Replacing headlight washer

[earlrabbit]

I'm replacing one of my Xenon headlights and am transferring the headlight washer over to the new light. I can see the little clip on the back of washer to enable it to slide out of it's groove but how do you get the sprayer end out of the headlight? Does the washer come apart or do I have to remove the chrome half moon attachment in order to get the washer free?

[BlimeyCabrio]

From inside the bonnet with the bonnet raised, use your fingers to pull the rod out of the washer body - this extends the washer out as if it were spraying. Don't pull it by the halfmoon cover - it can break - but push out by the rod. When fully extended, lightly lock on a set of vice grips to hold it out temporarily. The halfmoon cover and the black plastic piece it is clipped on to are held onto the washer assembly by two black plastic tabs - if you wiggle the halfmoon, you can see what part is moving as one unit, and you can see where the tabs are. Push the tabs in gently with a small screwdriver and this will release the halfmoon and the rest of the washer cover assembly. Then remove the vice grips, unclip the washer from the headlight body, and remove the headlight. Reverse the procedure when installing the new light assembly.

[earlrabbit]

Blimey,
Thanks for the tip but upon further review I found that if I pushed the half moon just far enough against the side that had just one tab, that the other side with two tabs would unhook from the washer. Then by extending the washer shaft and sliding it out of it's groove, I could twist the washer around and slip the end out of the headlight. Reverse worked just the opposite and with a little dab of silicone when replacing the half moon, it's good to go.

[cLuTcH]

Wasn't sure which thread to bump but I need to replace the "plunger" (part that extends) on my headlight washer. Was driving one day and saw the silver half moon fly over my windshield. There were 2 little spots where the the old one was obviously glued on by the dealer or owner #1 The coupling for the halfmoon and plunger meets was broken on the plunger. Bought the halfmoon and have it secured with 2 sided body trim tape (and secured in case of tape failure on the inside with an untwisted paperclip). I would obviously like to fix this, is the plunger replacable or replace the whole thing?

[BlimeyCabrio]

Don't know what year model you have - but here's the RealOEM page for the 2006:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...98&hg=61&fg=45

Part #8 - left and right are different.

[cLuTcH]

Originally Posted by BlimeyCabrio

Don't know what year model you have - but here's the RealOEM page for the 2006:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...98&hg=61&fg=45

Part #8 - left and right are different.

Thanks.

Yea, and looks like both are only one piece for $84. What a bummer, hope that paperclip holds.

[trooper547]

Anyone know how to reconnect or to even get to the bottom end of the resevior? The hose came loose so now when the washer is activated, the fluid squirts out by the driver door.

[TimL]

Crossposted here.

I just noticed the other day that my driver's side headlight washer cover had gone missing. After a bit of poking around here on NAM, I was somewhat reassured that this not an uncommon occurrence. I easily found a replacement part (#6312692155) that arrived yesterday, but it looks like the "nipple" on the washer nozzle that connects it to the cover also broke off:



So, using BlimeyCabrio's fine instructions, I figured I'd take a look at the passenger side headlight washer assembly to see how all the pieces are supposed to fit together...



Unfortunately in the process I must have fiddled around a little too much with the passenger side cover :


(Left: Passenger side cover w. "nipple" from washer; Right: New driver's side cover.)

I don't think there's a good way to reattach the passenger side cover to it's nozzle, so now it looks like I need to order a new nozzle for *each* side (#61677147046 and #61677147047 @ ~$70 ea.):



From Blimey's instructions (and this thread) it sounds like I should just be able to detach each nozzle from its hose, slide out the old and replace with the new, and finally clip on the new washer covers. Pretty straightforward, right?

However, before I get started I figured I'd ask if anyone has additional pointers? Are there any other parts that I'll need besides the two new nozzles?

Finally, just an editorial comment that this seems like a pretty flimsy design....

[BlimeyCabrio]

New nozzles should do the trick I think.

[TimL]

Cool, Paul; thanks.

Any hidden tricks for detaching the old nozzles from the hose and headlamp assembly, or is it really as straightforward as it seems?

[BlimeyCabrio]

Straightforward - a slide clip on the hose to release, and a tab to release on the headlight assembly to slide off the washer - if memory serves.

[TimL]

Thanks, Paul. Operation went simply enough; all is good.