XSeries-forum

guys.. i noticed yesterday that when i pressed the "S" button on the wiper stalk, nothing happens? it used to activate my headlight and windscreen washers and wipers... doesnt do anything now? any ideas?

Does the screen wash still work ok when you pull the stalk back? If not then you have either run out of Screen Wash (not saying you haven't checked but you may have developed a crack or leak in the bottle or one of the lines) or your pump has stopped working.

Have you tried filling up the Screen Wash Bottle? If it gets below a certain level it might not go through the "S" Cycle too.

If none of the above then it could be a problem with the Stalk itself and the "S" switch isn't sending a signal.


Turks.

Had the same problem on my very old E34 530i. It was the switch itself.
If i remember correctly I prised the end of the switch off carefully.
The contact in the switch had bent and when the switch was pressed it wasn't making the contact.
Just carefully bent it back into position and reassembled. it worked fine after that.
I don't know if the X5 is the same tho.

Kena knows more about this than me - but also the headlight washwipe will only come on if you have your lights on. Test that too...

thanks guys... wash wipe works as normal if a pull the stalk towards me... ive definately got water in there and lights are definately on !!! I think Kena might be right ... can only be a dodgy button, but i dont even use it much to say yeah its worn !!!.. but ill try and see if the end comes off !!

To me, I don't see the point of this button anyway... it uses the water from the same Washer Bottle and fires it at the windscreen at the same pressure.

On the E39, it had a separate Washer Bottle which you put a slightly more concentrated mix into... when you pressed the 'S' button on the Stalk then it used a squirt from this Bottle to clear any stubborn dirt and then finished with a normal Wash.


Turks.

i agree with the above, but if its supposed to work, i want it to work... im just a bit anal like that