I don't drive my Z3 a lot and it tends to be in fine weather so the wipers and washers are not often used. The car has done only about 46,000 miles since it was built in the final week of production in 2002 anyway. So why did my screen washer pump die with no warning last week? It had worked perfectly last time I used it and I don't use it for long squirts - just pulses - so it has/had an easy life.
An eBay £7.99 special fitted this afternoon has sorted my problem in about fifteen minutes work - most of which is emptying the reservoir and refilling it afterwards. BMW supplied VDO units cost c.$45.00 according to RealOEM and are demonstrably not bullet proof, so an eBay special is the obvious choice.
What makes a screen wash pump fail?
Re: What makes a screen wash pump fail?
It might have become clogged. Or it might just have given up.
I don’t think 16 years is too bad. My brother’s 8 years old 1 Series pump has stopped working. And I’ll have to take the driver wing off for that.
I don’t think 16 years is too bad. My brother’s 8 years old 1 Series pump has stopped working. And I’ll have to take the driver wing off for that.
2001 Z3 2.2 Topaz Blue (Trudy) - Keeper rebuilt from a write-off
2002 Z3 2.2 Titan Silver (Cookies) - Keeper rebuilt having been bought with a seized engine
2002 Z3 3.0 Sapphire Black (Peanut) - Keeper awaiting rebuilding having been bought as an abandoned project
Plus Willy, Kodak & Maycee - All 2.2 Sport projects. Yes, 6 is a lot of Z3s
Always happy to try and help with spares
Re: What makes a screen wash pump fail?
I suppose that's progress! Mine should not have been clogged as I pressure hosed the reservoir out not long ago - pump removed. Because my tin-top has headlight washers and needs filtered water to avoid scaling up of the nozzles, I use demineralised water for the screen wash in both cars. Maybe that's the problem because demin water has no chlorine in and it will grow algae more readily?
Re: What makes a screen wash pump fail?
I had exactly the same problem. Hardly ever used and failed on MOT DOH!!!
I removed and cleaned the windscreen water bottle pump (full of congealed windscreen washer additive) which worked for about a week.
Replaced with new OEM pump for about £18.00 ish...….cheaper ones are available; but how much do you love your Zed
My recommendation is to replace with new; saves having to repeat the process several times, and give windscreen a blast once a month, just to keep the pump turning over.
Good Luck
I removed and cleaned the windscreen water bottle pump (full of congealed windscreen washer additive) which worked for about a week.
Replaced with new OEM pump for about £18.00 ish...….cheaper ones are available; but how much do you love your Zed
My recommendation is to replace with new; saves having to repeat the process several times, and give windscreen a blast once a month, just to keep the pump turning over.
Good Luck
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Re: What makes a screen wash pump fail?
You do not give us the full story - did the motor fail, or did it run but not pump anything?
Older washer pumps (up to the early 2000's or so) have a habit of the impeller coming loose on the shaft.
Older washer pumps (up to the early 2000's or so) have a habit of the impeller coming loose on the shaft.
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
Re: What makes a screen wash pump fail?
Mike, it was silent, dead, not moving, expired - much like the proverbial Norwegian Blue parrot! The car is June/July 2002 (cannot recall which) in last week of production of Z3. The old pump is on the bench in my workshop and I may well dismember it, when I'm feeling destructive, to do a post-mortem.Mike Fishwick wrote: ↑Sun 29 Jul, 2018 07:42 You do not give us the full story - did the motor fail, or did it run but not pump anything?
Older washer pumps (up to the early 2000's or so) have a habit of the impeller coming loose on the shaft.
Re: What makes a screen wash pump fail?
Seized motor due to corrosion. Once removed it was possible to make it run after a bit of tweaking, but it chattered furiously with dry bearings. It now lies in the bin.