Headlight Washers Popped off

[StumpyPete]

Hi guys, one of the headlight washers on Xena has popped off due to freezing. Pretty weird as a) it's never happened before, and b) I have been running a pretty high strength washer mix for the last two months.

I've got the parts as they just lay on the ground in front of the car on the drive. There are three parts; the nozzle itself, the cover a small piece of tubing.

The big question is.....how do I get them back on? Any ideas?

[StumpyPete]

Originally Posted by StumpyPete

Hi guys, one of the headlight washers on Xena has popped off due to freezing. Pretty weird as a) it's never happened before, and b) I have been running a pretty high strength washer mix for the last two months.

I've got the parts as they just lay on the ground in front of the car on the drive. There are three parts; the nozzle itself, the cover a small piece of tubing.

The big question is.....how do I get them back on? Any ideas?

Solved it myself with a bit of help from an E90 forum.....

"you need 2 pairs of pliers, at least one pair of long nose type, and some patience/dexterity!!!

1st put the rubber tubes inside the telescopes that are behind the bumper (by the way these were introduced by bmw to "absorb" some of the ice expansion)

2nd fit/clip the covers onto the telescopes (noting which side is which) tip 99% of the time "odd" part numbers are fitted to the n/s or passenger side in this country.

3rd with the 1st pair of pliers grab the end of the telescope, without crushing or damaging the end, and pull it out gently but firmly (the spring pressure is quite strong). When its out as far as it will go use the other set of pliers to grab the outside of the telescope tube (firmly enough to not let it go back in) then with you free hand (or assistant ) cilp the telescope (with trim attached) into it. When your sure its clipped in release the grip with the pliers"

[X5 Seattle]

Same thing happened to me... Cold weather and "POP" off they came (somewhere)... Dealer says, "$550.00" to replace as they cannot confirm how they were "damaged"... Sounds pretty chicken ^&# to me! I'm calling BMW USA customer service today.

[StumpyPete]

Originally Posted by X5 Seattle

Same thing happened to me... Cold weather and "POP" off they came (somewhere)... Dealer says, "$550.00" to replace as they cannot confirm how they were "damaged"... Sounds pretty chicken ^&# to me! I'm calling BMW USA customer service today.

It's pretty simple - the water freezes on the inside and pops the nozzle off due to expansion of ice - it's a well known "design flaw" - there are literally hundreds of posts on European BMW forums complaining of the same issue - it doesn't just affect X5s, but 3ers, Zs, 5ers as well. If you have the bits then just pop them back on - if not you have to buy the whole assembly as you cannot get the nozzle on its own. the biggest pain is the fact you need to get the cover painted to match. Thankfully mine were on the drive. Lots of UK Dealers are replacing under warranty.

[Jeg Norge]

can u post a pic?

[AzNMpower32]

I guess this is one problem that the old fixed headlamp washers never had (E53, E83, E39). I thought BMW tests prototypes in Sweden or somewhere very cold before releasing them to the public........

[X5 Seattle]

Any idea where I can locate the parts... BMW USA told me to pound sand today as they cannot warranty an item that the old parts aren't available. I told her they are somewhere on I-5 near Seattle.

[StumpyPete]

Originally Posted by Jeg Norge

can u post a pic?

Nope, because the bits are now back on. If they pop off again I will take a picture.

[StumpyPete]

Originally Posted by X5 Seattle

Any idea where I can locate the parts... BMW USA told me to pound sand today as they cannot warranty an item that the old parts aren't available. I told her they are somewhere on I-5 near Seattle.

I would refer them to the European issues and the fact that half of the part is actually still attached to the car. The nozzle comes in two parts but is sold as one. There is a telescoping part and the actual nozzle itself. The telescoping part is still attached to the car; the nozzle has gone. So the old part is attached to the car but broken!

The part is either no 1 or no 2 on this realoem diagram:

RealOEM.com * BMW E70 X5 3.0si SINGLE PARTS FOR HEAD LAMP CLEANING

If you look closely you can see a line halfway up the telescoping section. Above that is the nozzle that has popped off, but as you can see it is a single part on the parts list.

[StumpyPete]

Originally Posted by AzNMpower32

I guess this is one problem that the old fixed headlamp washers never had (E53, E83, E39). I thought BMW tests prototypes in Sweden or somewhere very cold before releasing them to the public........

They do; but they tend to keep prototypes under cover up there, so the washers don't get the chance to be sitting outside in the cold overnight in -10C.