I just wanted to remind everyone out there that has Xenons/headlight washers to keep their fluid bottles topped off. Since my MINI has survived its first winter here in Cle-town (although it is snowing right now!) I've noticed the washer fluid for the headlight washer drains quite quickly. Much quicker than the windshield fluid bottle.

As it is almost impossible to clean JUST the windshield when the headlights are on without the light wash doing its thing, the fluid drains quite fast. I just wanted to recommend everyone out there just keep an eye on the fluid level for the headlight wash as not to burn out the pump motors. I myself love having this feature on my MINI and just want to take good care of them.

Just wanted to put that out there. Thanks for reading!

Regards.

 

Thanks for the warning... Although after 2 and a half years here on NAM, I don't think I've heard of anybody buring out their motors... Has anybody heard of this happening

Not saying it can't happen, just that it's not that big of a risk...

 

2 jugs of washer fluid at all times in the carI'm all over clean windsheilds,and head lights.I love the washer jets on the xenons.

 

Okay, so would I sound really stupid if I told everyone that I've never checked my headlight washer fluids before, for all 2 years I've had my MINI?

.............. Running to MINI now to check & fill .............

 

No
You probably don't need to use them much.I have to use my windsheild washers alot,depends were you live.I go through a gallon every month in the winter,sometimes more.The dirty spring months can use a gallon a week if bad weather.
I drive in the dark alot,so the xenon washers spray alot,but I can hear/feel/know when the level will be low,and top things up.Like I said,2 jugs in the car.:smile:

 

I have a nice big yellow Low Level light so it's not an issue

 

Do the 05's have this?Nice if they do.

 

have you ever noticed when you use the washer jets and xenon washers you get the smell of the cleaning fluid inside you car? I've never had a car where I've been able to smell the fluid.

Howard

 

No.
No smell,but I love the spray at 70 MPH

 

I always turn my lights off before using the windshield washer, to avoid spraying the lights and wasting the valuable fluid

 

amen to that! i <3 mine! (well minus the issues with the alarm that it has caused...)

 

The same thing happened with my previous BMW, the spray was sucked into the air vent. I don't think it'll kill you.

 

The '05's built as of January 2005 have the warning light. My '05 built in Dec. 2004 doesn't have it.

 

I have yet to figure out how to fully operate my washers. Some times just the windows get washed and the wipers stop as soon as I let the handle go. Other times everything gets washed. Other times when I let go of the handle the wipers keep going for another 5 or 6 strokes. I want to always do the last option. What am i doing wrong?

 

1. The trick to getting the wipers to wipe a few times after you've squirted fluid is a tough one - it is a matter of timing. If you hold the squirt just long enough, it will do the wiping. But, if you hold it too long, you will interrupt the wiping and stop it prematurely. And, of course, if you don't hold it long enough you just get squirt and no wipe. I still don't always get it right after almost 50K miles in MINIs.

2. The headlight washers are triggered with 4 consecutive squirts of the washer fluid - of course the headlights have to be on. However, there is also a timer that measures the time between the squirts. I think it is 12 minutes. So, if you either squirt washer fluid 4 times within 12 minutes, or squirt and then squirt again after 12 minutes the headlight washers will activate.

I hope that helps!

....I also hope my memory is working properly - it's been a long time since I learned about this.

 

I went through 4 gallons in my first week!

I filled it one night as I parked it for the night, went to work and returned home, and noticed the stalk mounted warning light flashing at me. I thought that it sure did flash a lot for a startup ritual, so I checked the fluid and it was empty AGAIN! I refilled it and watched...soon a stream of washer fluid was pouring out behind the front wheel. My windshield washer resevoir has a bad leak...the dealer has a tank on order for me now.

Rawhyde

 

We had a Mercedes-Benz ML with a leaky tank 3 times. I hope this is a one time deal with your MINI.:smile:

 

This is one of the reasons way as of January 2005 builds, new 2005 MINIs come fitted with an orange empty windshield washer warning light installed at the tip of the wiper control stalk. When the resevoir tank goes low or it is empty, the orange light comes on so you don't operate the washers with no fluid in the tank.

I think this was a long overdue feature, but it is nice that MINI finally put it in the production line.

 

YES! You took the words out of my fingers before I could type them. Anyone else?

mb

 

Sure, I can smell the washer fluid in my '05. I could smell it in my pickup and in my Taurus and even in the old Mustang. I will say that the stuff they put in the MC smells different from the buck-a-gallon stuff I'm used to.

 

You may want to reconsider this approach. If I'm not mistaken, cycling the Xenons this way ages them prematurely. Fluid's cheap; Xenons are expensive.

 

I was thinking the same thing here. I also know to limit the times I switch the Xenons on and off to extend their life. And what if you're driving at night? I you really going to turn your lights off just to avoid using the headlight wash? I don't know man............

Thanks to all for the great talk regarding my post. I wish MINI would have thought of the low fluid warning back in the '02-'04 models as it would be most helpful and it looks cool on the end of the wiper stalk.

Cheers!

 

Besides being hard on the xenons,and the fact you could buy a lifetime of washerfluid for the cost of replacing them,even with the daytime running lights on,you can't see much on a dark highway at night.Bambi does not run out on the highway as a planned event.

 

I pulled the fuse for the headlight squirters before my first winter with my MINI. I didn't want them to pop out and then get hung up on ice or snow while trying to retract back in.

That was a year and a half ago and I've yet to replace the fuse. I keep my car pretty clean, so I haven't yet had the need to squirt the headlights. Plus it leaves spots on the bonnet that I have to clean up anyway...

 

Ever put your hand on the headlights when they are on? The whole assembly is pretty warm,even at -30F.With the cold package the fluid is warmed,and you should be spraying fluid with anti-freeze in it,not water.I don't think the sprayers would freeze in the extended/spraying position.They may freeze shut in freezing rain,but if they extend,I'm sure they would retract.
I have had to use my headlight washers to clear ice off the covers at night on the highway,but never dirt,as I too keep my car clean