2009 BMW M3 Sedan: My Headlamps Don't Need Schpritzing!

Ya know, Germans always make the good stuff.

Ya follow me Edmunds guy?

Of course if they made a separate button someone would undoubtedly bitch about how their are too many buttons and why don't they just link them together.

You gotta keep your headlights clean in Germany or you get a ticket. (at least on the Autobahn) People without this nifty option have to get out and clean it manually.

"Of course if they made a separate button someone would undoubtedly bitch about how their are too many buttons and why don't they just link them together."

Haha, very true. I have to admit I'd prefer a separate button, though.

@esoterica and chris,

The headlight washers only fire every third time you use the windshield washers AND the headlights have to be on (manual) or in Auto. If you just click the headlight switch off they will not activate.

Oh, and wet arms are expensive - it was probably a cost issue.

You know I really wanted an M3...then I found out that it has self-washing headlamps. Simply unacceptable.

Guess it's C63 AMG instead.

To circumvent the headlight washers on my old A6, i'd just habitually turn off the headlamps before pulling the stalk to wash. After a while it became second nature.

Also, the first thing customers do on the showroom floor with the button is "Oh, what does this button do?" and then press it before getting an answer, giving the sparkling car and the unwitting salesman a shower. Even if he already took his weekly shower. Not that I know from experience or anything.

MB has gone away from the button and cleans the headlamps every fifth time the windshield is sprayed with the lights on. Much easier, and saves the cars unwanted baths.

seems if you keep turning headlamps on and off, those with Xenons would significantly shorten the life of these $1k-plus beauties (at least i think that's the price to replace them for BMW/Audi).

aren't xenons more easily affected by debris on the headlights, scattering the light and potentially blinding oncoming drivers? i say better safe than sorry.

@esoterica, who wrote: "This is why the CTS only washes the headlights if the headlights are on when you attempt to wash the windshield."

That's exactly what BMW does - it's what the writer was complaining about.

The high perssure blast is for like salt on the headlights....up here in Minnesota we need them and they are used allot in the winters.

the way I've combatted this on my 03 A4 is that I've learnt where the detent on the wash stalk is - a small tug and I get windsheild only, a full pull and it's windsheild and headlamps. Needed to figure this out as if I do the lamps/windsheild all the time, the car goes through washer fluid like a frat boy at a kegger....

please note (or correct me if I'm wrong)

the headlight washers only come with the cold weather pkg

@DLu:

Debris on the headlamp lens will have no other effect than reducing the output of the lamp; it won't scatter the beam and blind anyone. That's typically a factor of the reflector/projector and the angle of the lamp.

I also have no idea if frequently firing an HID bulb and ballast on and off would reduce it's life expectancy. I suppose it might as the the startup amperage is usually much higher than the static amperage.

I found the washers particularly useful on highway trips during snowstorms. Snow and sleet which tended to build up and melt/freeze on the lens was easily blasted away.

I'd never thought about how they weren't seperate. Personally speaking, I'm pretty neurotic about how the outside of my car looks and, supposing it hasn't been rained on, I really hate the idea of streaking the exterior of the car with dirty windshield washer fluid water. Having a big mess around the headlights is even worse. Also, my headlights almost never, ever, EVER need washing so bad as to require a sprayer, unless I've driven to the snow (that happens a couple times a year). Very silly.

Anyone remember the old Volvo headlight washer system that actually used small wiper arms and simulated the "wet arm" windsheild washers? As overkill as they may have been (and as cost prohibative as they may be today), they worked beautifully. No overspray and the ultimate effectiveness. I went from a 2003 V40 with these to a 2005 XC70 (also traded long ago) with high-pressure sprayers that ruined the clean, black paint every time they powered up (every third time the windshield wahsers were used, I believe).

Actually--I take that back. I believe the 2005 Volvo XC70 I had would run the headlamp washers each time the windshield washers were used until a sensor indicated that the washer fluid was running low. At that point it would be more selective about the headlamp washers to conserve washer fluid (and run them something like every third use). What a thoughtful gesture.

Yup. The old A6 would run the headlamp washers every time the stalk was pulled; it didn't do it every other time or some such infrequency.

@roadie and canadia. I prefer the quick pull over turning the headlamps off pre-spray!

The headlight washers are great during the long winters in Michigan though. They are a life saver after the roads are covered with salt.

"please note (or correct me if I'm wrong)

the headlight washers only come with the cold weather pkg"

Yes, they are only part of the cold weather package but also standard on 3-Series cars with xDrive.

My 1er has them...no cold weather package...

Mercedes has a seperate button. Just saying.

this is a very annoying feature! i've had it on my last 3 m3's and disconnected on the last 2. i need to research on my new e90 m3.

nothing like spending 2 hours cleaing your car, only to get the ENTIRE car covered with washer fluid when trying to clean the windshield!