Any way of turning off headlamp wash? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

MichaelJP · 9th May 2002, 23:01

This is a pretty minor thing, but it does irritate me that every so often when you're washing the windscreen (windshield for the US guys!) the auto headlamp wash squirts out. This is bad when you've just had the car washed and waxed as it can leave spotting all over the paint when it dries!

Anyone else have this problem and did you do anything about it? I've considered disabling headlamp wash as they never get dirty enough to need it.

- Michael

tfung · 9th May 2002, 23:46

If you jab at the windshield washer stick quickly instead of holding it down, it would just activate the windscreen washers and not the headlamp ones...

PhilSeastrand · 9th May 2002, 23:48

1) empty the reservoir for the high-pressure washer
2) pull the wire connected to the pump (have no idea where it is)

Diamond Dave · 9th May 2002, 23:55

When I installed the Dinan cold air intake (CAI) I had to pull off the entire front bumper. Had to disconnect the tubes that take the fluid to the headlamp washers. You could always pull those off and insert a golf tee to keep them from dripping fluid.

Having said that, I think Tfung is correct. His recommendation is a lot less invasive! In either event take care of that windscreen! I can't stand it when mine is dirty...

Regards,

DWP

thompsw · 10th May 2002, 03:50

Don't they only squirt when the lights are turned on ? or is that the only time that I notice them !

BostonRocket · 10th May 2002, 06:00

I do what Tfung does, just pull back in little spurts and then I turn on the wiper to clear it.

Does the headlamp washer spray if the headlights are off?

'Rocket

Chris Foote · 10th May 2002, 07:04

You have two options to activate the headlamp washers

1) Every 5th time you press the Windshield wiper stalk towards you, the headlight washers activate (at least thats what the X5 does)

2) If you press the button on the side of the stalk IN (towards the steering column), a enhanced washing system will activate, and the headlight washers will do their thing.

I agree, the headlight washers are a PITA....nice gimmick BMW

-Chris

foreman · 10th May 2002, 07:30

I do believe there is a fuse just for the headlight washers.

foreman

MichaelJP · 10th May 2002, 11:11

Quote:

Originally posted by Chris Foote
Every 5th time you press the Windshield wiper stalk towards you, the headlight washers activate (at least thats what the X5 does)-Chris

Yep, that's what my M5 does

I think I'll look for that fuse, or empty the reservoir (unless that leads to the display pinging at me everytime I switch on!)

- Michael

DZeckhausen · 10th May 2002, 12:07

Quote:

Originally posted by MichaelJP

Yep, that's what my M5 does

I think I'll look for that fuse, or empty the reservoir (unless that leads to the display pinging at me everytime I switch on!)

The headlight washer uses the same reservoir (located behind the fender liner just aft of the right front wheel) as the windshield washer system. Same tank, different pumps. The "intensive wash" system is independant of this tank.

Running your resevoir down will result in a low reservoir warning.

The operation of the headlight washer is controlled by the general module (located in the passenger footwell area) which sends a ground signal down the blue/black wire to pin 9 on the headlamp washer module every 5th time you use your windshield washer with headlights on.

If you want to convert your headlamp washer to manual-only operation, you can cut the blue/black wire and then attach a momentary contact switch between the brown ground wire going to pin 8 and the blue/black wire you just cut leading into pin 9.

Jim Cash, on the E39 board, purchased an extra "ASC" button for this purpose and calls it his "Auxiliary Squirt Control!"

atomic80 · 10th May 2002, 17:59

Ok, correct me if I'm wrong. For me if I were to pull back the stalk towards myself, it activates the washer but only for the windshield. But if I were to push the "S" button on the stalk, it automatically starts up a brief wash/wiping by the windshield washer and the headlamp washers. I should try this out but I'm pretty sure that if you just pull back on the stalk, you'd only get washer fluids coming out for the windshield.