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Whitewashered

I have a 2008/58 BMW 320d with pop-up washer jets. While washing the screen and lights on the M62 during a January snowfall both jets popped up a little too far and came out completely, last seen in lane 1 of the M62. My BMW dealer said I was the third person that day to report the same problem, but went on to add "clearly it isn't covered under warranty because of the weather", before estimating £200 for the parts, plus labour, to replace them. Is adverse weather really a valid reason to void warranty claims? Surely washer jets are there to be used when weather is bad or they wouldn't be needed? It wasn't even snowing, I was just washing the road muck off the screen and the light washers come on automatically. If my door handle dropped off on the motorway I'd expect a warranty fix (which Audi once did for me) so I don't really see the difference. But I'd appreciate your views and what steps I can take to argue the case if you think it's fair to do so.

Asked on 6 March 2010 by M.P., Sowerby Bridge

Answered by Honest John
They will have frozen solid so the pressure from the fluid popped them out. If you were using BMW approved washer fluid to the required strength, then I think you have a claim. After all, the conditions can have been no worse than those regularly experienced in Northern Europe. But if you were using ordinary fluid, then I'm afraid you have no claim.
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