This system is for the headlight washers only?

no, it's for the intensive wash system, when you press the button at the end of the wiper stalk, i think it has a 's' on it.

I bought the actual intensive wash solution from my dealer not too long ago, but a lot of them don't carry it. It's essentially a concentrated wash solution, alcohol based.

 

no, it's for the intensive wash system, when you press the button at the end of the wiper stalk, i think it has a 's' on it.

I bought the actual intensive wash solution from my dealer not too long ago, but a lot of them don't carry it. It's essentially a concentrated wash solution, alcohol based.

thx! if I continue to have trouble finding it locally is there a substitute anyone is using? i'm sure I can find concentrated washer fluid somewhere, but I don't want to guess and gum up the works.

 

you can use regular washer fluid if you cant find the intensive stuff.

 

I have been told the intensive solution is a solution that is flammable. Flammable liquids are not to be sold in California (like lacquer based paint). (I know, you can sell gas in California, but gas is NOT flammable. Gas fumes are highly flammable, however. Theoretically, you buy gas without fumes. Go figure!)

 

I used put the bug and grime stuff in there and regular in the washer resivior. Then use it when needed

Ry

 

Ive always kept mine empty, since i never use it

 

I hate to tell you this, but you do use it, if you ever use your regular windshield fluid with your headlights on. Read the Owner's Manual. It explains how it works.

 

T McNasty.

Yes, I know how you feel. I am really pissed that oil based paints are banned. (You can't import the paint (shadow chrome) originally used on our wheels, for example). I have a rustic house, and have to paint it with water based paints. Bummer.

Also, it may NOT be JUST CALIFORNIA. I just happen to know about California's restrictions.

Also, you are absolutely right ... being totally empty isn't good for the motor, which has a tendency to fail, even if the tank is properly filled. And, distilled water would be better than nothing. (Regular water has too many chemicals in it.)

John.

 

I hardly use both, but I always keep them both filled with distilled water.

 

No comment ...

 

Sorry, but you're wrong. Read the Owner's Manual. On page 61 it says, and this is copied from there, "Washer/Wiper"
"Cleaning headlamps"
"When the headlamps are on, they are
also cleaned automatically every fifth
time you activate "Cleaning windshield"

End of discussion.

Does it say it comes from the intensive washer bottle, or simply the regular washer? Or does the 1 in 5 headlight cleaning work on each bottle separately, or work on both bottles collectively no matter which bottle you are using?
Regards,
Jerry

 

I keep it empty to keep the weight down....

 

I keep it empty to keep the weight down....

Extremist..........

I keep mine 1/2 full :hihihi:

 

No comment ...

 

You are so wrong and or confused... This is halarious. I tell ya what, I will be pulling my bumper off in the next few days and i will tack pictures to higlight exactly where the headlamp hoses are and just where they get fed from... HINT: not the inteseity resevior.

Just go and trace your plastic lines from the intensity pump, they go to the nozzles on the hood. That is it.

Oh and I have disconnected my headlamp pump.. weird how no fluid comes out when i press the "s" when the intensity resevior is activated.

You observed it in action ... LOL no you didnt!

Ryan

I have observed it in action. The intensive cleaner (for the headlights) comes from the intensive cleaner "bottle." No cleaner comes from the regular cleaner bottle. As I indicated, once in every 5 uses of the windshield washer fluid for the windows (but only counting when the headlights are on). Kinda sophisticated, don't you think?

I am not positive (kinda hard to tell), but I believe when the headlights get a squirt, the windshield gets both regular and intensive solutions. Actually, I am pretty sure it does, but not 100% sure. Maybe 85%.

 

Here are the pics. Kind of crappy, I took them with my Iphone.

You can see one hard plastic line coming out of the pump, it continues through the 1/2 plastic flex sheilding with one other hard plastic line (from the windscreen tank) and another black line which is actually the wires that provode power to heat the fluid.

There are no other hose's or pumps leaving the intensity resevior.

I can try to take a better picture is needed. OP I hope this answers your question.

