Sunday 25 February 2018

BMW F10/F11: Clogged/blocked Washer Pump Filter - EASY FIX / FILTER REMOVAL! [E90/E92/F07/F30 etc.]

Windscreen washer jets not working, but the pump can still be heard OK? Then you have a very common case of clogged filter. Due to the supposed inaccessibility of the bottle on later model BMWs I have read stories of high dealer bills, daunting inner-wing removal and even back-feeding the washer-hose with bleach to gradually unblock the gunged up filter... but before you try this read on, as it is an easy fix after all.

GUIDE:

1. Fully turn the steering to the right to give access behind the driver's front wheel to work. [Removing the wheel will give more access but is not necessary.]

2. Remove the 6 screws holding securing the rear half of the felt wheel-arch liner in place using an 8mm socket. This will allow access without removing the arch-liner completely. Four of the screws are located in the wheel well itself and two are located underneath next to the sill.

3. Remove the plastic 'mud-guard' trim on the outside of the wheel-arch that adjoins the felt arch-liner. This is done by pressing the centre-pin of the 3 plastic clips through the clip and then removing the clips with a panel-popper tool. [It may be possible to do the job without removing this trim piece, as the clips are very hard to get out and prone to breaking, but visibility and access are certainly improved].

4. Peel the felt wheel-arch liner out from the rear lip of the wheel-arch and if possible tuck it behind the wheel. The washer-bottle should now be visible to the rear of the front wheel. It sits in a tight gap between the outer and inner wings of the car body itself and access is very limited. [This is unlike E39, E60 etc. where the bottle sits left-to-right across the rear of the wheel-arch and access if much easier!]

5. Remove the windscreen washer hose from where it enters the pump and move it out of the way.


6. Slide a long flat-screwdriver in between the washer-bottle and the outer wing and prize the pump upwards until the spout is clear of the bottle and the pump can wedged up and out of the way.


7. The clogged filter should now be sitting in the washer-bottle where the spout of the pump fits. Use the flat-screwdriver to prize the filter up and out of the bottle. It should now be removable by hand or using long-nose pliers / tweezers.


8. Clean the gauze filter using water and lightly brush it with a sponge-scourer or stiff brush. [I find an old toothbrush works perfectly.] It is likely clogged with a 'gel' like substance that builds up supposedly due to the use of incorrect washer-fluid as well as dirt from the bottom of the tank if the washer has been run without fluid in for a while, but should clean up pretty easily.



9. Carefully slot the filter back into the washer-bottle and press it back into place using long-nose pliers / flat screwdriver or both, making sure it is fully seated.

10. Slide the pump spout back into the filter / washer-bottle, making sure it is fully seated and rotated to the correct position with the spout for the windscreen-hose pointing to the side of the car.

11. Refit the washer-hose, trim, wheel-arch liner and wheel. [Reverse steps 1-5.]


www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=930107
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=737416
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/120732-f10-windscreen-washer-not-working/
http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/topic/124943-f10-washer-problems/

58 comments:

  1. many thanks - a lifesaver ! (well wallet saver!)

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  2. This was going great for me until removing the pump and mine appears different. Mine has headlight wash (although headlights are washing fine) so i take it the instructions are different?

    Thanks,

    Steve.

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    Replies
    1. I also have headlight wash and the headlights are getting the right pressure. What was the final fix for you?

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    2. In the end, I disconnected the tube from that comes out of the engine bay on the driver/right side (on a uk car) to the main rail that is under the bonnet and blew air with my mouth, quite hard but doable and then reconnected and pressure is back. I guess the gunk that was blocking the filter inside the reservoir is floating around somewhere for now. I might have to create some anti gunk potion soon and flush the system well but happy for now with the results. To disconnect and reconnect, there is a little black clip to remove and put back on, fairly easy to do so. When putting back on, just make sure the tube is pushed well onto the connector so no water leaks and pressure is full on. Thank you guys, glad I was able to sort it myself for now and not have to be charged through a dealer.

