Window washer pump

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:28 pm

Hi Guys, I have spent the day changing the window washing system on my 318iS, so far I have changed the nozzles, the pipework and also the T Piece (non return valve). This has improved the situation slightly because I now have some water spraying on the drivers side of the screen, but not enough. The passenger side is perfect, loads going on there (both nozzles spraying out of the one washer jet), the drivers side is half the power and is not very constant (water up and down, then nothing etc.). Any ideas?, could the T piece be faulty or could it be my washer pump?.

I know the nozzles were dodgy as I tested them, knew the pipework was bad, but there's no way I know to test the T piece or the pump.

Also any idea how much a pump would be from BMW?, have checked at Halfords (one near work) and looks like a universal one goes for 15 quid. If the pump was on it's way would it simply stop working or is it possible for them to "slow down"?.

Cheers

Red D

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:33 pm

Also any idea how much a pump would be from BMW?,

first off dont buy from a dealer if you can get one for pennies on here first!

But yea I assume they can slow down before they stop.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:34 pm

i'd get a price from the dealers first... they may even suprise ya..

i know i'd prefer a new one over second hand (some to add to the aresnal of recipts!)

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 2:37 pm

best way to test the T piece is to swap the hoses from left to right then see if the oposite side becomes a poor spray patern.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 5:49 pm

its probably the non return valve.....was on mine last week.

mine had intensive wash (mostly defunct) and had a maze of valves and pipe at the top of the bonnet........i just binned the lot and ran the pipes directly to the jets...problem solved.

i only need to find a few working non return valves to stop the water draining back to the pump now.

Post Fri Oct 13, 2006 11:58 pm

nickso wrote:its probably the non return valve.....was on mine last week.

Mine was new ffrom the stealers yesterday. Anyway, just to update you and if anyone's about to do this they might get some benefit. Basically I stripped the system down, even shot some bleach and boiling hot water through the plastic reservoir to clean it all. Then washed that out and then refilled with boiling water to make sure everything was as clean as can be, still the drivers side jet seemed less powerfull than it should be so decided "SCREW IT", shot some screen wash into the now empty system, filled with tap water and gave that a blast. Not sure if it was the passage of time or everything finishing cleaning themselves off but I now have 4 nice jets of water squirting on my screen. I did decide to change my heated jets for none heated ones, but that was just a financial and lazy decision because I got the wrong jets ffrom BMW, will go back and change them as the weather gets colder, but for now I am 100% happy.

Will monitor my pump, see if it does die or not.

Thanks again for any advice and tips, if any rookies are thinking about doing this I have all the part numbers and costs etc, just drop me a line.

Cheers

Red Devil.