BMW Washer & Wiper Systems Fail, Owner Seeks Solutions

I had a similar issue with my BMW 3 Series (2016) last winter. The symptoms were exactly the same, washer fluid wouldn't spray and the wipers weren't responding to the auto setting. Took it to my mechanic and it turned out the washer pump relay had corroded connections. The pump itself was fine, but the electrical connection was shot. While they were at it, they found that some wiring to the rain sensor was damaged too, which explained the automatic wiper malfunction. It wasn't a major repair in terms of parts, but it required some time to trace the electrical issues. Since your headlight washers are affected too, it's likely the same root cause, probably a wiring or relay problem rather than the pump itself. My advice would be to get it checked soon. Corrosion can spread if left unchecked, and you don't want to risk bigger electrical issues down the line. I know several owners who've faced similar problems. Usually, it's an electrical connection issue rather than mechanical failure.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! Really helpful to hear about a similar case. You got me curious though, would you mind sharing how much the repair ended up costing you? Also, has everything been working smoothly since then? I'm asking because I want to get a rough idea of what I might be looking at cost-wise, and it'd be good to know if this is likely to be a one-time fix or if I should watch out for it happening again.

Hey there! Happy to give you an update. Just got my car back from the mechanic last week actually, it was exactly what I suspected, a faulty cable connection for the pump/relay system. The total bill came to 165 € for the fix, and I've got to say, everything's working like a charm now. The headlight cleaning system that was giving me grief is back to normal too. Looking back at my previous car troubles, this wasn't too bad on the wallet, and the fix seems solid. Been using the washers and wipers regularly since the repair, and they're responding perfectly. The auto-wipers are doing their thing just right, and the headlight washers kick in exactly when they should. From what my mechanic told me, once these electrical connections are properly fixed, they usually stay sorted. Just keep an eye on any warning signs like inconsistent spray patterns or wipers acting up, but honestly, I don't expect to see these issues pop up again anytime soon. Sounds like you're dealing with pretty much the same thing I had, so hopefully this gives you a good idea of what you're looking at, both fix-wise and cost-wise. Let us know how it goes when you get yours sorted!

Just wanted to update everyone! Finally got my BMW back from the mechanic today. You were spot on, it was an electrical issue. The washer pump connections were corroded, and they found some damaged wiring near the rain sensor. Total cost was a bit higher than yours at 220 €, but they also had to replace a small connector piece. Took it for a drive in the rain earlier, and everything's working perfectly now. The washer sprays are strong and even, auto-wipers respond smoothly, and the headlight washers are back in action. Such a relief to have it all fixed! The mechanic I found was great, really explained everything clearly and showed me the damaged parts. Way better experience than my last repair shop. They also mentioned these fixes typically last for years, so I'm feeling pretty confident about it. Thanks again for helping me avoid getting ripped off and giving me a good idea of what to expect. Really appreciate the advice!