[6CylindersEveryDay]

I really like the OEM windshield washer fluid that came in the car. It has a nice smell to it and reminds me of what came in my Golf R that was built in Germany. I tried to get the OEM VW stuff and wasn't really successful. I've ordered Krystal Klar washer fluid in the past but it didn't seem that great.

I'm not familiar with most things BMW (the M2 CS is my first), so I was wondering if any of the long time BMW people here would know where to buy the same OEM fluid or something similar.

Is the washer fluid from BMW dealers the same stuff that came in the car? For American VW dealers it is definitely not the same.

[arciga18]

Good question

[Driver87]

I've always enjoyed the rainx bug wash. Never put too much thought into it, or noticed a smell on the oem stuff.

[cncmastr]

Don't use anything but OE fluid. After market fluids might have silicones which will cause the pumps and seals to breakdown. Buy the concentrate and mix with distilled water. It's like $5.

[detroitm2]

Originally Posted by cncmastr

Don't use anything but OE fluid. After market fluids might have silicones which will cause the pumps and seals to breakdown. Buy the concentrate and mix with distilled water. It's like $5.

Sorry, but this is next level paranoia.

Washer fluid isn't going to break down seals and destroy pumps unless it's some really shitty fluid.

Theres no reason to believe that the fluid dealerships put in your car is anything special.

[Golden3ye]

The OEM stuff does smell amazing. I’d get some cologne with that scent in a heart beat

[omasou]

I've always wanted the clear fluid used by the factory but dealer cannot get it.

I've been mixing my own using Isopropal Alcohol (at a concentration that doesn't freeze) and a drop (literally) of Dawn.

The other choice is the dealer concrete or premix but be careful not all contain antifreeze which may be important depending on where you live.

I don't use the stuff sold in stores b/c they use methanol, which I was told dries out the rubber in the wipers quicker. They use methanol to stop alcoholics from drinking it .

[detroitm2]

Originally Posted by omasou

I've always wanted the clear fluid used by the factory but dealer cannot get it.

I've been mixing my own using Isopropal Alcohol (at a concentration that doesn't freeze) and a drop (literally) of Dawn.

The other choice is the dealer concrete or premix but be careful not all contain antifreeze which may be important depending on where you live.

I don't use the stuff sold in stores b/c they use methanol, which I was told dries out the rubber in the wipers quicker. They use methanol to stop alcoholics from drinking it .

The blue stuff they use at dealerships is a mix of methanol and distilled water. As far as I'm aware.

[ptgltw]

Originally Posted by detroitm2

Sorry, but this is next level paranoia.

Washer fluid isn't going to break down seals and destroy pumps unless it's some really shitty fluid.

Theres no reason to believe that the fluid dealerships put in your car is anything special.

This is why we love CNC Master though. He goes where few go. Didn't he make a video about, will regular wheel cleaner ruin a matte finish on wheels? Or am I getting confused.

[detroitm2]

Originally Posted by ptgltw

This is why we love CNC Master though. He goes where few go. Didn't he make a video about, will regular wheel cleaner ruin a matte finish on wheels? Or am I getting confused.

To be fair, some wheel cleaners are pretty harsh. (iron remover is nasty stuff), so I would take a bit of care with those nice matte wheels

[Got f1?]

Originally Posted by detroitm2

Sorry, but this is next level paranoia.

Washer fluid isn't going to break down seals and destroy pumps unless it's some really shitty fluid.

Theres no reason to believe that the fluid dealerships put in your car is anything special.

This has actually happened to me with one of the rainx products that had a deicing additive. I avoid those.

[mfarrzhp]

Originally Posted by detroitm2

Sorry, but this is next level paranoia.

Washer fluid isn't going to break down seals and destroy pumps unless it's some really shitty fluid.

Theres no reason to believe that the fluid dealerships put in your car is anything special.

Washer fluid, key fobs, CF gas caps. We have some OCD folks on this forum, but I love all these new ideas.

[detroitm2]

Originally Posted by Got f1?

This has actually happened to me with one of the rainx products that had a deicing additive. I avoid those.

Ya, I can see that. Some of the atypical "fancy" stuff probably has some added chemicals.

The normal everyday blue stuff should be fine in any car.

[lovem2cs]

I have no idea. I don't use windshield washer fluid much. I put RainX on my windshield once every 3 months and let the air friction does most of the job. Usually, the fluid gets topped up at the dealer during regular maintenance before it is emptied.

[MadBimmeRad]

I just realised, I've never used the wipers on my CS and am not likely to use them anytime at all.

Both the Beast and I dislike rain.

With all my other work cars, I carry a shampoo bottle (from my hotel stays). a quick squeeze of the shampoo in the water container means the nastiest bug-spread on the windscreen comes off without too much effort.

Having to worry about antifreeze has never been a problem here in Australia; the last time I saw snow was when I weighed half as much, and had far more hair than I harbour now.

[BigKutta]

I'll admit, I cherish the initial factory fill that comes with BMWs, and my 2020 M2C which is now 17 months old and almost 10k miles still has the original colorless, soapy, factory fill, which smells great and works like a charm. I will be sad the day that it finishes and I need to add the colored Rain X

So, who knows how to get the factory stuff?

[kyrocks]

Originally Posted by mfarrzhp

Washer fluid, key fobs, CF gas caps. We have some OCD folks on this forum, but I love all these new ideas.

I love my CF gas cap!

[BigKutta]

Originally Posted by Anthony1s

I can confirm the dealerships I used in Pa use the exact smelling fluids that came in my car from the factory.

However, I don't prefer it. It has a high alcohol content that I believe wears out my ceramic coating and other coatings I apply to the window. I use the RainX 2-1 fluid instead.

Please share the brand/part number for this?

[cncmastr]

I'm not sure why my comment wasn't taken seriously. There is a protocol for tightening how many clicks for the e brake, who does that? Their windshield solution is made to not corrode and eat the seals in the wiper system and prolong it. The concentrated solution cost nothing.

At the end of the day, it's your car, put whatever you want in it.

I was told my a master tech, don't use anything other than OE fluid for that reason, so I do.

[gmhl10]

Originally Posted by detroitm2

The blue stuff they use at dealerships is a mix of methanol and distilled water. As far as I'm aware.

When I used to work at a BMW dealership as a technician, this is what happened: Parts department gives us a bottle of washer concentrate. We pour the concentrate in to the washer reservoir. Then, we use the water from our hose and pour that in. No pre-mixing before pouring, no measurement, no distilled water. Every tech did this. There's no way you're going to convince flat rate techs to do things the proper way when time is of the essence.

Just ask for the washer concentrate bottle and tell your service advisor you will top up yourself rather than having a tech do it if you're really particular about it.

[cncmastr]

Originally Posted by Anthony1s

Because your dealer is wrong. The seals are EDPM. Silicone poses no issue. The alcohol in washer fluid is what's harmful to them.

I hope you are ph balancing your washer fluid and storing your car in a controlled environment to protect the seals too.

Nice.

[CarJunkie]

I used the windshield washer for the first time the other day, and man it smelled great.