BMW Washer Fluid Sucks!

What’s up with the windshield washer fluid that BMW uses? Every time you spray your windshield it’s like squirting soap that doesn't dry all over the place including the back window if you are at speed. Once it dry’s the entire back window is coated with soapy water spots. I can’t wait until my washer tank is empty. Funny part is the CSR manager where I work has the same issue with her new Bimmer. OK 3 months of ownership and only one rant.

In 38 months of ownership, I've never had an issue with the washer fluid the dealership puts in my car. And I use it a lot, +45" of rain in 8 months this season alone...

Originally Posted by GarySL

In 38 months of ownership, I've never had an issue with the washer fluid the dealership puts in my car. And I use it a lot, +45" of rain in 8 months this season alone...

I'd second that. Seems like any ole washer fluid to me, though BMW says it is, indeed, specially formulated. Oooooh....

Originally Posted by 3284me

What’s up with the windshield washer fluid that BMW uses? Every time you spray your windshield it’s like squirting soap that doesn't dry all over the place including the back window if you are at speed. Once it dry’s the entire back window is coated with soapy water spots. I can’t wait until my washer tank is empty. Funny part is the CSR manager where I work has the same issue with her new Bimmer. OK 3 months of ownership and only one rant.

its so cheap that you should just buy a gallon at your local autostore and store it in your garage..

Originally Posted by "S62"

its so cheap that you should just buy a gallon at your local autostore and store it in your garage..

It's about time to add for my car. So can I just buy a blue washer fluid from Target to use my 328i then?

I only use BMW branded washer fluid.


Just kidding. Yes you can use the washer fluid from target and gas stations

I've always found the BMW branded fluid to be superior to the stuff you find in gallon jugs - and it has a much better smell. As it comes in a concentrated form, perhaps the OP's dealer hasn't been mixing it properly.

Tom

Originally Posted by zemina

It's about time to add for my car. So can I just buy a blue washer fluid from Target to use my 328i then?

Yep thats completely fine, BMW just overprices all of their fluid as usuall.

Originally Posted by zemina

It's about time to add for my car. So can I just buy a blue washer fluid from Target to use my 328i then?

I've got both the green and orange RainX fluids from Autozone, they are about $3 each for the very large jugs. I don't really need them though, because when my windshield gets a bit dirty, I'll just use Sprayway directly into a microfiber meant for glass when I get home.

OTOH, I use BMW coolant and BMW motor oil. I haven't been faced with other fluid decisions yet.

Originally Posted by Tom K.

I've always found the BMW branded fluid to be superior to the stuff you find in gallon jugs - and it has a much better smell. As it comes in a concentrated form, perhaps the OP's dealer hasn't been mixing it properly.

Tom

You make a great point about being concentrated. That's exactly what it looks like. It is weird that two people with the same car from two different dealers would have the same issue. Every time the overspray hits the back window it drys spotty. The windshield is perfect because the wipers clean it off.

Originally Posted by 3284me

You make a great point about being concentrated. That's exactly what it looks like. It is weird that two people with the same car from two different dealers would have the same issue. Every time the overspray hits the back window it drys spotty. The windshield is perfect because the wipers clean it off.

None of my BMWs have had an overspray problem. Back in the day, you could adjust the spray nozzle with a safety pin but I doubt that's possible now, so perhaps your dealer can do the adjustment.

Tom

Originally Posted by Tom K.

None of my BMWs have had an overspray problem. Back in the day, you could adjust the spray nozzle with a safety pin but I doubt that's possible now, so perhaps your dealer can do the adjustment.

Tom

Only happens at speed. Guess it is the aerodynamics of the car. Sitting still it hits the windshield only and is not an issue.

My wiper fluid lasts about 8-10 years. I rarely use it. When I lived in snowy weather, I did use it more.

It used to be better when it was pure isopropyl alcohol. Cleaned the windows and gets you high.

Now, I use this during the summer



I'd like to try this for the winter

but generally just use the blue stuff.

Have your washers adjusted so they don't spray over the roof. None of my 3 BMW's exhibit(ed) this annoying behavior. I can't stand driving behind some car when the guy starts washing the windshield non-stop and all the spray goes all over my hood.

Originally Posted by 3284me

Only happens at speed. Guess it is the aerodynamics of the car. Sitting still it hits the windshield only and is not an issue.

Ah, since I've owned 3 BMW 'verts, I'm trained not to use the washers at speed, unless my glasses also need cleaning!

Tom

Aside from the cleaning issues, most windshield washer fluid is NASTY stuff. Keep it away from the kids and pets. Google: MSDS windshield washer fluid. You may be shocked at the information.
(MSDS = Material Safety Data Sheet). I was surprised how toxic it is (depending on formulation), and some forumulations seem to be bad for metal if I've read the MSDSs correctly. This convinced me to stick to BMW approved fluid.

just go to a gas station, pay $3.19 for a gallon of washer fluid.

its perfectly fine for your car, your windows, your metal, your windshield.

obviously dont drink it, dont feed it to your kids, and dont feed it to your dog.

you know what else is poisonous? motor oil. coolant. too much salt. too much water. laundry detergent. too much alcohol. going out camping and getting bit by an infected tick. going out camping and drinking parasite infested waters.

