[dallaswits]

Ok, here is the stinky poop.

I drive an 06 330i, love the damn car like a child (one that doesn't tear up my shit). This last week, while driving, I needed to clean the glass. When i pull the arm for water i hear the motor spin up, water sprays onto the windshield, but at about 1/3rd the pressure from before. The fluid Reservoir is full, and it doesn't leak. My gut (which is frequently incorrect) says that the pump is bad or the fluid rotor attached to the pump lost a couple fins. Does it sound reasonable to you Guru's that replacing the pump would resolve this? And just how hard is that little bugger to get my screwdriver too?

[Rotary Rasp]

Originally Posted by dallaswits

Ok, here is the stinky poop.

I drive an 06 330i, love the damn car like a child (one that doesn't tear up my shit). This last week, while driving, I needed to clean the glass. When i pull the arm for water i hear the motor spin up, water sprays onto the windshield, but at about 1/3rd the pressure from before. The fluid Reservoir is full, and it doesn't leak. My gut (which is frequently incorrect) says that the pump is bad or the fluid rotor attached to the pump lost a couple fins. Does it sound reasonable to you Guru's that replacing the pump would resolve this? And just how hard is that little bugger to get my screwdriver too?

I had that same problem. It was caused because I was not using alcohol based fluid. Non-alcoholic windshield wiper fluid will clog up the filer located in the washer tank. I had to remove the tank and clean the filter sock. Use only oem fluid since and havent had any more issues.

[Tom K.]

When my '07 E91 wagon stopped spraying on the windshield (but would still wash the rear window), the dealer fixed it by unclogging the strainers on the washer pump.

Tom

[Lucky13]

I'm taking mine in Wed for the third time in two months for this problem. My headlights get blasted but you could spit more on the windshiild than what I am getting. The first time in they changed a screen and said that was the problem. The second time in the service manager showed me the screen atthe bottom of the tube where the water gets sucked in and it was covered in black junk. He said I needed to use alcohol BMW windsheild solution. The SA said just buy some from auto parts store. They are not working again and it could not have reclogged both times because they would have had to drain it and replace the fluid with BMW solution. I think the hoses to the windshield must be clogged or where it actually sprays onto the window because why else would it blast the lights so strong but not the windshield.

[Titanium3Series]

who cares about oem washer fluid, but there is a little filter that resides right where the pump enters the tank. Buy a new filter sock, and put it on, i got one form a dealer for $3.75. Often after you take it out to clean it, it will never seal right and you might start leaking....so you mght as well replace it

how is everyone getting a bunch of crap in there? Filling it with water hose?

[Lucky13]

I think crap grows in mine because I rarely use it. The fluid may sit in there for a year. You have to take the wheel off to do what your suggesting and I'm not a mechanic and don't have jacks or a ramp or a torque wrench.

[dallaswits]

So, jack the thing up, take the tire off, then the tank, remove the filter, replace, replace tire, lower, drink beer, win?

[Lucky13]

I got mine back today after the third time and they do the same thing each time. They clean the screen and crap keeps growing back around the filter at the bottom of the tank. They clean the filter each time and replace the fluid with BMW windshield washer fluid so they can't blaim me. This time they said they flushed the system out but I wonder what they will say next time. My free maintenance runs out in two weeks and I'm not taking the wheel off every month. I wonder if there is something you can buy at an auto parts store that will keep the black junk from growing in the wiper system?

[dallaswits]

Almost sounds like you have an Algae bloom inside your tank.
But i would guess that to be impossible what with the lack of light to provide energy.

[Lucky13]

I'm half tempted to go to a tropical fish store and get a bottle of algae remover or treatment for an aquarium.

[Express]

i hear freshwater shrimp or snails like to eat algae. throw a few of those in the tank next time you top up and im sure youll be good to go.

[hankcah]

Are there any pictures or diagrams of the hoses and such for the washer fluid? I put in a gallon of fluid and the next day, EMPTY. Didn't see a puddle anywhere but its not rocket science. Was hoping for a DIY.... still searching. Do I have to take off the wheel well plastic?

[Friedmike]

Had same problem. Two quick fixes. If small buildup, disconnect the tiny pencil diameter sized hose that runs from the tank to the wiper eyes. It is located on passenger side and runs horizontally with bottom of window. Pull off end and blow hard. You’ll hear it bubble from your air. Do that for about 30 seconds and reattach.

That was working fir me but would clog back up every 4 or 5 days and stream would get weak again. So to fix, I hooked up shop vac to the fluid reservoir and sucked everything out. Then with a good suction, I blew in hose end like before to force loose any other debris that was on that side of the pump. The wet vac sucked everything up. I put new fluid in and works like a charm.