The usual windscreen washer problem

[AndyTouring]

What is it with E30's and windscreen washers?

The rear washer on my Touring is an intermittant little bastard & only works when it feels like it. Currently it's not working (& yes, there's plenty of fluid in the tank.

The n/s front washer now dribbles like an incontinent geriatric. On inspection the white valve body is pissing out through one of the small holes near the outlet to the jet. I replaced this a year or so ago. The jet doesn't seem to be blocked. Should I just replace the whole gubbins?

BTW there are no h/lamp washers or intensive wash to complicate matters & the drivers side works fine.

[gareth]

regarding the rear, pull the plastic jet thinymajig off the wiper. if it now squirts then you're blocked up in there. if not then try poking down through the centre of the wiper arm spindle (hollow, where the fluid comes out) as it's often totally bunged up. if this clears it, give it a good blast through to stop it happening again straight away.

for the actual jet nozzles (front and rear) the best way is to get someone to blast them while you wriggle a pin in the jet. this will work out the crud and all will then be fine.

i always try and fit an inline filter near the jets to stop it happening again.

[AndyTouring]

Cheers Gareth, I'll give that a try.