Originally Posted by mujjuman

just go to a gas station, pay $3.19 for a gallon of washer fluid.

its perfectly fine for your car, your windows, your metal, your windshield.

obviously dont drink it, dont feed it to your kids, and dont feed it to your dog.

you know what else is poisonous? motor oil. coolant. too much salt. too much water. laundry detergent. too much alcohol. going out camping and getting bit by an infected tick. going out camping and drinking parasite infested waters.

So, you've checked the MSDS? I doubt it. Motor oil is sealed, not sprayed all over the car, nor do we soak our car in laundry detergent...nor do we drink pond water. Washer fluid and its vapors ARE inhaled by us, however. Where are you coming from? Certainly you've read about other automotive fluid hazards such as anti-freeze and its sweet taste to pets? It kills/poisons them (driveway spills). Why are you so dismissive of these hazards? TOO MUCH WATER? Give me a break.

I'm saying that we are exposed to way more toxic things on a daily basis and most of us are fine... as long as we take precautions and not feed it to our kids and pets. Just because coolant is poisonous to my dogs, I'm not gonna not keep a couple gallons in my garage. Prolonged skin exposure to laundry detergent to our skin is not good either.

I feel like the whole "use bmw washer fluid only!" and "omg this stuff is poison!" is way over the top and everyone is making too big of a deal about which washer fluid to use. I understand if people want to stick to a certain brand of oil, but this is only washer fluid.

To make you happy, I googled MSDS Washer fluid and clicked the first link, which was to a pdf file to walmart's brand of washer fluid. The only hazardous ingredient listed is methanol (I figured it would be some kind of alcohol). Yes, methanol is toxic, and it can cause blindness and death. Drinking a small CONCENTRATED amount will attack the central nervous system and kill the patient. Btw, if they drink enough ethanol it will kill in the same manner. Many college and high school kids come close to this. Another way concentrated methanol will kill is through the metabolic pathway. It gets converted to formaldehyde, which is a embalming agent. The amount of methanol that is inhaled from evaporating washer fluid being sucked in via the vents is not enough to get someone blind, let alone die from it. It might make someone slightly high, which lasts for about 10 minutes max, but wont affect judgment or anything. The quick cure for methanol ingestion is drinking enough.... ethanol. Unless someone chugs this stuff out of the container, or somehow concentrates this stuff and inhales it because they are too poor to buy beer or smokes, or bathes in it because they cant afford soap, it is harmless.

Also if you note in that MSDS page, in Section 8 page 4:

Originally Posted by MSDS Windshield Washer Fluid - Supertech

Respiratory Protection: Under normal use conditions (outdoor windshield cleaning), respiratory protection is not justified.

This is why I dismissed those so-called hazards.

Originally Posted by Tom K.

Back in the day, you could adjust the spray nozzle with a safety pin but I doubt that's possible now, so perhaps your dealer can do the adjustment.

On my recently purchased 328xi I've had an issue with the nozzles being aimed fairly high on the windshield, my rooftop gets a nice speckling of blue when I use the fluid. I called the dealer and he said they can still be adjusted with a safety pin. I'm nervous to try though, the heated nozzles on the winter package are $80 parts (plus labor) to fix.

Maybe I'll have them re-aimed next time im in. I'd hate to pay for something like this!

Originally Posted by mujjuman

I'm saying that we are exposed to way more toxic things on a daily basis and most of us are fine... as long as we take precautions and not feed it to our kids and pets. Just because coolant is poisonous to my dogs, I'm not gonna not keep a couple gallons in my garage. Prolonged skin exposure to laundry detergent to our skin is not good either.

I feel like the whole "use bmw washer fluid only!" and "omg this stuff is poison!" is way over the top and everyone is making too big of a deal about which washer fluid to use. I understand if people want to stick to a certain brand of oil, but this is only washer fluid.

To make you happy, I googled MSDS Washer fluid and clicked the first link, which was to a pdf file to walmart's brand of washer fluid. The only hazardous ingredient listed is methanol (I figured it would be some kind of alcohol). Yes, methanol is toxic, and it can cause blindness and death. Drinking a small CONCENTRATED amount will attack the central nervous system and kill the patient. Btw, if they drink enough ethanol it will kill in the same manner. Many college and high school kids come close to this. Another way concentrated methanol will kill is through the metabolic pathway. It gets converted to formaldehyde, which is a embalming agent. The amount of methanol that is inhaled from evaporating washer fluid being sucked in via the vents is not enough to get someone blind, let alone die from it. It might make someone slightly high, which lasts for about 10 minutes max, but wont affect judgment or anything. The quick cure for methanol ingestion is drinking enough.... ethanol. Unless someone chugs this stuff out of the container, or somehow concentrates this stuff and inhales it because they are too poor to buy beer or smokes, or bathes in it because they cant afford soap, it is harmless.

Also if you note in that MSDS page, in Section 8 page 4:

This is why I dismissed those so-called hazards.

Noted!

Originally Posted by mujjuman

It might make someone slightly high, which lasts for about 10 minutes max, but wont affect judgment or anything.

Just so you know, you had me at "make someone slightly high" and cinched it with "wont affect judgement". My pants are now down.

Originally Posted by Tom K.

- and it has a much better smell. As it comes in a concentrated form, perhaps the OP's dealer hasn't been mixing it properly.

Tom

I'm relieved to read that I'm not the only one who thinks BMW washer fluid smells great!