Gaz Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 Need to top my radiator up a little and was just wondering what you guys use? I work next to a BMW garage so if I pop in there tomorrow will they have some pre-mixed coolant (i.e. 50/50 coolant / distilled water)? Also, should I be worrying the level's dropped a bit? It's only a small amount, but it's not done it before whilst owning the car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danw8986 Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 only use whats in there already probably BMW stuff whitch doesn't come pre mixed, some manufactures of coolant put crap in them that if you mix with any other coolant it goes gunky just so you have to use there coolant untill full change !! very sneaky and very wrong if you ask me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted June 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 You know what, bugger it. I'll do a complete coolant flush I think. I'm doing an oil service this weekend anyway so may as well do that whilst the car's in the air. You got any idea how much BMW charge for coolant Dan? Also, how much will I need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimzimmer46 Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 If its only a bit (half ltr) tap water would be fine. I use halfolds advanced(RED)stuff......never had any problems gaz. Temp always bang on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 Check rad, thermostat housing, water pump, expansion tank and pipe work signs of leaks (usually i white coloured resedue). A good rule of thumb is that these should ell be renewed every 5 years as preventative maintenance. (Cheaper than a new cylinder head/whole engine if you don't notice your temp gauge fly up whilst driving along I suppose). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zimzimmer46 Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 how much will I need? Cant remember really....i should tho done loads of coolant changes on me car lol.....off the top of my head...4lrt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted June 9, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 Does this look like a good guide to people? Any issues anyone can see with any of it? http://www.impee.co.uk/radiator_flush.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted June 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Just bumping this because I'll be doing it in the morning. Does the guide above look ok to everyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimja Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Just FYI, my coolant stick was showing I needed to add some. I bought a litre bottle from BMW, mixed some of it up with water expecting it to need a shed load. It took about a mouthful. I get the impression you fancy doing a full coolant change anyway Gaz but you may just want to pour a bit of water in to see if it needs as little as mine did. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autosri Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 when i changed my thermostat i bought a bottle of bmw coolant it wasnt expensive at all i think it comes in a litre bottle its concentrate though so needs diluting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Individual 330ci Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 I've topped mine up a few times, I bought some halfords ready mixed stuff and it's been fine, no temp issues but that guide looks fine as far as I can see! I think I'm going to do mine after looking at it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJ Syxx Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Just FYI, my coolant stick was showing I needed to add some. I bought a litre bottle from BMW, mixed some of it up with water expecting it to need a shed load. It took about a mouthful. I get the impression you fancy doing a full coolant change anyway Gaz but you may just want to pour a bit of water in to see if it needs as little as mine did. This.... If the level is low on the stick you will be suprised it doesn't need much topping up to get to max so I would do this first Gaz. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And617y Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 This.... If the level is low on the stick you will be suprised it doesn't need much topping up to get to max so I would do this first Gaz. +1 try this 1st what DJ mentioned Gaz. Anyway i recently got some coolant was £7.62 1.5 litre bottles.. put new top rad hose on at the same time as well as new expansion tank, bmw blue 50/50, they are a buggy to do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted June 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Yes fairly dead set on a coolant change now anyway. Last time it was done was in 2007 and it only really lasts 4 years anyway from what I can see. This lot only came to £30 It's 4.5 litres of coolant. I'll do a 50/50 mix with distilled water (if I can bloody find any!) so doubt I'll get through all of them. I'm going to be following this guide as well, just hoping a vital part isn't missing http://www.impee.co.uk/radiator_flush.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frobius Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 It's actually pretty surprising how comparatively cheap BMW charge for their consumables, especially compared with the equivalent spec stuff in halfords or wherever. Their screenwash goes lower than anything halfords sell and is a quid cheaper per litre. The BMW/Castrol longlife 04 oil is also a couple of quid cheaper than the BMW recommended stuff from halfords. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
And617y Posted June 10, 2011 Report Share Posted June 10, 2011 Thats good Gaz let us know how you get on with it... ps what i can remember i think its 7 ish litre coolant 50/50 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimja Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 I've topped mine up a few times, I bought some halfords ready mixed stuff and it's been fine, no temp issues but that guide looks fine as far as I can see! I think I'm going to do mine after looking at it! Course you wouldn't have temp issues. Using tap water would prevent temp issues. The problem with cheap coolant is what it's doing to the internals of the cooling system. Preventing limescale build up and other potential clogging problems. Reducing or increasing the life of all the parts etc. Preventing freezing of the cooling system in sub zero temps. As above, be careful of mixing coolants too. If they react together they could cause a whole world of hurt no doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted June 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 I asked the guy at BMW if they sold distilled water and he said "just use tap water". I don't think I'll be using tap water, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Individual 330ci Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 Course you wouldn't have temp issues. Using tap water would prevent temp issues. The problem with cheap coolant is what it's doing to the internals of the cooling system. Preventing limescale build up and other potential clogging problems. Reducing or increasing the life of all the parts etc. Preventing freezing of the cooling system in sub zero temps. As above, be careful of mixing coolants too. If they react together they could cause a whole world of hurt no doubt. I wasn't saying that generally topping it up has prevented temp issues, as you say tap water would be fine. The point I was making was that I have topped up with halfords ready mixed stuff on a few occasions and have had no problems with mixing/ clogging up etc..... If the coolants had mixed together and caused blockages Im sure I would potentially have had temp issues! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrimja Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 I asked the guy at BMW if they sold distilled water and he said "just use tap water". I don't think I'll be using tap water, Part of the point of coolant is it has chemicals in it to stop tap water being an issue Gaz. It'll have tap water in it now if it was last done at BMW as that's what they use (I checked) I wasn't saying that generally topping it up has prevented temp issues, as you say tap water would be fine. The point I was making was that I have topped up with halfords ready mixed stuff on a few occasions and have had no problems with mixing/ clogging up etc..... If the coolants had mixed together and caused blockages Im sure I would potentially have had temp issues! I'm surprised my post was so legible, I was totally smashed and apparently slightly passive aggressive by the looks of it lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 I used Toyota (work for them) Super long life. Intervals for it are 100k / 10 years. We do lower spec 3 year stuff aswell. Tap water is fine, I've never seen a main dealer or private garage use distilled. Though it wouldn't hurt. Water has a lower boiling point than coolant though, and a lower freezing point. So more likely to run hot / freeze. Also has no corrosion inhibitors, so will definitely do damage (if not mixed with coolant) over extended periods of time. As for mixing coolants, most ethylene glycol based can be intermixed if needed. They generally won't recommend it, but it will mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autosri Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 Mine has tap water in it no problems here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frobius Posted June 11, 2011 Report Share Posted June 11, 2011 I assume when BMW replaced the stat on my car they'd have redone the coolant too. Who knows though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
