Low Windshield Wiper fluid - BMW 1 Series Coupe Forum / 1 Series Convertible Forum (1M / tii / 135i / 128i / Coupe / Cabrio / Hatchback) (BMW E82 E88 128i 130i 135i)

datdude133d · 06-04-2010, 09:50 PM

got this message in my dash after only using the stuff a couple times on my 2011.. is there a special brand that Im supposed to use or anything I need to know? My manual didnt really say much to help. Thanks all

shodanusmc · 06-04-2010, 10:16 PM

$2 a gallon at the store or gas station. Chances are you are just low as it slipped thru at the dealer. Filler it up, message goes away, you are happy until the next message appears!

Dackelone · 06-05-2010, 04:55 AM

Germam stuff(Sonax, ect) costs 10 euros a gallon! lol

But it doesn't make a difference which stuff you use. Maybe your sensor level is bad. Did you physically check your level under the hood? Fill it until it almost over flows. That tank does hold A LOT of fluid!

Cris · 06-05-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Germam stuff(Sonax, ect) costs 10 euros a gallon! lol

But it doesn't make a difference which stuff you use. Maybe your sensor level is bad. Did you physically check your level under the hood? Fill it until it almost over flows. That tank does hold A LOT of fluid!

And a quart of oil there costs 15+ euros! I never found out why fluids cost so much.

Mitch1er · 06-05-2010, 11:25 AM

they probably didn't top it off when your car got PDI'd. just buy some windshield washer fluid from autozone or pepboys.

jeremyc74 · 06-05-2010, 01:03 PM

If the dealer's close by, I'd drop in there and get them to fill it up. Either they didn't do it during PDI as they're supposed to, the sensor is faulty, or the tank is leaking. In any of those three cases it's their problem, not yours.

JimD · 06-05-2010, 08:10 PM

Mine was empty when I took performance center delivery. That was the only issue I had. It was not worth a drive to the dealer to get them to fill it. The gas would cost more than the washer fluid.

You can get it at walmart for a buck or two a gallon. I like the kind with rain-ex or something like that in it. Makes the wipers work better, maybe.

Jim

datdude133d · 06-06-2010, 09:23 AM

Thanks alot guys

jeremyc74 · 06-06-2010, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimD

Mine was empty when I took performance center delivery. That was the only issue I had. It was not worth a drive to the dealer to get them to fill it. The gas would cost more than the washer fluid.

You can get it at walmart for a buck or two a gallon. I like the kind with rain-ex or something like that in it. Makes the wipers work better, maybe.

Jim

The stuff BMW puts in from the factory is really a lot better than the stuff you get at Wal Mart though. I'm not sure it's enough of a difference to justify going there just for that, but it is damn good.

arsenyc · 06-06-2010, 01:18 PM

Just drive into a service center ask them to fill it up, takes less than 2 minutes and its free....but thats only if your service center is close to you lol

Tom K. · 06-06-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremyc74

The stuff BMW puts in from the factory is really a lot better than the stuff you get at Wal Mart though. I'm not sure it's enough of a difference to justify going there just for that, but it is damn good.

It also smells rather nice. Used to be available from the dealer in concentrated form.

Tom

MrBimmer · 06-08-2010, 02:25 PM

to me it seems like the stuff evaporates. i put some in there like 2 weeks ago and the washer fluid light is back on already. i got the dealer to fill me up today tho. i didn't check to see if they top me off or just put enough to shut the computer up.... gotta check.

jeremyc74 · 06-08-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBimmer

to me it seems like the stuff evaporates. i put some in there like 2 weeks ago and the washer fluid light is back on already. i got the dealer to fill me up today tho. i didn't check to see if they top me off or just put enough to shut the computer up.... gotta check.

You may have a leak in the reservoir. It's not all that uncommon for them to have pinholes in the welds.

I've had to fill mine up twice in two years, and that's with about 43k miles driven. I'm not even sure the dealership topped it off when it was in for service either.

I'd check for puddles if I were you.

Jcrewsn · 06-08-2010, 03:23 PM

same problem as OP. I have about 18500 miles over one yr. ownership, have had it filled once bcause light came on and now the light is back on again...

tgxmike · 06-08-2010, 03:50 PM

My car will use washer fluid to wash the lights too, so it drains quick in the winter with all the salt.

Also I prefer to use Rain-X, it seems to work well to keep the window clear and the auto wiper sensor happy.

The stuff they put in at the dealer froze in my system for 3 days. I had to pull into my garage and heat the garage for ~6hrs (and use two tanks of propane).

Ash83 · 10-06-2010, 11:53 AM

With my old 328i i used to buy the stuff from Autozone till my pump died on me.. The BMW SA said that the pump died bcz the fluid viscosity is not the same between the OEM fluid and the Auto-parts fluid.. may be BS or maybe true...

I would just stop by any Dealer and let them fill it for you...

bkochuk · 10-22-2010, 10:47 AM

make sure it's not your engine coolant level. the symbol for that looks kind of like a low WW warning.

