Thanks
 

Thanks

If you have pre-LCI X5, the fender has that built-in housing for the nozzles, and they are being held by two tabs on each side. I will remove the bumper for easy access.

I'm not totally sure of what you're dealing with, but I don't think you will need to remove the bumper.

Are you talking about missing the cap only (parts #6 and 7 in this realoem.com link)?





http://www.realoem.com/bmw/images/diag_3ctd.png









Are parts 1 and 2 are intact? If so, and if the clips that the caps latch onto are all intact, then hopefully it's a pretty easy fix. You need to reach into the nozzle with long needle nose pliers, grab ahold of the nozzle, and pull the nozzle out (it's spring loaded). Then I used a small rubber tipped clamp to keep the nozzle pulled out, reattach the caps, release the clamp, and the nozzle will retract back into the bumper.

As you can see on realoem.com, the caps are primed only - you will need to get some touch up paint in your color and spray paint the caps.

As an aside, it might not have been theft that caused your caps to come off. What was the weather like in UK where you live when this happened? In my case a few years ago we had a hard freeze when the car was parked outside. Not sure exactly what happened (? freezing fluid expanded and pushed the caps out, then I think when I tried to use the sprayers somehow the cap was pushed off?) but my washer lines were frozen when I noticed one cap was gone, and the other side was stuck in the extended position but still with the cap on. Since then I've been more diligent about adding methanol to the washer fluid in the winter and I've never had a problem since.

I called it - Humblebrag!!

I just saw your other post about water in the cabin, and you state that your problems started after a few weeks of exceptionally cold weather.

My supposition above may not have been as astounding as Sherlock Holmes, but not bad for a Dr. Watson type!

Just to clarify Bruce, I know you said someone stole the covers but are the nozzles broken too? You need replace them too? If it's the covers only, just what sgrice mentioned, no need to remove the bumper. Just use long nose to pull it out gently and put the new covers by inserting the holes of the cover to the side of the nozzles.

I just did an LCI conversion so I just finished removing fenders and the bumper.

Here is a screenshot of mine when I removed the fender. As you can see it, The nozzle sits in there and to remove it, you will need to loosen the tabs of the nozzles in the back of that housing and disconnect the lines. It's pretty simple actually.

wings?

Oh Fender. If so, no you don't have to. Actually the housing for the nozzles on the picture I posted is part of the fender but since I broke it, it got separated. See if you can reach in through the lower grille first (don't remember if you can) without removing the bumper. If not, then removing the bumper only is good enough.