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    3. That technique works for gummed-up screen wash in the tube but doesn’t usually clear filter blockages, so I guess that’s all you had. The filter will be on its way though.

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  3. Ignore my comment from yesterday, i was following the wrong tube. The instructions work, thank you!

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    Replies
    1. yes, BMW have a habit of putting the larger, more obvious pump to the headlight-washers, yet I've never known one to get clogged, go figure

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    2. Is it a separate pump and filter for the headlight wash?

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    3. Yes, not sure if the headlight pump even has a filter as I’ve never seen one blocked.

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  4. Great instructions - many thanks. Managed to sort my filter out. It was very clogged and looked just like yours!

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  5. Thanks for the great instructions - Mine was very clogged and looked just like yours even a preliminary cleaning attempt via air backflush though spray nozzles hose and a siphon backflush via tank. I still have weak flow in 2nd and 3rd spray nozzles. I guess some debris must have come through the line.

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  14. Great article! Sorted mine right out, the filter was certainly a lot smaller than expected, and I had two 8mm bolts underneath too, so 8 in total for me (2012 535D M Sport).
    Now for some new mud guard inner bits... lol

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  15. Are these instructions for LHD or RHD? Need to sort mine out tomorrow and want to make sure I'm removing the right wheel arch liner. Thanks!

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    Replies
    1. Instructions are for RHD car, but the tank is in the same place. it would be the passenger side wheel-arch for LHD

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    2. Any idea how much bmw charge for this?

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    3. Be a couple hundred no doubt. Always seems to be the screen wash they recommend that gums the filter up too, that’s business.

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  22. Couldn’t get to the pump without what appears to be taking the wheel and front plastic guard off.

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  24. Great tip, it was fidly but managed to get the fikter out to clean and replace

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  25. Great tip, it was fidly but managed to get the fikter out to clean and replace

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  27. Thank you so much for this. It saved me time and probably I small fortune. A little bit fiddly but easier than taking it all to bits.
    Keep up the good work.

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  28. Well that was zero fun but would have been impossible without your instructions, thanks!

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  29. Thank you very much indeed - really good instructions for what is an awkward job. Saved a fortune in mechanic costs.

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  30. hi thanks for this article, any chance of a YouTube video? cheers derek

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  31. Not worth doing this, blocked again in a month

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    Replies
    1. Mine is still perfect after 3 and a half years... don’t see anyone else complaining this, nor have had any comeback from customers. Sorry for your bad experience, I would say it’s likely the screen wash compound you are using.

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  32. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  34. hi, thanks very much for this, it worked a treat, had been looking on youtube showed similar but not the same model, absolutely brilliant saved me a fortune, did take it to a dealer who blew through the tube and it worked for about three goes and charged me £8 for the pleasure. it would be great if you could do a youtube video for us thickies but thanks keep up the good work cheers derek

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  35. Great write up, fixed my clogged washer filter. A tip for putting the filter back into the water tank, I used an allen key pushed into the rubber opening on the filter to help manoeuvre it into place without dropping it.

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  37. Life saver.

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  38. Big thank you! Great instructions.

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  39. Exactly my problem. Spray was getting weaker and weaker until it finally stopped completely. Not much room with 20” wheels on but successfully cleaned the filter and got it all back together again. Result.

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  40. Fantastic fix & concise details..thank you !

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  41. A bit of a fiddly job but very, very satisfying especially considering that I’ve saved myself a great deal of money. My filter was probably worse than the one pictured. Used a tooth brush and warm water

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  42. Re the above post, I forgot to say a huge thanks to the publisher of this very useful post..! 👍

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  43. Followed the guidance above to sort the blocked filter in my F10 this afternoon, worked a treat and washers now working 100%.
    Thanks a million for taking the time to post that , much appreciated 👍🏻

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  44. Just used the great description above to remove and clean the washer filter. It was fiddley but the washers are now all fully functional again. Many thanks for taking the time to post this cost saving fix. 🙂

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