Windscreen washer jets

Hi,

I have a 318CI COUPE E46 face lift model and have a problem with my washer jets. When I pull the washer lever I get a small low pressure squirt of water then nothing. I've checked the washer jet nozzles with a needle and there's no blockage.

I read in the forums that there is a filter in the washer jet tank that can get blocked. Can anyone shed any light on how to check the filter in the washer jet tank? Has anyone else had a similar problem?

Assuming the filler tank is full.........

I had this sort of problem on the E36.  Under the jets, (Under the soundproofing cloth layer of the bonnet) you will see a small white contraption on the water pipes which serves no other purpose (That I can see) than as a one-way valve to stop water going backwards down the pipe.  This will have either split or is blocked.  Remove it, connect the pipes up without it. May need to buy a length of pipe from a tropical fish shop (Cheaper than a dealer or car part shop)

Why it's on there I dunno, we lived without them since water jets were invented?????

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies.

I did some tinkering around over the weekend and I've solved the problem. I suspect this is a common fault so for future reference here's what I did:

On the side of the washer jet tank (where the rubber pipe comes in) there's a plastic cover protecting what I assume is the pump.

1) Unclip the wire connected to the pump and then unclip the plastic casing from the side.

2) The rubber pipe is still attached to the pump, but you should now be able to rotate the pump clock wise and lift it out from the washer jet tank revealing a hole. If there is a filter blockage (as in my case) then very little water will come through. If the filter is not blocked water will pour out of this hole, meaning you have another problem - look for more advice on the forum.

3)  Here's the messy bit - lift out using your fingers what looks like a black rubber washer (the filter) from the hole and (assuming your washer tank is full) water will pour out all over the shop. Use your thumb to plug the hole.

4) Get someone to clean up the filter while you plug the hole. Mine was full of something that resembled wall paper paste.

5) Put the filter back in, keep plugging the hole as water will now pour out through the clean filter. Insert the water pump and rotate (anti-clockwise) to its original position, clip on the plastic cover and connect the wire removed above.

6) Finally, pull the washer jet lever and soak your friends as I did, but be happy that your windscreen is now clean!

Hope this info is useful for anyone who runs into this problem. I would appreciate any feedback (good or bad) my email address is:

bmw_m1@hotmail.co.uk

Cheers

BadMadWicked   

Just had the same problem on my E30 Touring so it looks like it affects all E30/E36/E46 3-series! You'd think BMW could have sorted it by now.

On the plus side, the T-valve was only about £3 from the dealer so it wasn't a disaster.

Fitting it was a bit of a fiddle - had to stand with one foot on the strut housing & the other on the intake manifold so I could reach comfortably!