[Dilbert2402]

Winter arrived in the south of the UK yesterday, we had 10mm of snow and the usual traffic chaos occurred! Driving in the snow highlighted a problem that surprised me in that I had trouble seeing where I was going as my headlights were covered in snow. Due to the fact that the LED's produce no heat there was nothing to melt the snow. How do people get on in the parts of the world that get real winters and proper amounts of snow?

[Brit H]

I think Minnesota qualifies as having real winters.

I have to say that I've never had an issue with ice building up on the front of a car. We put salt on the roads to stop ice from building up on the roads and the salt also keeps ice off the cars.

[E90Fleet]

Is that not what the headlight washer sprayers are for ?

[oreoOozZz]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Is that not what the headlight washer sprayers are for ?

Idk about you but in the US here, I've yet to see an F48 with headlight washer sprayers nor does my X1 have them.

On a seperate note, NY got hit pretty good last week and I didn't have this problem.

[Tjalle]

Yes, that what I use my headlight washers for.

Headlight washers are mandatory in EU. Since the UK is still member of EU, Dilbert should have them.

[The Beast]

Originally Posted by Tjalle

Yes, that what I use my headlight washers for.

Headlight washers are mandatory in EU. Since the UK is still member of EU, Dilbert should have them.

I not sure about this, they are an option in the UK and I didn't specify them...

What country are you in, maybe it's a local law?

[jpwakan]

Here in France I don't have them on my X1 and we are part of the EU

[Tjalle]

Sorry, my wrong. Obviously it is a Sweden-only law. Good to have though

Headlight cleaning was introduced 1972 by SAAB.

[The Beast]

I personally don't like the headlight washers

I have them on my F10 and on previous cars. They use too much fluid and have a tendency to ruin a nicely washed and polished bonnet when you just want a quick windscreen clean... I appreciate that you can temporarily switch off the headlights to avoid them activating but it's too much hassle so I didn't specify them on our F48. It's used virtually 100% in city conditions and gets washed once a week, if I lived somewhere where the car regularly got muddy I probably would have optioned them

[Phobia]

Mandatory on all cars with LED and xenon here in Norway too.

[Tjalle]

phobra, and since Finland produced SAAB:s with headlight washers for many years, I suspect also Finland has mandatory washers.

[Phobia]

The reason why washers is mandatory on cars with LED and Xenon here in Norway, is cause if the headlights get's dirty, the light could change some direction and blend oncoming traffic.

[smv]

Headlight washers are mandatory in EU only for xenon lights. LEDs are exempted, I don't know the reason though. I assume it dates back to the early days of xenons and the fact that they were too bright compared to halogens or normal, so any dirt, rain or frozen droplets could diffract light and make it an issue for the opposite drivers. But not sure why the obligation was waived with leds.. cost issues maybe?

[danielsan]

It's mandatory in Denmark. I was trying to cut some costs and tried to remove them, but it wasn't possible.