Windscreen washer fluid

MisChief · 12 May 2010 at 20:02

I need to top up my windscreen washer fluid but i'm confused as to how much i should put in because there doesn't seem to be a max/min indicator telling me where i should stop.. in fact, i don't even know where the washer reservoir is!! all i see is the tube:

any idea where i can find the max/min mark? or maybe i should just top up a little bit at a time until i see the fluid in the tube?

and i've been told that it's not good using bottled mineral water to dilute the washer fluid... is this true or false?? :confused:

MisChief · 12 May 2010 at 20:22

i've never actually topped up washer fluid before so just thought i'd double check.. i did have a look in the user manual but it didn't help much

MisChief · 12 May 2010 at 20:58

nope never topped it up before. i used to do so few miles that the fluid would last until my annual service where it would be filled up, or i've had someone to help me do it..

anyway reading back on my post, it does sound a bit daft. but i don't know much about the things under the bonnet so thought i'd ask around incase i do something wrong.

Pyscho_Si said:
If you have a heated tank, make sure you use BMW washer fluid. When your jets block, it will be the first thing BMW ask you. If you haven't used the BMW stuff it will cost you £80 to get it fixed. I had this problem on my old 1 series.

how do i know if it's a heated tank or not?! i actually have a bottle of VAG branded washer fluid from when i used to own a VW and i was going to use for my BMW...

MisChief · 12 May 2010 at 22:30

Pyscho_Si said:
Do you have heated jets? If so, I expect you will also have a heated tank. How old is the car?

No idea if it has heated jets or not... the car is under 3yrs old.

and about this min/max thing, my old car had this so i just assumed that theres some sort of a reason for the indicator being there? as said before, i don't really know much about things underneath the bonnet

MisChief · 12 May 2010 at 23:27

Pyscho_Si said:
What model is the car?

it's a 118d m sport. just had a look on the bmw website and looks like this model comes with heated washer jets. even though the specs on there are referring to new cars, but i'm guessing a 3yr old car won't be that much more different

MisChief · 13 May 2010 at 11:04

Khaaan! said:
Why would anyone only change washer fluid once a year during service? That would mean they only use it a few times a year - this is the UK, you can't not use it a few times a month at the very least.

i only did 36k miles in my old car (was 6 yrs old). apart from the annual service top up, i think it was only topped up twice.

Duke said:
So.. how's your oil looking?

i actually have no idea.. this is the first time i've opened up the bonnet since i got the car 4 months ago. looks completely diff to my old car and i don't know where the dipstick is, but anyways i won't be asking you guys anymore..