Headlight washers

[vasaline]

Is there a way to tell if u have the headlight washers? I have those two covers on the bumpers near the the headlights so those that mean I have the washers?

[Quickid]

I believe it is a standard equipment for Z4Ms.

[HaiDef]

so they activate when you use your windshield washer?

[mikeinsf]

You should see two pulses of fluid over your headlights when you squirt your washer fluid. It'll spray up and over the hood.

[vasaline]

I never knew I had those washers.... How do u spray the headlight washers

[Finnegan]

If you're not the original owner, and you've never seen them spray, chances are someone disconnected them. That can be done via the fuse or by disconnecting the power to the headlight washer pump. Lots of us do this because the tops have a nasty way of disappearing when the washers are used.

[beta]

They activate if you clean the windshield when your lights are on (auto or regular).

[Ron Stygar]

Originally Posted by vasaline

I never knew I had those washers.... How do u spray the headlight washers

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...3&postcount=32

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

If you're not the original owner, and you've never seen them spray, chances are someone disconnected them. That can be done via the fuse or by disconnecting the power to the headlight washer pump. Lots of us do this because the tops have a nasty way of disappearing when the washers are used.

Really? I've been away from the forum for awhile and didn't realize people were having issues with them (seriously...not being sarcastic). In any event, I don't know why it never occurred to me before to disable them. Personally, I don't find much use for them...perhaps because I store the car in the winter.

[vasaline]

Thanks for the help! I just tried them and it works even though they seem like they are useless in sunny California. It sprayed my headlights and hood.... :/

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by vasaline

Thanks for the help! I just tried them and it works even though they seem like they are useless in sunny California. It sprayed my headlights and hood.... :/

This is exactly why we disable them

[esqu1re]

I don't even like spraying my windshield with washer. . . Usually it can wait until the next car wash.

Say I'm weird, but I run with the washer a little above empty (so it doesn't trip the washer fluid light) to save that extra few pounds of weight. =)

[taddpole]

I use mine up here in the winter. Really does make a difference at night.

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by vasaline

Thanks for the help! I just tried them and it works even though they seem like they are useless in sunny California. It sprayed my headlights and hood.... :/

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

This is exactly why we disable them

Originally Posted by bosstones

Really? I've been away from the forum for awhile and didn't realize people were having issues with them (seriously...not being sarcastic). In any event, I don't know why it never occurred to me before to disable them. Personally, I don't find much use for them...perhaps because I store the car in the winter.

Yes, they really do come off. I don't know if we can pin all cases on washer use, but there are a few threads around here where folks have lost them. Since it's easy to disable the feature (and restore it) lots of us turn them off, especially since they're of limited use in some geographic areas. In others, I could see leaving them on, since they'd be useful.

[Huz-Z]

It strikes me as odd that BMW decided to equip the Z4 M with headlight washers, but not the foglights that other Z4's are equipped with. Living in an area where fog is very common in the spring and early summer, I'm quite happy to have the fog lights.

Ad yes - I have seen several late model 3 series cars in the parking lot at work recently, and I did notice that bits of the headlamp washer seemed to be missing on one of the cars.

[EenyBear]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

Since it's easy to disable the feature (and restore it) ......

Apologies in advance for the noob question... but what is the easy-step-by-step for disabling this feature?

Thanks

[Kgolf31]

IIRC it's Fuse #40. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[txz4]

found out when i accidentally turned my washers on in the garage. I had a HUGE mess in front of the washers and on the hood, didnt even think about it until that moment.

[prodigal_m]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

It strikes me as odd that BMW decided to equip the Z4 M with headlight washers, but not the foglights that other Z4's are equipped with. Living in an area where fog is very common in the spring and early summer, I'm quite happy to have the fog lights.

Ad yes - I have seen several late model 3 series cars in the parking lot at work recently, and I did notice that bits of the headlamp washer seemed to be missing on one of the cars.

It is odd; however, the MZ3 and the 1M don't have fogs either...not bad company to be in

[Shipkiller]

You can pull the fuse (#40 as Kgolf31 states), or you can disconnect the electrical connector to the headlight washer pump. Either one works.

[ruscoupe]

Please allow me to show my ignorance (again... ) but aside from the headlight washers spraying the hood, do they actually really even do much good w/o blades? We had a MB once upon a time and even with blades the washers were of little value IMHO. More of a 'smear' than a 'clear' if you know what I mean. So I'm not really seeing how just shooting a small stream of water at a headlight is really going to help that much.

Am I wrong?

Rus

[EenyBear]

The one time I watched it do what it is supposed to do (from outside the car).... a serious blast of water shot directly onto the headlights and cleaned off all the road dust. I was impressed.

Clean headlights are safer/brighter I guess and they also last longer (so say experts elsewhere in this forum) because they stay cooler without the insulation of accumulated dust and dirt.

Mine seem to work just fine.