06-04-2010, 09:50 PM	#1
datdude133d Enlisted Member Drives: 2011 128i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kingston,Ny Posts: 43 iTrader: (0)	Low Windshield Wiper fluid got this message in my dash after only using the stuff a couple times on my 2011.. is there a special brand that Im supposed to use or anything I need to know? My manual didnt really say much to help. Thanks all
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06-05-2010, 11:25 AM	#5
Mitch1er Lieutenant Drives: 2010 135i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alhambra, CA Posts: 484 iTrader: (20)	they probably didn't top it off when your car got PDI'd. just buy some windshield washer fluid from autozone or pepboys. __________________ 2010 SMB, M-Sport package , Coral Red interior, BMW assist with bluetooth, VMR 18" wheels

06-05-2010, 08:10 PM	#7
JimD Colonel Drives: 128i convertible Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 2,193 iTrader: (0)	Mine was empty when I took performance center delivery. That was the only issue I had. It was not worth a drive to the dealer to get them to fill it. The gas would cost more than the washer fluid. You can get it at walmart for a buck or two a gallon. I like the kind with rain-ex or something like that in it. Makes the wipers work better, maybe. Jim __________________ 128i Convertible, MT, Alpine White, Black Top, Taupe Leatherette, Walnut, Sport Ordered 5/22/09, Completed 6/4/09, At Port 6/9/09, On the Georgia Highway 6/13/09, Ship Arrived Charleston 6/24/09 at 10pm, PCD 7/21/09

06-06-2010, 01:18 PM	#10
arsenyc www.SubXcess.com Drives: AW 135i Join Date: May 2009 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 561 iTrader: (1)	Just drive into a service center ask them to fill it up, takes less than 2 minutes and its free....but thats only if your service center is close to you lol __________________ www.subXcess.com --> Got YouTube Subs?

10-06-2010, 11:53 AM	#16
Ash83 Major Drives: 05' 325i/10' 135i/10' Audi A4 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 1,101 iTrader: (1)	With my old 328i i used to buy the stuff from Autozone till my pump died on me.. The BMW SA said that the pump died bcz the fluid viscosity is not the same between the OEM fluid and the Auto-parts fluid.. may be BS or maybe true... I would just stop by any Dealer and let them fill it for you... __________________ Alpine White, Coral RED , Glacier Silver Aluminum trim, M sport, 6MT, NAV, HiFi, USB-iPod, Bluetooth

06-04-2010, 10:16 PM	#2
shodanusmc Captain Drives: 09 135 Vert Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago burb Posts: 734 iTrader: (0)	$2 a gallon at the store or gas station. Chances are you are just low as it slipped thru at the dealer. Filler it up, message goes away, you are happy until the next message appears!

06-05-2010, 04:55 AM	#3
Dackelone Moderator Drives: 135i Silber mit/Rot 6MT N54 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany Posts: 13,312 iTrader: (0)	Germam stuff(Sonax, ect) costs 10 euros a gallon! lol But it doesn't make a difference which stuff you use. Maybe your sensor level is bad. Did you physically check your level under the hood? Fill it until it almost over flows. That tank does hold A LOT of fluid!

06-05-2010, 01:03 PM	#6
jeremyc74 Banned Drives: '08 135i Montego/Terra Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Evansville, IN Posts: 5,982 iTrader: (0)	If the dealer's close by, I'd drop in there and get them to fill it up. Either they didn't do it during PDI as they're supposed to, the sensor is faulty, or the tank is leaking. In any of those three cases it's their problem, not yours.

06-06-2010, 09:23 AM	#8
datdude133d Enlisted Member Drives: 2011 128i Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Kingston,Ny Posts: 43 iTrader: (0)	Thanks alot guys

06-08-2010, 02:25 PM	#12
MrBimmer Rated M Drives: 1M Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Queens, New York Posts: 185 iTrader: (3)	to me it seems like the stuff evaporates. i put some in there like 2 weeks ago and the washer fluid light is back on already. i got the dealer to fill me up today tho. i didn't check to see if they top me off or just put enough to shut the computer up.... gotta check.

06-08-2010, 03:23 PM	#14
Jcrewsn First Lieutenant Drives: 2009 BMW 135i Join Date: May 2009 Location: North Tustin, CA Posts: 342 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i Sport [0.00]	same problem as OP. I have about 18500 miles over one yr. ownership, have had it filled once bcause light came on and now the light is back on again...

06-08-2010, 03:50 PM	#15
tgxmike Second Lieutenant Drives: '09 128i Coupe, 6MT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 286 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 128i [0.00]	My car will use washer fluid to wash the lights too, so it drains quick in the winter with all the salt. Also I prefer to use Rain-X, it seems to work well to keep the window clear and the auto wiper sensor happy. The stuff they put in at the dealer froze in my system for 3 days. I had to pull into my garage and heat the garage for ~6hrs (and use two tanks of propane).

10-22-2010, 10:47 AM	#17
bkochuk constantly curious Drives: '09 135 sedona red/boston gray Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: chapel hill, NC Posts: 101 iTrader: (0)	make sure it's not your engine coolant level. the symbol for that looks kind of like a low WW warning.

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