E46 Windscreen washer reservoir

Murzo · 15 Dec 2011 at 20:37

Hey Guys,

filled my windscreen washer last week right to the top and couple of days later it was completely empty. Had a quick search on google and this could either be the pump or a leak in the reservoir itself. How easy would it be to DIY fix this myself?

[TW]Fox · 15 Dec 2011 at 20:50

Take the offside front wheel off, remove the wheelarch liner and the reservoir is there.

Gaygle · 15 Dec 2011 at 21:14

[TW]Fox;20807364 said:
Take the offside front wheel off, remove the wheelarch liner and the reservoir is there.

The E46 reservoir is in plain view under the bonnet and secured with a single bolt.

I had this problem before - turned out to be one of the valve/pipe things coming out of the reservoir to the headlight washers which was loose (you'll see what i mean when you take it off). Cleaned everything out (lots of crap in the filters to the headlight washer/windscreen washers), secured the headlight washer pipe and problem was fixed.

Some people have reported that the reservoir has cracked so worth checking that out whilst it's off.

EDIT:

Washer bottle position under bonnet:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-E46-WASHER-BOTTLE-1999-2005-WARRANTY-/260603198027

Washer bottle valve/pipe things visible here:

http://autos2.bluesock.com/ebay/combellack//ebay_images/large/12549.jpg

[TW]Fox · 15 Dec 2011 at 21:22

How bizarre, it's hidden away in the wheelarch on my E39 and most things about them are the same! I wonder how they've managed to fit it in the main engine bay, which is a smaller?

Guess because it has no intensive wash?

Saytan · 15 Dec 2011 at 21:27

it's probably one of the headlamp washers leaking the fluid off. Mine does it, i'm going to change it when i can put my hands under the bonnet without freezing them off.

Blinkz · 15 Dec 2011 at 21:45

[TW]Fox;20807591 said:
How bizarre, it's hidden away in the wheelarch on my E39 and most things about them are the same! I wonder how they've managed to fit it in the main engine bay, which is a smaller?

Guess because it has no intensive wash?

If its any consolation the E46 M3 has it under the wheel arch too

[TW]Fox · 15 Dec 2011 at 21:50

Saytan said:
it's probably one of the headlamp washers leaking the fluid off. Mine does it, i'm going to change it when i can put my hands under the bonnet without freezing them off.

That will be your headlight washer distrubution piece not the washer nozzles themselves, I would imagine.

Murzo · 15 Dec 2011 at 21:57

Yes I know where the reservoir is lol

.

Thanks gaygle, from doing some research it does sound like a common problem, but I will get the reservoir of and check for any cracking/leaks.