[Carjack]

Am I right in thinking there is nothing special in BMW Windscreen Washer Fluid?
I have in the past bought from my local Main Dealer at fantastic expense (£23/25 per 5lt? ) but in these 'ard times, I hope no more.
At the local Palfords their very finest best concentrated is £6.99/5lt
But is it the same?
I usually dilute at 100% with deionised water.
In the distant past there were rumours of some fluids clogging up the system and to clean out is no easy five minute job.
Anybody any views?

[danorman777]

I won't take the risk for the sake of around £15. Splash out!!!

[aguywalksintoabar]

My washer bottle was clogged recently. Lord knows how as it was a winter mix and a warm day that day. The first thing they checked was the color of the washer fluid. Covered under warranty as there was sediment in the bottle and the pump was kaput. They said they would have charged me had it not been for the OEM fluid.

All dealer tactics to keep you buying from them I guess.

Outside of warranty I wouldn't bother.

[paulockenden]

Sometimes the 5L bottles are available on Amazon for £14 a pop. They ship from Germany. Unfortunately not available at the moment though.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018M6D47Y

It's worth getting the genuine stuff else they'll make you pay a fortune if you ever get a blocked filter.

[330Stevie]

My dealer always logs a purchase of screen wash against my car details so I can demonstrate I’ve not used other brands if the jets or filter blocks. It works well and it ain’t that expensive at all. Plus I’ll normally have a nose around the showroom and grab a coffee whilst there!

[Carjack]

Thanks guys for your comments you have confirmed my thoughts!

[xenon]

100% get genuine. Normally Cotswold BMW will sell you 5l at £20.99 delivered.

I use the genuine stuff, got my last lot from Vertu BMW in York, purchased 4 in one go for £79.99 ..

I actually think it is worth the money, cleans the screen really well and so far not had it freeze up

[a.summers86]

I’ve kept all my invoices for when the day arrives that the filter clogs up. Happened in my last three cars now.

[hamera]

It's a no from me. I'm sorry but I'm not paying that much for a screenwash. I'm using Shell, ready to use, 3L pouches. No issues over the past 2.5 years of owning this car. I guess if it wasn't good enough I would have known by now?

[UnluckySaxon]

Originally Posted by hamera

It's a no from me. I'm sorry but I'm not paying that much for a screenwash. I'm using Shell, ready to use, 3L pouches. No issues over the past 2.5 years of owning this car. I guess if it wasn't good enough I would have known by now?

[Riccardog]

I only buy the genuine BMW fluid. Then again... hardly use any as I do few miles and the last bottle I bought was 5 years ago!

[P-ToK72]

I need to check mine, I have only had my car for around 5 weeks (brand new) and after ceramic coating have managed all but once to avoid using the wipers.

When I did the water barely squirted out but I was thinking it might be more of a case of redirecting the jets rather than it being an issue with clogging.
It keeps going out of my head to check this but I will when I leave the office this evening.

[Riccardog]

The washer setup on the G20 is a bit odd in that the jets are on the wiper arm just above the wiper blade. This makes it seem like there is little/no water coming out but in fact its just that you don't see it at first.

[JNW1]

BMW don't make screen wash and, other than the price, there's nothing special about screen wash which appears with BMW's name on it!

I do agree a decent screen wash helps to prevent blockages but in 20 years of BMW ownership I've never found the need to use their own branded additive to keep the systems working properly. Rest assured I'm quite happy to spend money on my car when there's a benefit but by the same token I'm not into wasting it for no good reason (and IMO BMW branded screen wash falls into the latter category!).

[tyranniux]

This is bordering in audiophile territory I think. Personally use autoglym concentrate and top up with deionised water. In summer I'll sometimes just use deionised water so any overspray doesn't leave water spots

[paulockenden]

I think most of us who use the BMW stuff know that it’s a rip off. We’re just aware of the stories of warranty work being knocked back for thing like pumps and (especially) filters if other brands have been used. Just search the forums here - you’ll find loads of examples.

So it makes sense (at least while the car is under warranty) to pay slightly more and get the stuff that the manual recommends.

[tyranniux]

Do they knock back warranty issues on the tpms if you don't top up the tyres at the dealership? Sounds ridiculous to me. Surely the burden of proof needs to be on them to refuse

[tyranniux]

The manual only states not to use additives with silicon. Specifically recommends concentrate mixed with tap water, nothing about having to use anything specific with regards to brand or origin.

[Riccardog]

But... you have to admit its much nicer to have a full set of BMW branded bottles in the boot. I have one for washer fluid, one for engine oil and one for coolant too.

Anyways, I'm impressed a conversation on washer fluid has sparked so many views!

[Duchy0]

I’ve not actually had to top up my washer fluid in my M440i since I collected it in July. I bought stuff from Halfords today as I’ve used cheaper, non-BMW screen wash for 5 years with my M140i and had no issues.
I remember someone saying to only use BMW branded screen wash and so before I use the Halfords stuff, I did some searching. I can get the 5L bottle from eBay pretty cheap. My question is when you dilute it, 1:2 for temps down to -12 degrees, can you use normal tap water? I read that the screen wash contains a ‘limescale protection formula’. So with hard water, the white deposits etc shouldn’t build up in the system? How do you dilute it?

[xenon]

I dilute the genuine 50:50. Check the Halfords stuff does not contain silicone