Wiper fluid reservoir mystery part-- what part is this?

Hi all,

I was taking the windshield washer fluid tank out, to clean it out (the strainer "gel clog", and possible fluid pump fail).

WHen I took the tank out, I found two things rolling around inside the reservoire tank. One was a white-translucent strainer, about 1.75in diameter. I suspect this is supposed to be at the inlet where you pour the washer fluid in from the top (must have fell long time ago. I vaguely remember seeing it when I first got the car..)

the other small part that I found got me stumped. I looked at RealOEM trying to identify where it came from, and couldnt' figure it out.

it is a small, blue, cylindrical tube with a metal strainer on one end. it's 17mm tall, about 1cm in diameter. (approx 5/8in tall, 3/8in diameter)

I don't think it's the part of the strainer going to the fluid pump (that one I pulled out gel-coated, and just cleaned)

so.. what is this blue thing? where does it go?

Got pix?

sent from my HTC EVO+ using Bimmer App

figuring out how to post photos... stand by...

Here are the photos of the mystery part. it's the blue cylindrical part with a metal strainer on one end. The white part sitting next to it is the reservoir inlet strainer that I left off (it won't stay in place.. and wasn't sure if it's worth trying to keep it on)

the ruler is in inches.

a filter?

Originally Posted by TheRarp

a filter?

Filer for what? The white screen that attaches to the pump is already there. this part won't fit over/inside that white cylindrical screen (it has a rubber grommet to attach to the tank, and hold the washer fluid pump in place).

it just doesn't seem to belong to anything in the tank.

may be one of the mechanics put it in there just to mess with my mind..

wow....i have never seen that piece before on our e46s before. please update us if you find the answer. thanx. good luck

Originally Posted by flashmeow

wow....i have never seen that piece before on our e46s before.

Hmmm.. On that note, may be I will assume that a mechanic put it in there (intentionally or not) just to mess with my brain, and just ignore it

I have an oil service coming up.. so may be I'll take the part and ask them if they know where it may have come from!

looks like it attaches onto the bottom of the washer-pump seal, it strains the fluid before it enters the pump. I just received the rubber seal to replace on my car and it is attached to the rubber seal. Its probably under one part number that is why you cant find it on realoem.

I took my reservoir and everything else apart last week to find out where my mystery leak was coming from. Like you, I also found that circular top strainer laying on the bottom of the reservoir. The tabs around its perimeter were very flimsy, so I don't see a need to replace it because it'll just fall inside again after time.

I didn't see the blue part you listed. Those are not the 2 oem strainer grommets that attach on the bottom of the washer pumps. The oem strainers are also vented on the sides. Very odd.

Originally Posted by nae36

looks like it attaches onto the bottom of the washer-pump seal, it strains the fluid before it enters the pump. I just received the rubber seal to replace on my car and it is attached to the rubber seal. Its probably under one part number that is why you cant find it on realoem.

The strainer/filter that attaches to the rubber grommet where the shaft from the pump goes into is white and looks like this:
http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/61667006063/ES170251/

I took this strainer out and washed the gel-goo off it. (and fixed the washer fluid clog. didn't have to replace the pump. yay!)

the diameter of the blue thing is about the same size of that existing white strainer that it won't go over it, and it won't go inside it either. So I don't think it's a part of the existing strainer/pump assembly (#7 is the strainer and #6 is the pump that goes into the strainer basket through the rubber grommet/gasket on this RealOEM list)

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...83&hg=61&fg=45

hence.. mystery part...

just a guess, mine is white as well

Originally Posted by nae36

looks like it attaches onto the bottom of the washer-pump seal, it strains the fluid before it enters the pump. I just received the rubber seal to replace on my car and it is attached to the rubber seal. Its probably under one part number that is why you cant find it on realoem.

Pretty sure this is right. Blue thing is a strainer for on the pump inlet itself believe and the large one goes just under the cap where you fill it up. I noticed that when you fill the tank using a funnel, if the funnel starts to fill quicker than its flowing out the added weight makes the large filter let go and fall in the tank. Didn't know mine was floating in there for like 2 years haha. If they are floating in there they really aren't that necessary for normal operation or else your system would have failed.