BMW X1 Washer System Failure, Diagnosis Help Needed

Hey there! I have some experience with car maintenance, and I had a similar issue with my 2020 BMW X3. The symptoms were exactly the same, washer system completely dead and auto-wipers not responding. Took it to my regular workshop, and they found that the cable connection to the washer pump was damaged, plus the relay had some corrosion. Total repair cost was 165 Euro, including parts and labor. They had to replace some wiring and the relay, took them about 2 hours to fix everything. Can you share if you've noticed any warning lights on the dashboard? Also, have you checked if there's washer fluid in the reservoir? Sometimes the sensor can act up even when there's fluid. Let me know these details, and I might be able to help you figure out if you're dealing with the same issue.

Thanks for sharing your experience! Mine's at 154848 KM and I just got it serviced last month. Interestingly, I've noticed no warning lights on the dash at all, and the reservoir is actually full. I checked that first thing! My local mechanic mentioned it could also be a blown fuse, but I wanted to hear from other X1 owners before taking it in. Did your repair shop mention anything about the headlight cleaning system being connected to this issue? Also curious if you had any warning signs before it completely stopped working.

Hey again! Good to hear back from you. Looking at your mileage, it's quite similar to what my X3 had when I faced this issue (mine was around 150,000 km). About the headlight cleaning system, funny you should ask because I initially thought the same thing, but in my case, it turned out to be completely unrelated. When my mechanic dug deeper, they found that the headlight cleaning system has its own separate circuit, so it wasn't affecting the windshield washer system at all. I know I mentioned the damaged cable and relay before, but I forgot to tell you, before it completely died, I did notice the washer spray becoming a bit inconsistent, like sometimes it would work fine and other times it would be really weak. Since you mentioned no warning lights and a full reservoir (just like my situation), I'd actually lean towards checking that wiring first. The fact that both the washer and auto-wiper features are acting up points to an electrical issue rather than a mechanical one. The fuse is definitely worth checking too, it's a much cheaper fix if that turns out to be the problem! Have you noticed any irregular spray patterns before it stopped working completely? That might help narrow down whether you're dealing with the same electrical issue I had.

Thanks for all that detailed info! Actually, now that you mention it, I did notice the spray was getting a bit weaker over the last few weeks before it completely gave up. I just didn't think much of it at the time. You've really helped me narrow down what to look for, I'll definitely get the wiring and fuse checked first before assuming it's something more serious with the headlight cleaning system. The fact that your X3 had similar symptoms at around the same mileage makes me feel better about this whole situation. I was worried I'd have to replace the entire washer system! I'll call my mechanic tomorrow and specifically ask them to check the wiring connections and relay first. Will also mention that weak spray pattern I noticed, seems like it could be a telling sign. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. I'll update everyone once I get it sorted out!