Disable headlight wash

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:49 pm

Hi,

firstly I'd just like to say I am glad I am still an owner of an E30 touring after a little bit of a pant soiling time last Friday when a bit of black ice caught me out on the M4 slip road to the A329 near Reading! A few revolutions later I survived and even better the car survived too!

Anywhooo, back to the matter at hand. I need to disable the headlight wash function as it is pissing water away out of the wash reservoir and that's pretty useless with the wipers not functioning.

Anyone have any ideas how to easily disable it. I thought about removing the fuse but it shares it with the rest of the wash/wipe system.

Cheers,

Hitman

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:57 pm

I know that piece of road and it is tempting to take that long bend at speed but I'm glad you and the car survived the spin

I'm sure it looked impressive to any onlookers.

To disable the headlight wash just disconnect the relay attached to the washer bottles. Its that simple.

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:02 pm

Cheers,

There was a guy who had just spun himself so he had a ringside seat, although he was probably getting ready to dive for cover, I know I would have!

I'll give the relay a go later on. Cheers for that.

Hitman

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:19 pm

Glad your ok after the spin!

I think you need to realise something, you shouldn't be wanting to disable the system, but rather finding out how to fix you problem!

It is quite possilbe that all you need to do is open up the motors and reagrease the insides, this will enable the wipers to work!

Get things to work man! its a bmw not a ford/vauxhall etc etc where you HAVE to bypass functions...

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:21 pm

Hmm, I've got a set of wipers that don't seem to move at all....
Is regreasing the first step or should I be looking elsewhere?

The headlight wash/wipe neither washes.. nor wipes atm

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:30 pm

have a look at this mate
http://www.totalbmwmag.com/HandsOn/TechAug01.PDF

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:50 pm

Agreed, I should fix it, but finding the time at the moment to is difficult. I promise I will fix it soon, but in the mean time it will be the quickfix, especially with the dirt that gets kicked up of the road means excessive use of the wash/wipe system at this time of year!

Post Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:20 pm

i've removed mine along with the intensive wash system, but that's cos i have a airbox in the space the tanks normally go. a fair trade off to get a 3.5 in there though!

Post Thu Feb 16, 2006 11:56 am

Hmm, it seems that only one set of wipers (passenger side) is working on mine, and none of the jets

Post Thu Feb 16, 2006 12:50 pm

Gwynleym10 wrote:have a look at this mate
http://www.totalbmwmag.com/HandsOn/TechAug01.PDF

Excellent link!

Post Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:22 pm

Found this link whil epassing thru and decieded to give mine ago with the link. But after I get the cover off the units I cant get the backing plate off the motor. The chrome on in pic no 07 in the article. Ive tried everything. I can get it out partly but just stops.
Has anyone done this and if so HOW?

Post Mon Feb 27, 2006 6:45 pm

Once the output shaft and rack are out the way, then it should just fall out, as far as I remember.

Post Mon Feb 27, 2006 7:25 pm

could someone email me the article as my firewall prevents me from doing so!

Cheers