Ryan

 

If y'all are done dropping your pants and comparing "wiring diagrams" I'd sure like to get back the the part about what substitute fluids your using...or where to get the BMW stuff. :7:

:cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers::cheers:

 

Refer to post 6...

 

Saw it. You using a certain brand or product name that you think works well?

 

I do not.. I just grabbed the first bug stuff I saw. it worked well...

Ryan

 

Well the plot thickens. I got some Prestone Bug Wash for my intensive action washer reservoir and poured it in. Then it all leaked out!

The reservoir isn't broken, but the motor seems to have broken or "dryrotted" away from it's base. The part at the bottom that attaches to the tube broke away from the motor, but it's not a clean break. The whole thing is destroyed/melted/dryrotted. Unreal. Anyone heard of this?

Good thing for CPO!

 

Well the plot thickens. I got some Prestone Bug Wash for my intensive action washer reservoir and poured it in. Then it all leaked out!

The reservoir isn't broken, but the motor seems to have broken or "dryrotted" away from it's base. The part at the bottom that attaches to the tube broke away from the motor, but it's not a clean break. The whole thing is destroyed/melted/dryrotted. Unreal. Anyone heard of this?

Goor thing for CPO!

You should have only used the BMW brand!! :7:

 

Well I got my "new" pump motor today off of Ebay. Upon further inspection of my defective one the very bottom ring of plastic (with discharge tube) had cracked/rotted away from the motor. That ring+hose had to be pulled separately from the rubber grommet.

I actually removed the rubber grommet to do a visual inspection...make sure that wasn't part of the leak problem also. Turns out that there's a white plastic screening gadget attached to the bottom of the rubber grommet. Of course it fell off on me and I had to remove the whole reservoir to get it out and and put it all back together properly.
Anyway in case this ever happens to you the top of the reservoir is held down by a plastic nut, but the bottom is held down by a plastic "molly" type bolt...similar to the ones that hold the plastic fuel pump cover under the car. Pull straight up on it and the "center" comes out...then the part that holds the reservoir down comes out separately.
Just thought one of you may need this info. one day. :M5thumbs:

But who'll read this far into this thread anyway? lol

FWIW the pump works properly now. Filled the high-intensity reservoir to the very rim and hit the button at the end of the stalk and watched the level drop from inside the car. Now I need to find some bugs! :M5launch:

 

I got lost in this thread how many washer bottles are in my 2002 MY?

I thought there was just one under the hood. Is there another one hiding some where?

 

******* this thread was started by me and pertains to the hi-intensity washer pump/bottle leak problem I was having. The hi-intensity washer pump and bottle are on the passenger side of the engine compartment right in front of the cabin air filter box and strut tower.

Yes there is at least one other pump/bottle which is the main system.

 

Now I need to find some bugs!

That's not a problem. They always seem to find me!

 

The optimist says the glass is half full,
The pesimist says the glass is half empty,
The engineer says the glass is design wrong.

 

So just to clarify - if i unplug the headlamp washer pump the headlamp washers will just stop working (and spraying my hood with washer fluid)? Also the location of this pump has been mentioned as "behind the passenger footwell" - I assume the pump is under the hood somewhere, how hard is it to get to? Previous owner of the car had just disconnected the hose behind the passenger-side foglamp, so it was just dumping fluid. I'd rather "do it right" and just unplug the pump.

 

Dan the reservoir/pump pictured in post #34 is right out in the open on the passenger side of engine bay. I think if you unplug this pump your headlamp washers will stop working for you. Don't know if you'll get any type of warning light on dash though. You could just keep the reservoir empty I think.

The other pump/reservoir is the main one for the windshield. I think that's the one you referenced that's behind passenger footwell.

 

So i'm looking at realOEM and it shows the two reservoirs - but they both get filled by the same hose, right? I'm wondering how i could keep one empty (the headlights) and keep the windshield washer full.

 

No. The high-intensity reservoir is separate from the other one. If you look at the picture in post #34 again it fills up by the pop-top part (#2). There's another pop-top in your engine compartment (around the side of the same shock tower) that's attached to a long tube that vanishes. This one leads to the other main reservoir.

 

Come on guys, it ain't that hard!!