BMW 4 Washer System Failure, Common Causes & Fixes

Hey! I have some experience with cars and had a similar issue with my 2017 BMW 3 Series (gas). At first, I thought it was a pump failure, but it turned out to be super simple. Got the same error message and everything. Took it to my regular workshop, and guess what, the washer fluid was just below the minimum level, triggering a safety cutoff. They topped it up, and it worked perfectly again. Only cost me 25 Euro for the fluid and check. Before you head to a workshop, what trim level is your 4 Series? Some models have different sensor setups, so it'd help to know more details about your specific car. Also, have you checked if you can hear the pump trying to work when you activate the washers?

Thanks for sharing your experience! My 4 Series just hit 187659 KM and had its latest service two months ago. Mine's a base trim model, and no, I can't hear the pump at all when I try using the washers. I've already checked the fluid level, it's actually full, which makes me think it might be more serious than just low fluid. Really hoping it's not the pump itself, but since there's zero response when I pull the stalk, I'm getting worried. Did your mechanic mention any other potential causes when you had yours fixed?

Hey again! Thanks for the additional details about your 4 Series. Now that you mention there's absolutely no pump sound and the fluid level is full, I'm thinking this might be different from what I experienced with my 3 Series. When I had my issue, I could at least hear a faint humming when trying to activate the washers. Since you're getting zero response, it could be either an electrical issue or a failed pump. When my mechanic and I were discussing potential causes, he mentioned that these systems typically fail in one of three ways: electrical connection problems, pump failure, or clogged lines. Given that you've just had service done two months ago, maybe check if they did anything near the washer system? Sometimes disconnected wiring can cause this. In my BMW, the pump is located at the bottom of the washer fluid reservoir, and the wiring can sometimes get loose or corroded. If you're comfortable doing some basic checks, you might want to locate the pump connector and see if it's properly connected. Just be careful, I learned the hard way that some parts are a bit tricky to access in these cars. Otherwise, might be worth getting it checked out professionally. At least electrical issues are usually cheaper to fix than replacing the whole pump.

Thanks for the detailed response! This definitely gives me a better idea of what I'm dealing with. You're right, I might check those electrical connections first since there's absolutely no sound. I actually remember them doing some work in that area during the last service, so maybe something did get disconnected. I just looked under the hood and can see where the pump connector should be, but I'll probably leave the actual checking to a professional. Don't want to risk messing anything up, especially given how complicated these BMW systems can be! I'll schedule an appointment with my mechanic and mention these possibilities you've brought up. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and knowledge. This has been super helpful in understanding what might be wrong with my car rather than just guessing. I'll update once I find out what's actually causing the problem.