Radiator Flush Solution

Wosby · 08-23-2010, 11:12 AM

Is there a recommended "Radiator Flush Solution" to use with our precious BWW's? Or will running the car with distilled water for a while dissolve any of the mineral build up in the cooling system, before refilling it with my 50/50 coolant mixture?

F32Fleet · 08-23-2010, 11:29 AM

Flush not required, as there should be no build up. Last time I heard of anyone running a flush was back in the early 1990's.

scottp999 · 08-23-2010, 11:58 AM

How did you drain the fluid? I saw in the bentley manual you need to drop the intercooler to get to the radiator drain?

Wosby · 08-23-2010, 03:06 PM

Haven't done a flush since the 90's. With back to back leasing and many life changes, haven't owned a car long enough to warrant a flush. With the BMW coolant and distilled water, you're saying no flush solution is required?

F32Fleet · 08-23-2010, 04:13 PM

IIRC the fluid is lifetime, and taking that into acount along with your car being ~2 yrs old I would think flushing would be unnecessary.

dragazn · 08-25-2010, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

IIRC the fluid is lifetime, and taking that into acount along with your car being ~2 yrs old I would think flushing would be unnecessary.

If that lifetime words you are refering to from the stealership then its not a lifetime. BMW use the word life time as meant to only up to 100k.

F32Fleet · 08-26-2010, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragazn

If that lifetime words you are refering to from the stealership then its not a lifetime. BMW use the word life time as meant to only up to 100k.

Yep.

GMWNashville · 08-28-2010, 07:03 AM

being that everything in your engine is either aluminum or plastic except for the 335 in which your center section of your turbo is steel..you really SHOULDNT have a buildup issue...that being said a simple drain and refill will be all you need to do a coolant "flush"

vintage.02 · 09-07-2010, 09:56 PM

bmw used to recommend coolant change every 4 years. now they say its lifetime. if you are going to do it drain the radiator and the block. they are both a pain to get at.

Chriztofor · 09-10-2010, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Socom

Flush not required, as there should be no build up. Last time I heard of anyone running a flush was back in the early 1990's.

+1 also you would need to flush if you used tap water and there was a build-up of mineral deposits.

08-23-2010, 11:12 AM	#1
Wosby Lieutenant 23 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 20 G05 40i - Searching Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Poole iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 E90 335i [0.00]	Radiator Flush Solution Is there a recommended "Radiator Flush Solution" to use with our precious BWW's? Or will running the car with distilled water for a while dissolve any of the mineral build up in the cooling system, before refilling it with my 50/50 coolant mixture? __________________ 08 E92 335i - Pictured Below - Sold 07 E90 335i - European Delivery - Sold 01 E46 330i - Sold 91 E30 325iX - Stolen
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08-23-2010, 11:29 AM	#2
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3567 Rep 10,346 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	Flush not required, as there should be no build up. Last time I heard of anyone running a flush was back in the early 1990's.
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08-23-2010, 11:58 AM	#3
scottp999 Brigadier General 133 Rep 4,764 Posts Drives: 4runner SR5 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: MD iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 BMW 335 [9.00]	How did you drain the fluid? I saw in the bentley manual you need to drop the intercooler to get to the radiator drain?
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08-23-2010, 03:06 PM	#4
Wosby Lieutenant 23 Rep 403 Posts Drives: 20 G05 40i - Searching Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Poole iTrader: (2) Garage List 2007 E90 335i [0.00]	Haven't done a flush since the 90's. With back to back leasing and many life changes, haven't owned a car long enough to warrant a flush. With the BMW coolant and distilled water, you're saying no flush solution is required? __________________ 08 E92 335i - Pictured Below - Sold 07 E90 335i - European Delivery - Sold 01 E46 330i - Sold 91 E30 325iX - Stolen
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08-23-2010, 04:13 PM	#5
F32Fleet Lieutenant General 3567 Rep 10,346 Posts Drives: 2015 435i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Southeastern US iTrader: (0)	IIRC the fluid is lifetime, and taking that into acount along with your car being ~2 yrs old I would think flushing would be unnecessary.
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08-28-2010, 07:03 AM	#8
GMWNashville Colonel 172 Rep 2,373 Posts Drives: 19 G05, 16 F80, 10 E70x5D Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Nashville, TN iTrader: (2)	being that everything in your engine is either aluminum or plastic except for the 335 in which your center section of your turbo is steel..you really SHOULDNT have a buildup issue...that being said a simple drain and refill will be all you need to do a coolant "flush"
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09-07-2010, 09:56 PM	#9
vintage.02 New Member 0 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: ct iTrader: (0)	bmw used to recommend coolant change every 4 years. now they say its lifetime. if you are going to do it drain the radiator and the block. they are both a pain to get at.
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