe they are correct after all. Mine is also a 1990. If you can post another couple of pics one showing wider angle and another with the other t piece
Thanks

Russ
Hi Russ,

I'll take loads more tomorrow and post them up as I need to refresh my whole system too so we can work together to figure it out hahaha.

Will
1990 4-door 320i SE
User avatar
Lemon98
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:16 am

Tue Feb 25, 2020 5:08 pm

Hello again,

So from what I can gather, both long white pieces then go into a T which feeds the washer jets themselves...
IMG_20200225_152437.jpg
IMG_20200225_152451.jpg
IMG_20200225_153053.jpg
IMG_20200225_152437.jpg
IMG_20200225_152312.jpg
Attachments
IMG_20200225_152315.jpg
1990 4-door 320i SE
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:05 pm

It all should be installed exactly as per the instructions that Stones links to in the third post of this thread, although the tee pieces are 'T' shaped. rather than the 'Y' shape shown in the pdf. These are the dealer instructions I uploaded to the zone many years ago, are are what would have been followed by whatever dealer monkey was given the job of fitting these when the car arrived at the supplying dealer.
I've looked at a few E30s this morning, and all have the branch of the tee piece pointing straight upwards when the bonnet is closed. This does put a very sharp turn on the hoses, but that's how BMW intended.
The plumbing in the third pick above is not OE. The hose and clips should be the same type as in the other pics. and the black L shaped piece shouldn't be there.
User avatar
Lemon98
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:16 am

Wed Feb 26, 2020 3:58 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:
Wed Feb 26, 2020 2:05 pm
It all should be installed exactly as per the instructions that Stones links to in the third post of this thread, although the tee pieces are 'T' shaped. rather than the 'Y' shape shown in the pdf. These are the dealer instructions I uploaded to the zone many years ago, are are what would have been followed by whatever dealer monkey was given the job of fitting these when the car arrived at the supplying dealer.
I've looked at a few E30s this morning, and all have the branch of the tee piece pointing straight upwards when the bonnet is closed. This does put a very sharp turn on the hoses, but that's how BMW intended.
The plumbing in the third pick above is not OE. The hose and clips should be the same type as in the other pics. and the black L shaped piece shouldn't be there.
Yeah I put the black T piece there because there was already an aftermarket house connecting the plastic piece but was too short and at a very extreme angle so I tried to smooth it out as a temporary fix because my system is constantly leaking the fluid.
1990 4-door 320i SE
User avatar
Rusty318IS
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:00 pm

Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:29 pm

Lemon98 wrote:
Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:43 pm
The white pieces at the top of the bonnet look new, where did you buy them from and do you know their part numbers? One of mine is leaking and needs replacing alongwith the smaller white connector at the back of the headlights on the drivers side.
Sorry just seen this... part is available from BMW and many online it’s a washer check valve part number is 61661374978

Thanks for your help with the pics of pipework.
User avatar
Lemon98
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:16 am

Fri Mar 06, 2020 9:20 am

Rusty318IS wrote:
Tue Mar 03, 2020 8:29 pm
Lemon98 wrote:
Mon Feb 24, 2020 5:43 pm
The white pieces at the top of the bonnet look new, where did you buy them from and do you know their part numbers? One of mine is leaking and needs replacing alongwith the smaller white connector at the back of the headlights on the drivers side.
Sorry just seen this... part is available from BMW and many online it’s a washer check valve part number is 61661374978

Thanks for your help with the pics of pipework.

No worries!! :) I managed to get some from the Cotswold page and have replaced them but still aren't getting anything coming out of my jets so now I'm presuming they're blocked themselves or it's the little T pieces that are full on gunk too.

Glad I could help somewhat
1990 4-door 320i SE
User avatar
Contours
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Thu Jan 26, 2012 11:00 pm
Location: Ireland-West

Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:18 pm

The Bmw T piece holds the water primed for use as far as I know and doesn't allow it go back to the washer bottle so the water is ready to gush out on the first squirt. I dont think its possible to clear these T pieces when they get gunked up. I just used a different T piece in mine that fits the tubes and while the water wont come out immediately like the OEM one it will on the second go.
User avatar
Lemon98
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 245
Joined: Fri Jan 31, 2020 8:16 am

Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:10 pm

Contours wrote:
Fri Mar 06, 2020 7:18 pm
The Bmw T piece holds the water primed for use as far as I know and doesn't allow it go back to the washer bottle so the water is ready to gush out on the first squirt. I dont think its possible to clear these T pieces when they get gunked up. I just used a different T piece in mine that fits the tubes and while the water wont come out immediately like the OEM one it will on the second go.
Yeah I think you're right as I couldn't blow through the new ones from BMW but I replaced them and cleaned the jets and the pipes out as they were all really gunky and the system works a treat now!!

Still getting a leak from somewhere near the reservoir itself now that I need to sort out (it's clearly been there a while as has started rusting that flat panel where it meets the strut tower)
1990 4-door 320i SE
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Wed Mar 11, 2020 9:25 pm

One way valves are essential with the intensive wash system, otherwise fluid will flow from one reservoir to the other when one of the screen washer pumps is activated.
The headlamp washers also require their valves, otherwise the entire contents of the washer bottle will siphon out.
User avatar
Ukhozi
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu May 02, 2019 9:13 pm

Fri Mar 27, 2020 12:25 pm

Just looking at the photos, all my E30 washer pipes and T piece is within the bonnet. ???
Everyone has the right to reach the level of their own incompetence.
User avatar
Brianmoooore
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 49358
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm

Fri Mar 27, 2020 1:27 pm

This pipework was fitted by fitters at BMW dealers, who were supposed to follow instructions in the link further up this post to the letter.
Most did, but there will have been some who misread these instructions, some who just couldn't be arsed to follow them, and a few who could see a better or easier way to do the install.
There will be also plenty of E30s where the pipework has been redone by accident repair garages. I suspect that there's quite a small percentage of E30s around that have all their original panels at the front.
User avatar
Ukhozi
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 135
Joined: Thu May 02, 2019 9:13 pm

Fri Mar 27, 2020 1:42 pm

Ah Ha, I see what I missed, this is for a newer model, Mine is a 1987, so simpler, just the valve in the center and everything within the bonnet.
Everyone has the right to reach the level of their own incompetence.
Post Reply