Beware of solidifying screenwash

An interesting story appeared earlier this winter, where a BMW owner had a manufacturer warranty claim refused, for using an aftermarket screen-wash that reacted with an incompatible type within the car’s washer bottle and caused a blockage. 

The owner was quoted saying that the main dealership told him that he should have used BMW’s branded anti-bacterial washer fluid, instead of the supermarket-supplied type that was four times cheaper. When he looked in the owner’s handbook, there was no stipulation that BMW-only screen-wash should be used. I think that this might be because a legal complication might arise. Anyway, the manual did state that different types should not be mixed – something that Auto Express magazine slammed as ‘misleading’ and stated that, 

“By this logic, owners should only ever use BMW washer fluid or risk falling foul of this implied warranty clause.” 

While this caused a certain degree of outrage and media coverage, BMW neither refunded the customer his £163 invoice to replace the bottle and fine filters, nor changed the words in the handbook. It is a shame that the owner did not commence legal proceedings, because it would have provided a degree of clarification… 

Yet, especially at this time year, there is a lesson to be learned – all screenwashes are not equal and, should mixing result in any chemical reaction, the gunge could cause a blockage within the fine filters and tiny jets that are part of a typical modern screen and headlight wash system. Therefore, try to stick with one brand of fluid. 

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