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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums General 5-Series Sedan and Wagon (F10 / F11) Forum Latest Theory on Why I Lose Windshield Washer Fluid
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      09-26-2018, 03:10 AM   #23
AussieBob
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Can this really be the cause - the evidence appears to say yes

Can the filler pipe cover really be the cause of my washer fluid loss, it appears to be the case based on the evidence. I get home and open the hood and see the water on the inside of the hood above the cap and on top of the filler cap and basically all around the areas where the fluid has condensed from the hood and dripped down. Go back 20 minutes later and the water has vanished - "the perfect crime".

$7 USD each from Schmiedmann in Denmark, I've bought 3 new covers, I guess I'll need them in the future as well, plus I ordered other stuff I "need" for my 2010 F10 M5 and 1994 E36 M3 3.0L Euro.

Time will tell, but I think I may have solved my "magical disappearing" windshield and headlight washer fluid. If I have I can at least go back to using a cleaner mixture, I got sick of seeing it di$appearing and smelling it occasionally in the cabin (proof again it is evaporating in the engine bay). Nice post Tasmanian.
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      10-04-2018, 08:51 PM   #24
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I wish you the best of luck. I hope your $7 investment works as well as mine did.

Tasmanian
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      10-04-2018, 09:58 PM   #25
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I had a similar issue with my e46 325i and decided to drill a hole through the cap. Soon as I did that not one issue and fluid level never dropped without using the fluid.
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      10-05-2018, 02:40 AM   #26
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tasmanian View Post
I wish you the best of luck. I hope your $7 investment works as well as mine did.

Tasmanian
The caps arrive Monday, they are currently in Frankfurt with DHL. I suppose 1 to 2 months will be enough time to test it out, no "Washer fluid Low" alarm will mean success.
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      10-08-2018, 06:38 AM   #27
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It works

Filled the washer bottle with window cleaner and water mix right to the top of the filler pipe, feeling confident. Took the beast for a Sports/Sport run around the local streets for a good 20 minutes/half-hour, could not smell washer fluid at all, only rubber when getting back home. Open the hood and no visible fluid, open the cap and there it is, washer fluid still there in the filler pipe - problem solved it appears. More testing tomorrow
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      10-08-2018, 08:26 PM   #28
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My E70 BMW X5 4.8L is having the same problem not retaining windshield washer fluid, any suggestion???
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      10-08-2018, 08:28 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tonytyrell1@gmail.com View Post
My E70 BMW X5 4.8L is having the same problem not retaining windshield washer fluid, any suggestion???
It's the cap... order a new one and it will fix the issue... went to the dealer twice and I told them to try switching the cap and it fixed it
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      10-08-2018, 08:36 PM   #30
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Ey2001, thank you very much, greatly appreciate it.
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      02-10-2019, 10:09 PM   #31
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I’m having a slightly different issue and can’t find an answer on the forum after searching for the F10 535. I filled the washer fluid tank after the message and now about a week later, only the headlight washers work. The windshield jets don’t have anything coming out of them. When I listen, there is no motor sound unless the headlight washers start up.

I’m not sure but I’d imagine this means it’s the motor not working.

Thoughts?
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      02-11-2019, 11:18 AM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemerjunkie View Post
I’m having a slightly different issue and can’t find an answer on the forum after searching for the F10 535. I filled the washer fluid tank after the message and now about a week later, only the headlight washers work. The windshield jets don’t have anything coming out of them. When I listen, there is no motor sound unless the headlight washers start up.

I’m not sure but I’d imagine this means it’s the motor not working.

Thoughts?
If you initiate the windshield washers and DON'T hear the pump...then yes...there's probably an issue with the pump for the windshield (since you say you can hear the one for the headlamps).

Check the fuses as well as the electrical harness to the pump (#6 in diagram below). If you can hear the pump but no fluid...then I would suggest to check for clogged nozzle or lines.

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Last edited by Qsilver7; 02-11-2019 at 11:26 AM..
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      02-13-2019, 02:16 PM   #33
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Thanks so much for the suggestion.

I used the diagram from this thread to find the fuses that need to be pulled (Fuse 8 and 36) https://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1408633

Neither was bad but after pulling them and then reinserting them, the motor for the windshield fluid started working and everything is fixed.

Seems like pulling the fuses reset something.

Hope this helps someone else too.

FYI - Fuse 36 is a PITA to get. I did it by feel and using the tool in the trunk fuse box. Took a total of 5 minutes.
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      02-13-2019, 03:20 PM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemerjunkie View Post
Thanks so much for the suggestion.

I used the diagram from this thread to find the fuses that need to be pulled (Fuse 8 and 36) https://f10.5post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1408633

Neither was bad but after pulling them and then reinserting them, the motor for the windshield fluid started working and everything is fixed.

Seems like pulling the fuses reset something.

Hope this helps someone else too.

FYI - Fuse 36 is a PITA to get. I did it by feel and using the tool in the trunk fuse box. Took a total of 5 minutes.
Might want to check the fuse box. Watched a YouTube where the fuse was fine but the fuse box was corroded on the back side. There's a reason pulling and reinserting the fuse caused the motor to start working.
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      02-13-2019, 03:41 PM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc View Post
Might want to check the fuse box. Watched a YouTube where the fuse was fine but the fuse box was corroded on the back side. There's a reason pulling and reinserting the fuse caused the motor to start working.
Wouldn’t other things not work if the box itself were corroded?
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      02-13-2019, 05:22 PM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Beemerjunkie View Post
Wouldn’t other things not work if the box itself were corroded?
Depends on the location of the corrosion and what is causing it.
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      11-16-2019, 05:27 PM   #37
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I did not believe at first that it was just a cover issue that was causing my fluid loss but it was. I gambled on the lid compared to the 1 hour labor the dealer wanted to figure out where the leak was from.
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      06-25-2021, 11:34 PM   #38
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Cap

it doesnt evaporate, I mean it does but after it literally spills out. I was chasing washer fluid lose for a while and eventually gave up as I didnt find any leaks, then one day I put gopro underneath my hood chasing different issue and could not believe what i have seen,
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      06-26-2021, 04:53 PM   #39
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What the what? Did all of that washer fluid come from the washer fluid reservoirs cap at approx 23 seconds into the video?
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      06-26-2021, 08:09 PM   #40
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Just wanted to add my own experience to the collective here. After finding washer fluid on the underside of my F10's hood for months, I finally narrowed it down to the cap (its design is such that it's supposed to let out some hot air but not any actual liquid, but only if it's working properly. Mine had micro-cracks in the layers).

Dealer replaced it begrudgingly...and the problem was fixed. Such as random weird problem, but luckily for me, the resolution was easy.
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