When I bought my 2003 MINI S I was told that the headlight washer thing was "automatic" and that I could not make the headlight washers wash on command. Well, hubby and I were on our way to a Christmas Party on Thursday night. It was misty and kind of snowing (like it will be here in Ohio until APRIL!) and we figured out how to make the washers wash on command.

Without turning on the windshield wipers, pull the wiper stalk towards you three times in succession. If the headlight washers don't wash, pull the stalk towards you one or two more times and this will cause the headlight washers to come on. They will wash, then pause, then wash again! Not only do they wash the headlights, they damn near wash the entire bonnet of the car! If you have not ever noticed your washers washing before, then they probably have not done it. YOU WILL notice these things, especially at night.

And, what do they look like? They look like little robot arms that come straight out from the headlight and spray fluid on the headlight. DO NOT Stand to the side of the car or you will be sprayed too! LOL

I am hoping that someone else out there can make this work. I think we have gone through about a gallon of fluid making this happen as it is so COOL! Hehehehe

Have fun!
Barb

 

Cool. Thanks for the 411 on those!

 

Think I'll try it tonight.
Going motorin in Chi-town.

 

greg4mini: did you go to the gtg at bill jacobs mini today? have fun driving downtown tonight. chicago is beautiful at night. before you jam through the s-curve, make sure it's dry!

 

I've found that the headlight washers always activate when you have the headlights turned on and then activate the windshield washer (by pulling the stalk toward you). What I haven't seen is a) how to wash the headlights when the headlights are not on; OR b) how to wash the headlights without also activating the windshield washer.

I have no idea what your dealer meant by "automatic." No, they're not "automatic"...they only come on when you tell them to (by pulling the stalk toward you and also washing the windshield).

All that said, I'm not sure if they do a damn thing other than squirt fluid all over the front of the car and make noise. I'm not sure I'd actually make a conscious decision to pay money for them, but I had no choice as they came included with the Xenon lights...which I WOULD (did) pay for as they're great. But yes, as silly as they are, the washers sure appear cool

 

The headlight washers ALWAYS go on the FIRST time you use the washers while the headlights are on. After that, I believe they only come on again every third time (unless you shut the headlights off and put them back on again).

 

>>I have no idea what your dealer meant by "automatic." No, they're not "automatic"...they only come on when you tell them to (by pulling the stalk toward you and also washing the windshield).
>>

What she meant was that she was unaware of any way to "make" them wash on command. When you wash the windshield, you are using a "command" by turning the **** or pulling the stalk. I just thought it was cool to see them in action since I had not seen them do a thing until then.

Barb
PS-We now have 2200 miles on the MCS and I still love the car. The only thing I have found that I don't like is the lack of tint across the top of the windshield.

 

Isn't that the truth - the sun can be blinding with those tiny sun visors.

I'm thinking of having my local tint shop put a strip across the top of the windshield - just like the cars of old!

 

I guess its neat and all, but I go through way too much fluid. In Germany I constantly use the windshield washer fluid but don't really need the headlights washed. It gets a bit anoying to keep fillingh the res. Also, this car has to be the worst car I've ever owned when it comes to getting dirty. The @55 end of the mini is horrible for that, but its a small price to pay for outstanding cornering.


Cheers

 

i live in cali and this is pretty worthless to me..but its a neat feature..so i ordered it nonetheless

 

My MA told me the same thing as mentioned above (every third time you pul on the stalk), but didn't mention about the headlights having to be on or not.

Bill

 

>>My MA told me the same thing as mentioned above (every third time you pul on the stalk), but didn't mention about the headlights having to be on or not.
>>
>>Bill


i would check the owners manual..but ia m too lazy.

 

I'd love to turn that feature OFF. It always dirties my clean MINI (when it is clean, like in the spring and summer).

 

Fuse F25 in my '04 is for the headlight washers. Pull it and I'll bet they don't mess up your pretty car anymore...
Note that I would never recommend that you do that, as DOT requires headlight washers for cars with HID headlights.
(way to dig deep for this thread!)

 

Why do you think that is?

Are they worried dirt will build up on the lens, catching the light and making the surface too bright?

 

DOT doesn't requre washers for xenon headlights. They DO require leveling however. MINI bundles the washers for manufacturing convenience.

BMWs come with and without xenon headlights (two types). On a BMW, to get headlight washers, you must order the Cold Weather Pkg.

MINIs come with halogen or xenon headlights (again, two variations). If the washers were bundled with the Cold Weather Pkg as in a BMW, they'd have to make versions of both lights with and without washers (that'd be 4 variations). The real factor in this is the location of the washer nozzles. On a BMW, the washers are in the bumper, on the MINI the washers are actually in the headlight assembly.

Rawhyde

PS If the washer has a problem, it is a separate part...no need to replace the headlight. I had one die on me and I thought I'd pass that on.