Factory Headlights Washers?

SoCal 370Z · 03-04-2009, 10:13 PM

Watch this video:

[YOUTUBEHQ]no9W0MemxrY[/YOUTUBEHQ]

Are those headlight washers? Are they factory? Are we being further screwed in the US of A?

WShade · 03-04-2009, 10:16 PM

Yes, yes and yes.

SoCal 370Z · 03-04-2009, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WShade

Yes, yes and yes.

LOL

zero · 03-05-2009, 12:55 AM

I don't know if they are headlights washers but that the color combo I want.

SoCal 370Z · 03-05-2009, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero

I don't know if they are headlights washers but that the color combo I want.

You should enjoy the persimmon colored interior as the white is of a warm hue so the two should complement one another. My wife and I have the white with gray, and the gray is of a cold hue, but it too is a nice combination.

chubbs · 03-05-2009, 01:44 AM

Trust me, you do not want headlight washers. They're a waste of space and weight. The spray deposits marks all over your paintwork and they're only on EU cars because of EU legislation.

Here's a series of pics I took of my first 350z, showing what they do - It's all over in less than a second, then the cleaning of the paintwork takes about 20 mins...

semtex · 03-05-2009, 09:10 AM

Wow! Thanks for posting those pics for us, Chubbs. Yeah, I think we're better off without this 'feature'. The only circumstance I can imagine those actually being useful is if you have mud on your car or something like that, in which case the overspray really isn't going to be that much of an issue because the rest of your car is filthy and in need of a proper wash anyway.

chubbs · 03-05-2009, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Wow! Thanks for posting those pics for us, Chubbs. Yeah, I think we're better off without this 'feature'. The only circumstance I can imagine those actually being useful is if you have mud on your car or something like that, in which case the overspray really isn't going to be that much of an issue because the rest of your car is filthy and in need of a proper wash anyway.

Exactly - perfectly analysed!

...and if your lights need a wipe, how long does it take ffs!

Edit - The theory behind our legislation is that the efficiency of xenon or bi-xenon headlamps is severely impaired if the lamp glass is dirty - and this is probably true, so keep your glasses clean and you'll be able to see!

Our cars have 2 linked screenwash bottles, on each side of the car, below each of the headlamp washers. When you fill the reservoirs through the single filler they take at least 5 litres of liquid - adding plenty of weight to the car (15lbs?).

They operate automatically when the headlamps are on dipped or full beam and they cannot be switched off, although I know some people who have disconnected them (illegal in the UK, I think). They operate the first time you squirt the screenwash, then every 10th time you squirt - unless you switch the engine off, and then, infuriatingly, the sequence starts from the first squirt again!

If ever I need to clean my windscreen in the dark (and it happens regularly in damp old England), I wait until I'm stopped at traffic lights or at a junction, I turn my main beam off, I operate the screenwash and then I turn my headlights back on again. That way the stupid headlamp washer doesn't spray unnecessary mess everywhere. What a faff! ...and I imagine that the driver in front wonders why I'm turning my lights on & off at him!!!

ps - You can make them squirt at other times too, if you want to!!!!!!

gatorfast · 03-05-2009, 01:31 PM

Def better off without them. My GTI has them and all it does is soak the front of the car and leave water spots.

Dark_Sub_Rosa · 03-05-2009, 02:03 PM

Better off without them, I don't like the bulge they create on the bumper and they make a mess. My 335 has them and they are flush so it's not so intrusive to the design but they spray everywhere.

semtex · 03-05-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chubbs

They operate automatically when the headlamps are on dipped or full beam and they cannot be switched off, although I know some people who have disconnected them (illegal in the UK, I think). They operate the first time you squirt the screenwash, then every 10th time you squirt - unless you switch the engine off, and then, infuriatingly, the sequence starts from the first squirt again![/I]

Oh now this I didn't know. I had presumed that their operation was entirely manual. I'd be tempted to see if there's a way to block off the side reservoirs from the main filler, then when it squirts there'd be no fluid for it to shoot out all over the place.

chubbs · 03-05-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by semtex

Oh now this I didn't know. I had presumed that their operation was entirely manual. I'd be tempted to see if there's a way to block off the side reservoirs from the main filler, then when it squirts there'd be no fluid for it to shoot out all over the place.

The best way to disconnect them is electrically, I think.

SoCal 370Z · 03-05-2009, 07:50 PM

My wife takes these 400 mile roundtrip junkets so these would work well for her as various times. Besides, I do all the detailing on our cars.

03-04-2009, 10:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	Factory Headlights Washers? Watch this video: [YOUTUBEHQ]no9W0MemxrY[/YOUTUBEHQ] Are those headlight washers? Are they factory? Are we being further screwed in the US of A?

03-04-2009, 10:16 PM	#2 (permalink)
WShade Track Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 765 Drives: 09 370Z T/S/N Rep Power: 187	Yes, yes and yes. __________________ Q50S Q60 RS400

03-05-2009, 12:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
zero A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,259 Drives: MK 7.5 Golf R Rep Power: 22	I don't know if they are headlights washers but that the color combo I want. __________________

03-05-2009, 01:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
chubbs A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Zeeland Posts: 1,046 Drives: 2016 370z Auto-Grey Rep Power: 7586	Trust me, you do not want headlight washers. They're a waste of space and weight. The spray deposits marks all over your paintwork and they're only on EU cars because of EU legislation. Here's a series of pics I took of my first 350z, showing what they do - It's all over in less than a second, then the cleaning of the paintwork takes about 20 mins... __________________ . '03 Grey >>> '06 Black >>>'10 Silver >>> '16 Grey ^ Last edited by chubbs; 03-05-2009 at 02:01 AM. Reason: to add pics

03-05-2009, 09:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
semtex A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Behind enemy lines Age: 54 Posts: 5,995 Drives: People to drink Rep Power: 32	Wow! Thanks for posting those pics for us, Chubbs. Yeah, I think we're better off without this 'feature'. The only circumstance I can imagine those actually being useful is if you have mud on your car or something like that, in which case the overspray really isn't going to be that much of an issue because the rest of your car is filthy and in need of a proper wash anyway. __________________ "There are no small accidents on this circuit." -- Ayrton Senna 316.8whp & 248 ft/lbs (Dyno Dynamics) \| 319whp & 256 ft/lbs (DynoJet) (04/23/10) Stillen G3 CAI, CBE, Pulley / F.I. LTH / GTSpec Ladder Brace / Setrab Oil Cooler / UpRev-tuned by Forged Perf.

03-05-2009, 01:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
gatorfast Base Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: SoFla Posts: 120 Drives: Z4 M Coupe Rep Power: 289	Def better off without them. My GTI has them and all it does is soak the front of the car and leave water spots.

03-05-2009, 02:03 PM	#10 (permalink)
Dark_Sub_Rosa Base Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 190 Drives: 2015 Mustang GT PP Rep Power: 16	Better off without them, I don't like the bulge they create on the bumper and they make a mess. My 335 has them and they are flush so it's not so intrusive to the design but they spray everywhere. __________________

03-05-2009, 07:50 PM	#13 (permalink)
SoCal 370Z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US of A Posts: 2,842 Drives: Answers Rep Power: 33	My wife takes these 400 mile roundtrip junkets so these would work well for her as various times. Besides, I do all the detailing on our cars.

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