Heated Wiper Fluid

[L84THSKY]

I'm still trying to sort out this install. Something just doesn't make sense. The new squirter I put in has a connector coming off it. I ran the wiring harness from the two squirters to the fluid reservior. There was a connector and harness coming from the old squiter, that terminated on the reservior pump. By putting in the new squirter, I then use the new harness. On the other side of the harness, is a two pin connector that mates perfectly with the heater element in the picture. The heating element can't replace the pump, makes no sense. There is an indentation on the side of the reservior that looks like where the heater element would mount. It can't just mount there, because there is no way for it to stay in place. The opposite side of the heater has a four prong clip for it to snap into place somewhere. and there is the two pin receptacle for the harness to connect to.

The only thing that could possibly explain all this is, the squirter is supposed to have two connector, one for the pump, and one for the heater. Then I would use that squiter, reconnect the original harness, and also the new harness. Then I would find the correct way to mount the heater, and reconnect the pump to the original harness.

Here are pics of the parts. The one with the white connector is the connection between the new squieter, and it's harness. The white connector to the left, id the unconnected end of the original harness, it won't fit on the new squirter. I also showed the heater element, and the flip side of the element,where the new harness is supposed to terminate to it at the reservior. Cali-Ti was the one who said these were the correct parts, I'm having my doubts. Haven't seen him around in awhile, and not sure if he ever finished this mod.

[L84THSKY]

OK, figured this much out. There is a bracket that is supposed to hold the thermo switch to the heater bottle. The round indentation I showed on the reservior bottle is where the heater element mounts. It's item # 25 in the picture. Thinking this over, I gotta wonder why the squirter needed a volatge connectoion in the first place. Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna see if the squirter works, without the original harness. It's still getting voltage from the fuse box to the reservior pump.

[L84THSKY]

Turns out the squirter works without the original harness connected. So maybe the purpose was to heat the squirter. Anyway, since the squirter works with the new harness, all I need to do is get the bracket to mount the heater plug, and all is well.

[pdxmotorhead]

I'll bet there is a harness that ties the squirters to the Mirror heat circuits. isn't here a control box that runs the mirror heat ?

Dave

[L84THSKY]

I got the bracket, item #25 in. Can't figure out where it mounts to the car. It's obvious where it needs to be, so that part #24 snaps in it, and sits against the reservior bottle. If I can't figure out how the bracket fits now, I may just glue part # 24 to the bottle. I hope that will hold up.

Here is the parts list for heated wiper system. I got this list from a euro 318ti on REALOEM. Don't know if I need part #23 either, but it is listed as part of the kit.

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

OK, figured this much out. There is a bracket that is supposed to hold the thermo switch to the heater bottle. The round indentation I showed on the reservior bottle is where the heater element mounts. It's item # 25 in the picture. Thinking this over, I gotta wonder why the squirter needed a volatge connectoion in the first place. Tomorrow morning, I'm gonna see if the squirter works, without the original harness. It's still getting voltage from the fuse box to the reservior pump.

[L84THSKY]

I came out this morning and there was frost on the car. When I started the car, I held the wiper stalk to get some fluid on the windshield. Normally, if the fluid is not warm, it would melt a few streaks of the windshield when the wipers went by. This time, I squirted some fluid, and within 2 wipes, the entire windshield was free of frost. My only conclusion is that the heated wiper fluid mod is working. This may save alot of time not having to scrape the windshield as it gets colder.

Of course I could always fill the reservior and put a thermometer in the tank to see what temp it is. This makes me curious, does the car automatically heat the fluid when the temperature is below a fixed point regardless of if I have the key in the ignition? Otherwise, I would have to start the car, and wait for the fluid to warm up, then use the squirter. I don't think this is the case, since I started the car and squirted the fluid within a two minutes of each other.

Another side note is the "Intensive Cleaning System" REALOEM talks about. Seems there is another container to hold that fluid. Not sure if our car can support that option.

[L84THSKY]

Here are two pics of the heater element hot glued to the side of the reservior. Not the prettiest gluing job, but it's holding fine.

[cali-ti]

if anyone else is doing this mod, let me know and i can send you the bmw doc covering the install. that thermo switch gets installed into the brake duct (you drill a hole if one is not already present).

[L84THSKY]

Something doesn't add up. If my sensor doesn't go where I put it, what heats the fluid?

My passenger brake duct already had a sensor, for the so called "winter package".

The fluid would have to be heated from the bottom of the reservoir, to be sure the fluid warms up, regardless of the level in the reservoir. That is unless it heats it in the tube, as it comes up from the reservoir.

I saw a diagram that showed the bracket/heater element, mounting on the side of the reservoir.

Originally Posted by cali-ti

if anyone else is doing this mod, let me know and i can send you the bmw doc covering the install. that thermo switch gets installed into the brake duct (you drill a hole if one is not already present).

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by cali-ti

if anyone else is doing this mod, let me know and i can send you the bmw doc covering the install. that thermo switch gets installed into the brake duct (you drill a hole if one is not already present).

I thought that thermo switch looked familiar! Yeah, there should be one in the passenger side brake duct on your car already.

[cali-ti]

the sprayers are heated.

[stormos]

PMSL! This is brilliant! someone get me some popcorn!

[L84THSKY]

I did some searching. This is a comment told to a member by a dealership.

winter package( which includes heated lock, washer nozzles and heated seats)

That means I already had heated washer nozzles, since I have heated locks and heated seats. I'm sure the nozzles I retrofitted were different than stock, I had to run a tee connector into dual nipples on each nozzle.

If my car was already heating the fluid, what good was adding this retrofit?

Bottom line is, putting the sensor on the bottom of the reservoir doesn't do any harm, if it's already using the brake duct sensor anyway.

[DustenT]

Originally Posted by L84THSKY

Bottom line is, putting the sensor on the bottom of the reservoir doesn't do any harm, if it's already using the brake duct sensor anyway.

Where is the wiring for the one in your reservoir going to? Are there electric leads on your nozzles?

[cali-ti]

heated washer nozzle kit was a EURO ONLY kit. if you already had heated nozzles, why did they look different and why did they suddenly start heating the fluid on cold days allowing for quick cleaning of the windshield?

the fluid in the bottle is likely near the same temp as the outside air and thus still functioning near properly. just not sure it's supposed to be constantly under liquid. probably not a big deal.