Can you remove the headlight washers without removing the bumper?

[Skeeter]

As title really. I don't have the tools, space, time or patience to remove the bumper, but I need to either replace or remove my headlight washers before my next MOT. Ideally I want to blank them.

 

[cliomick172]

Did mine just removing wheel arch bolts and pulling bumber out was pretty easy to be honest

 

[guysy]

For the amount of time spent fiddling around, taking the tyre off to get to the arch, its much easier to take the bumper off surely.

 

[Skeeter]

I'm going to have the wheels and brakes and everything off anyway soon. So can you get to them by just removing the wheel arch liners?

 

[Joe#]

I'd get some tools and take the bumper off.

Much easier and quicker.

 

[cliomick172]

Didnt take the wheels off no need only a couple of ten mm bolts was easy

 

[daveski]

Afaik the bumper has to be removed, its not that difficult though. IIRC there is a guide on here

 

[fletch8]

doddle changing the bumper

back to the reason youre doing it though. if youve got xenons dont you have to have washers for an MOT, so your idea of blanking them would mean your car would fail? or have i got it wrong

 

[daveski]

If they're there they have to work. If they are not there they dont have to work.

 

[Skeeter]

doddle changing the bumper

back to the reason youre doing it though. if youve got xenons dont you have to have washers for an MOT, so your idea of blanking them would mean your car would fail? or have i got it wrong

Yeah thats the commonly held opinion, but its wrong.

Prior to Jan 2012 cars fitted with Xenons had to have washers fitted by the manufacturer under EU law, however there was no requirement for them to be fitted or working to pass an MOT. Infact, head light washers were not even mentioned in the MOT hand book at all.

After Jan 2012, washer jets that are fitted must be operational, but there is still no requirement for them to be there if you have Xenons. So having blanks is fine.

 

[Heez]

But what about the new regs? Or is this at the discretion of the tester?

Edit: I see now

 

[Skeeter]

The key words are 'may' and 'any'

Information:
Vehicles equipped with High Intensity Discharge (HID) or LED dipped beam headlamps may be fitted with headlamp washers and a suspension or headlamp self levelling system.

Method of Inspection:
Where HID or LED dipped beam headlamps are fitted, switch on the headlamps and check the operation of any headlamp levelling and cleaning devices fitted

Reason for Rejection:
A headlamp levelling or cleaning device inoperative or otherwise obviously defective.

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_170.htm

 

[Knuckles]

i can see it being a fiddle/ball ache doing it with the bumper on... take the whole thing off when you take the wheels/breaks off.

unscrew arch liners
unscrew 10mm bolt on wing
unscrew 2 x 10 mm bolts on slam/scuttle (?) panel
undo the grill
bumper off

even when i had the bumper off, getting the washers undone was annoying lol

 

[jooliona]

What a crock of horse manure these cars are, the washer itself looks like it just screws in.. But if you have to take the entire bumper off. Think ill leave it till another day.

 

[Fletcher]

The bumper takes 5 mins to remove...lol

 

[JCC]

^ What Fletcher said, it's genuinely harder to take off the arch liners and f**k about skinning your knuckles than it is just to whip the bumper off Lol.

 

[stokie4ker]

Out of curiosity, are you removing them because they don't work, or for aesthetic reasons?