Screenwash Jets very underpowered

Skysurfer

Skysurfer

Dedicated Member
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 15, 2025
Points
28
Location
Welwyn, Hertfordshire, UK
Model of Z
3.0 si E86
Hi all,

I've noticed that the jets on my car seem to be somewhat weak, I seem to get more water on the bonnet than on the actual windscreen.

That said, I have no idea how powerful they should be in normal circumstances.

From googling around it seems like as a first pass, I should investigate cleaning filters on the pumps etc. which is fine, but, I'm just now embarking on this voyage of self-maintaining my car and so I was wondering how big of a job it is.

If anyone has any input or links to share, YT videos or any words of advice I would be most grateful.

Thanks in advance!
 
Alright, going to answer my own question. That didn't take long at all. Found a post on another forum and set to work. In under an hour I managed to:
  • Remove the bottle from the car.
  • Remove the severely gunked up filters
  • Clean out the bottle (as best I could)
  • Replace the now spotless filters
  • Replace the bottle in the car
The jets work like a dream now, I think, certainly a lot better than before. See pics below. All feedback welcomed.

Before:
Filters and the inside of the bottle
IMG_4499.webp
IMG_4500.webp
IMG_4501.webp
IMG_4502.webp
IMG_4503.webp


After:
IMG_4504.webp
IMG_4505.webp


Wasn't able to get to all of the grime but I'll probably use another method next time, maybe agitate it with ball bearings or something.
IMG_4506.webp


The end result (please do let me know if this is how it should be)
https://imgur.com/a/pOX7L1t
 
Done much the same job myself. Currently have three out of four jets working fine (passenger near side doesn't work)
Quite how the wash bottle gets so full of crud I don't understand.
 
David62 said:
Quite how the wash bottle gets so full of crud I don't understand.
Click to expand...
That buildup was grim. I literary had blow through the small filter and then scrub the remnants out of the plastic with a toothbrush.
Seems like this is going to need to go on a list of jobs to do every few months.
 
David62 said:
Done much the same job myself. Currently have three out of four jets working fine (passenger near side doesn't work)
Quite how the wash bottle gets so full of crud I don't understand.
Click to expand...
Most likely because at some stage, someone has not been putting washer fluid in it. Here in the tropics thats a bad idea. plain water goes off moldy black sludge eventually clogs everything up.
 
Althulas said:
Pop some Milton tablets or liquid in the bottle, that will soon clean it up. A few cycles in the dishwasher also works as long as your better half doesn’t catch you.
Click to expand...
I used her grey eliminator shampoo, and I got caught... Sleeping on the the couch is more comfortable than I expected... :thumbsup:
 
Always amazes me the size of the water bottle on the Zeds - they could have easily got away with one half the size o_O
 
Every other wash my Z3 got the hose pipe stuck in the top and well flushed out. Re-filled using proper screen wash, NO Fairy Liquid ever.

Tony.
 
t-tony said:
Every other wash my Z3 got the hose pipe stuck in the top and well flushed out.
Click to expand...

That’s all well and good Tony but how did your filters not get gunked up? Spraying water in the top will do a job of cleaning the sides but all the grime must go towards the bottom of the tank surely?
 
Skysurfer said:
That’s all well and good Tony but how did your filters not get gunked up? Spraying water in the top will do a job of cleaning the sides but all the grime must go towards the bottom of the tank surely?
Click to expand...

It swirls around and washes out the top. I had my Z3 for 6 years,and only cleaned the filters once. A ten minute job at best.

Tony.
 
Jets wouldn’t work today -
An hour later and everything cleaned and put back together - hey presto and jobs a good un


Not sure what the problem was 🤣
 

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Skysurfer said:
Alright, going to answer my own question. That didn't take long at all. Found a post on another forum and set to work. In under an hour I managed to:
  • Remove the bottle from the car.
  • Remove the severely gunked up filters
  • Clean out the bottle (as best I could)
  • Replace the now spotless filters
  • Replace the bottle in the car
The jets work like a dream now, I think, certainly a lot better than before. See pics below. All feedback welcomed.

Before:
Filters and the inside of the bottle
View attachment 334119 View attachment 334121 View attachment 334123 View attachment 334125 View attachment 334133

After:
View attachment 334135 View attachment 334137

Wasn't able to get to all of the grime but I'll probably use another method next time, maybe agitate it with ball bearings or something.
View attachment 334139

The end result (please do let me know if this is how it should be)
https://imgur.com/a/pOX7L1t
Click to expand...

Put all the bits in a bucket and give an overnight soak in a solution made up of dish washer tab (or two)..... did the same job last winter and the job's a good one!
 
Dishwasher tablet in the tank or Sterident Denture tablets work well to clean the inside, just leave it to soak then empty and rinse out. Putting the whole thing in the dishwasher works wonders for the outside. Make sure the trouble and strife is out before you use the dishwasher.
 
I don't usually check the Z4 topics, however please allow me to share some advice that I actually learned through my 5-Series community...

The gunk and sludge forms from mixing different screen-wash brands. Different formulas and ingredients can react and cause slime to form, eventually clogging the filters. Ever since I learned that, I strictly stick to the same brand and after cleaning out the bottles in my Z3 and 5-Series, I have never had any more problems with the filters getting gunked up.

(Incidentally I use BMW screenwash tablets available from a dealer, ebay, Amazon. Works out cheaper than premixed bottles and I can just keep a 5L bottle mixed up in the garage ready for topping up)
 
John_B said:
I don't usually check the Z4 topics, however please allow me to share some advice that I actually learned through my 5-Series community...

The gunk and sludge forms from mixing different screen-wash brands. Different formulas and ingredients can react and cause slime to form, eventually clogging the filters. Ever since I learned that, I strictly stick to the same brand and after cleaning out the bottles in my Z3 and 5-Series, I have never had any more problems with the filters getting gunked up.

(Incidentally I use BMW screenwash tablets available from a dealer, ebay, Amazon. Works out cheaper than premixed bottles and I can just keep a 5L bottle mixed up in the garage ready for topping up)
Click to expand...
I was surprised to discover that BMW screen wash from the parts dept at the dealers is not actually more expensive than other garage brands.
 
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