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Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 5:16 pm
by AW8
............I think I damaged my levelling switch (low washer fluid level sensor).

Procedure : Undid 2 plastic nuts, unplugged & removed all motors, then unplugged & removed sensor. Then removed bottle and pulled out all filters in bottle cleaning same with old toothbrush.Used hose to rinse out bottle.

2nd time doing this & on resasembly I had washer fluid low warning. Assumption made I must have dmaged sensor by bending,knocking same.Tried carefully straightening sensor but no change. Tried again & promptly broke it :roll: at least it got rid of the false dash warning. :roll: New one ordered this morning............cost about a tenner for new BMW item.

Hopefully new sensor will sort matters otherwise I have damaged the floaty bit in bottom of bottle. I will know by next week.

So my advice.............Be careful not to cause damage when doing this simple job.

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:14 pm
by Phil D
That sounds like the type of thing that happens to me!

Was it full of gunk?

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:16 pm
by AW8
Not too bad considering I have used tesco fluid albeit the strongest one not the cheapest - I prior cleaned it 3 years ago - car was then 6 years old - done less than 20k since then

Filters where a little clogged otherwise ok..........hard to clean inside bottle though.

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 6:48 pm
by fenj66
the filters on my washer jets are constantly getting gunked up recently. i use halfords screen wash additive and have previously had the fluid tank off for a good washing out.
im thinking of throwing in some domestos too now to see if that might clear up the problem!

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 8:28 pm
by AW8
Thats might not bee too kind on the paintwork.

Many rave re qualities of the BMW screenwash.............especially in coldest of winter.

Not cheap though.

Maybe worth googling to looking at reviews, group tests &/or other info re decent fluids in cheaper branded bottles.

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:25 pm
by X5Sport
Bleach on paint :o :o :cry: Not a good idea at all. It'll wreck the rubber too, even at very low concentrations.

You can get the BMW screenwash in 5-litre containers if you ask. With 3 cars all fitted with 6-8 litre tanks and filthy roads we do tend to use a fair bit, especially in the winter. The guy at the parts counter checked when I asked about bigger bottles than the standard 1-litre variety and he found the 5-litre option. Makes more sense as it's cheaper than buying 5x 1-litre.

I've never had a gunked pipe with BMW stuff whereas the Halfrauds 'Concentrate' kept blocking the tailgate nozzle on the E53. BMW changed it a couple of times under warranty.

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:39 pm
by AW8
What's the price for the BMW screenwash 1 & 5 litre ?

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 9:41 pm
by AW8
Just seen cotswold selling same £3.67 per litre

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2011 10:11 pm
by X5Sport
I'll see if I can find the receipt.......

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 10:12 am
by pvr
I bought it online (10 litres) from BMW as well.

... cheaper than a new floater and cleaning effort :poke:

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 10:06 pm
by Waka
Best screen wash you get, as used by British Antarctic Survey, good to -60C!
http://www.lidl.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg//lid ... date=&ar2=

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 11:56 pm
by AW8
Link caused me to enter a postcode but product found............thanks.

My new levelling switch should be here by Thursday........I just hope I havent wrecked the float.

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 7:40 am
by gobiman
Thanks for the link.
The anti-swallowing additive is clearly a key selling point - just in case you fancy a pint of it while filling up.

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:16 pm
by Waka
ooops, sorry about the link, although you can click on the 'continue without post code' button :thumbsup:

I guess the the bitrex is to stop our European friends adding it to their wine! :rofl:

Re: Cleaned out my washer bottle & filters, but.........

Posted: Tue Oct 18, 2011 12:38 pm
by AW8
:)