BMW screenwash (again)

[Jonnorth]

Hi Chaps.

Just bought my first BMW! Very tidy 320i 65plate. 2year warranty.

Now, screenwash! What can I say. Read through a few threads about screenwash.

Kinda understand about mixing and that it’s a ‘pretty good bet’ that any brand used alone will be fine. But still nervous!

I think the smart consensus is that buying a 20l drum of the genuine stuff is best but BMW don’t donut any more.

So wondering if there is any news on this front? Any cheap suppliers of the genuine stuff? Or even if anyone as a data sheet on the BMW stuff?

Cheers.

J

[jimbo65]

What are you nervous about? Any good screen wash does the job.

[anonymous-user]

jimbo65 said:

What are you nervous about? Any good screen wash does the job.

The non BMW ones have a tendency to go to jelly at the bottom of the reservoir and clog up the pipes. I had to get mine unblocked last year, unfortunately the reservoir is inside the wheel arch, naturally so had mine air blasted which seems to have done the job.

[ninepoint2]

Jonnorth said:

BMW don’t donut any more.

My son has a couple of pals with BMWs and they say they are great for this..being rear wheel drive and that

[E-bmw]

Just sit there with your finger on the button until it is empty, put 1 litre of plain water in, flush that through too until empty again & fill with the screen wash of your choice, then stick with that one.

I have used this stuff in several BMs for years, concentrated, mix it up in a 10 litre drum, ready to go & has NEVER frozen for me yet.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Prestone-Screen-Wash-Ex...

[stevesuk]

For the last few years, we've used a brand called Bluecol, after adding it to an Ocado order once on a whim. Apparently it has anti bacterial additives to stop the nasty stuff forming in the washer bottle.

I've read about people losing there headlamp washer covers or getting blocked pipes/jets etc. due to non-OEM screenwash... but our system works just fine (14 year old E91) and has never needed any maintenance

[SteBrown91]

I just chuck whatever bright coloured/scented pre mix is available at Halfords. When I bought it it was just water in it. The garage put in whatever they put in at service time. 18 months later and the washers still work, kittens haven’t been killed etc.

[Jonnorth]

Jonnorth said:

BMW don’t donut any more.

J

Couldn’t have picked a better typo could I???

I’ll test the theory and post pics!

Cheers guys

John

[Pica-Pica]

stevesuk said:

For the last few years, we've used a brand called Bluecol, after adding it to an Ocado order once on a whim. Apparently it has anti bacterial additives to stop the nasty stuff forming in the washer bottle.

I've read about people losing there headlamp washer covers or getting blocked pipes/jets etc. due to non-OEM screenwash... but our system works just fine (14 year old E91) and has never needed any maintenance

By ‘nasty stuff’, do you mean Legionnella?
Screen wash should never be diluted below the minimum to avoid this.

https://www.nhs.uk/news/lifestyle-and-exercise/leg...

[Mr Tidy]

I got a litre of the Genuine BMW stiff for £4.50 on Amazon last year.

Because I'd just bought an E91 with the reservoir in the wheel-arch!

Before that when my E46 filters got gunged up I just whipped the reservoir out from inside the engine bay, cleaned the filters and flushed the reservoir. After that I just used cheap stuff from Tesco - but always the same brand. No problems in 3 years doing that.

[pvogue]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273405304010

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273155024251

[Richard-D]

garyhun said:

jimbo65 said:

What are you nervous about? Any good screen wash does the job.

The non BMW ones have a tendency to go to jelly at the bottom of the reservoir and clog up the pipes. I had to get mine unblocked last year, unfortunately the reservoir is inside the wheel arch, naturally so had mine air blasted which seems to have done the job.

This is why BMWs are the only cars that have washers that work. All other makes of car are blocked.

[Zarco]

Richard-D said:

garyhun said:

jimbo65 said:

What are you nervous about? Any good screen wash does the job.

The non BMW ones have a tendency to go to jelly at the bottom of the reservoir and clog up the pipes. I had to get mine unblocked last year, unfortunately the reservoir is inside the wheel arch, naturally so had mine air blasted which seems to have done the job.

This is why BMWs are the only cars that have washers that work. All other names of car are blocked.

[anonymous-user]

Richard-D said:

garyhun said:

jimbo65 said:

What are you nervous about? Any good screen wash does the job.

The non BMW ones have a tendency to go to jelly at the bottom of the reservoir and clog up the pipes. I had to get mine unblocked last year, unfortunately the reservoir is inside the wheel arch, naturally so had mine air blasted which seems to have done the job.

This is why BMWs are the only cars that have washers that work. All other makes of car are blocked.

Considering my car IS a BMW, I'd say you were wrong

[Richard-D]

garyhun said:

Richard-D said:

garyhun said:

jimbo65 said:

What are you nervous about? Any good screen wash does the job.

The non BMW ones have a tendency to go to jelly at the bottom of the reservoir and clog up the pipes. I had to get mine unblocked last year, unfortunately the reservoir is inside the wheel arch, naturally so had mine air blasted which seems to have done the job.

This is why BMWs are the only cars that have washers that work. All other makes of car are blocked.

Considering my car IS a BMW, I'd say you were wrong

Sorry but...

[anonymous-user]

I'm not too sure that was a whoosh .... but I'll let it go

[bigdom]

E-bmw said:

Just sit there with your finger on the button until it is empty, put 1 litre of plain water in, flush that through too until empty again & fill with the screen wash of your choice, then stick with that one.

I have used this stuff in several BMs for years, concentrated, mix it up in a 10 litre drum, ready to go & has NEVER frozen for me yet.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Prestone-Screen-Wash-Ex...

This. I’ve personally never had an issue with any non Bmw screenwash. All the current lot are on Prestone, we pick it up at Costco.

[95JO]

Contact Harry Fairnbarn BMW parts department, always seem to be the cheapest dealer in my experience. Free next day shipping too.

[xjay1337]

I just use whatever I get cheap at Cotsco or Halfords with o2 priorities.

Recently I bought 10L for like £4 from ECP........ use it in all 3 of our cars no issues with any (one of which is a bimmer).

[Pistonheader101]

I tend to top mine up with quantum (vw/audi) screenwash from tps