I am finally redoing my windshield cleaning system. The current system was very hacked up by the PO and I'm planning on restoring everything to stock. I have uncovered a few inconsistencies and was hoping for some guidance.
The car is a 1985 M35CSi. I assumed I had the non-heated nozzles but after removing all the broken and crusty old pieces, I've found wiring that would indicate I have heated nozzles. The current nozzles are absolutely clogged and gone so I need to order new nozzles.
Is the presence of wiring an indication that I have the heated nozzles?
If not, was this an option that was available, and, if so, can I check through my VIN decode?
Do the heated and non-heated nozzles have the same mounting?
Are the heated and non-heated nozzles interchangeable?
How is the heating function wired? All my wiring is cut and missing at the engine side. If I have to rebuild, are there good sources for the heaters and the light in that location or is it a bigtime effort?
Thank you so much for any advice and pointers! The forum has been amazing to help me order the correct valves and splitters and I can't wait to have this done!
Evan Ruff, Atlanta GA, Engineer
1970 Ford F100
1972 BMW 3.0CSi, L-Jet 3.5L
1978 Ferrari 308GTB
1985 BMW M635CSi
2016 BMW M2
Is the presence of wiring an indication that I have the heated nozzles?
Almost certainly imo
If not, was this an option that was available, and, if so, can I check through my VIN decode?
You can check all the right parts for your car on RealOEM - ie by VIN Code
Do the heated and non-heated nozzles have the same mounting?
Yes
Are the heated and non-heated nozzles interchangeable?
Almost certainly so EDITED - but apparently that's not so - see Ron's post below.
How is the heating function wired? All my wiring is cut and missing at the engine side. If I have to rebuild, are there good sources for the heaters and the light in that location or is it a bigtime effort?
I think this will be the tricky part as I don't know exactly what triggers their operation - I don't think the heating element is permanently active. What light are you referring to? The light on the underside of the bonnet/hood panel?
Last edited by plip1953 on Sun May 17, 2020 3:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Those little posts are for the plastic bracket that retains the check valves. Mine are almost completely gone and I'm looking for the part number to order replacements. Does anyone happen to know that P/N? I am having some difficulty finding it on RealOEM, as they don't seem to be pictured with the other pieces.
Evan Ruff, Atlanta GA, Engineer
1970 Ford F100
1972 BMW 3.0CSi, L-Jet 3.5L
1978 Ferrari 308GTB
1985 BMW M635CSi
2016 BMW M2
Those little posts are for the plastic bracket that retains the check valves. Mine are almost completely gone and I'm looking for the part number to order replacements. Does anyone happen to know that P/N? I am having some difficulty finding it on RealOEM, as they don't seem to be pictured with the other pieces.
Ok, but what purpose do these check valves serve? Something specific for US models?
baders wrote: ↑Tue May 19, 2020 1:49 am
Check valves are on all windscreen washing systems. Otherwise the water would drain back out of the tubing to the reservoir.
Hmm, that's a good point! I'm almost certain the arrangement in my pic above is how it's been since new, although on closer inspection there doesn't seem to be any fluid in any of the tubing above the level of the reservoir! That said, I can't ever remember experiencing any kind of a delay after operating the washer switch, but I guess there has to be.
Do you have any pics of the check valves and pipework in position?
Many thanks for that. So it looks like there are different configurations depending on the year of car, or it is a difference depending on heated or non-heated nozzles?
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