Topping up engine coolant

Londonboy · 04-06-2019, 12:08 PM

If when using BMW engine coolant, do I need to mix it with distilled water or is it OK to add it pure?

Chappers 71 · 04-06-2019, 12:31 PM

50/50 mix with de ionised water is what's recommend

mjn77 · 04-06-2019, 03:35 PM

You can use tap water according to a BMW dealer i spoke to in Germany. He looked at me funny when i asked if i need to use any water in particular. “Regular tap water is ok” in his best German English accent.

Chappers 71 · 04-06-2019, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjn77

You can use tap water according to a BMW dealer i spoke to in Germany. He looked at me funny when i asked if i need to use any water in particular. “Regular tap water is ok” in his best German English accent.

Yeah, bmw coolant bottles do indeed show a picture of a tap along with the ratio of 1/1.
I just use de-ionised as British tap water has a lot of additives in it, I do use tap water in the Navara though.

rasa bmw · 04-07-2019, 02:12 AM

as above..should really used de ionised,,but every garage)indy) ive evr used just use good old council pop(water)..

therealdb1 · 04-07-2019, 11:23 AM

Depends whereabouts you live.
In soft water areas it may be ok but in London and where I live now the tap water is full of chalk and chlorine.
Take a look at your kettle. If it furrs up with limescale in a week would you want that inside your Beemer motor?
I don't think you need de-ionised water though. Distilled will be fine or the water that normally gets tipped away from an air-con unit is good.

rasa bmw · 04-07-2019, 02:35 PM

hardest water where i live..tattoos and hob nail boots ha ha

Londonboy · 04-08-2019, 12:11 PM

Thanks guys.

I might not even need to top up now, the warning light went away after I restarted the car.

I checked the level aswell and it's on max.

But there is another coolant container on the right hand side which doesn't have a measurement gauge?!

rasa bmw · 04-09-2019, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Londonboy

Thanks guys.

I might not even need to top up now, the warning light went away after I restarted the car.

I checked the level aswell and it's on max.

But there is another coolant container on the right hand side which doesn't have a measurement gauge?!

you mean the screen wash bottle?

OliSharp · 04-09-2019, 04:14 PM

power steering fluid reservoir?

rasa bmw · 04-09-2019, 11:56 PM

and when you say right hand side,,you mean when sitting in car?coz that would be screenwash,,and other side power steering bottle

therealdb1 · 04-10-2019, 03:23 AM

Doesn't really matter you wouldn't want engine coolant in either of those!

rasa bmw · 04-11-2019, 12:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by therealdb1

Doesn't really matter you wouldn't want engine coolant in either of those!

yeh,,but id rather have coolant in the washer bottle rather than the PS bottle ha ha

therealdb1 · 04-11-2019, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rasa bmw

yeh,,but id rather have coolant in the washer bottle rather than the PS bottle ha ha

Both will be an expensive mistake!

Trash the power steering or strip the paintwork wherever the antifreeze screenwash goes.

Londonboy · 04-11-2019, 05:30 AM

I'm definitely not referring to the screen wash.

There are two tanks for the engine coolant. One is for the "charge air" tank I believe.

lloydie · 04-16-2019, 03:20 AM

The secondary coolant tank is for the chargecooler on your car, all E90/1/2/3 use intercoolers so you might be in the wrong section...
Anyhow both reservoirs on your car take the same coolant, and both can produce low coolant alarms.

04-06-2019, 12:08 PM	#1
Londonboy Private First Class 18 Rep 137 Posts Drives: M6 Gran Coupe Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Topping up engine coolant If when using BMW engine coolant, do I need to mix it with distilled water or is it OK to add it pure?
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04-06-2019, 12:31 PM	#2
Chappers 71 Major General 5480 Rep 5,427 Posts Drives: Beige G31 40ix m sport Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Kent, The Garden of England iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 G31 xdrive 40i ... [4.00] 2006 E92 335i SE [9.50]	50/50 mix with de ionised water is what's recommend __________________ G31 40ix M Sport E92 335i. E36 328is coupe E39 540i V8 6SP manual E34 3.6 M5. E34 525i sport. VW Jetta Mk2 GTI 16v. 1679cc 1967 resto-cal beetle
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04-06-2019, 03:35 PM	#3
mjn77 Lieutenant Colonel 1073 Rep 1,956 Posts Drives: E90 M3 LCI Jerez Black Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Herts, UK iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	You can use tap water according to a BMW dealer i spoke to in Germany. He looked at me funny when i asked if i need to use any water in particular. “Regular tap water is ok” in his best German English accent.
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04-07-2019, 02:12 AM	#5
rasa bmw Colonel 243 Rep 2,026 Posts Drives: 640d sport/f31 330d x drive Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: northumberland iTrader: (0)	as above..should really used de ionised,,but every garage)indy) ive evr used just use good old council pop(water)..
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04-07-2019, 11:23 AM	#6
therealdb1 Lieutenant 106 Rep 576 Posts Drives: Graphite E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Norfolk UK iTrader: (0)	Depends whereabouts you live. In soft water areas it may be ok but in London and where I live now the tap water is full of chalk and chlorine. Take a look at your kettle. If it furrs up with limescale in a week would you want that inside your Beemer motor? I don't think you need de-ionised water though. Distilled will be fine or the water that normally gets tipped away from an air-con unit is good.
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04-07-2019, 02:35 PM	#7
rasa bmw Colonel 243 Rep 2,026 Posts Drives: 640d sport/f31 330d x drive Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: northumberland iTrader: (0)	hardest water where i live..tattoos and hob nail boots ha ha
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04-08-2019, 12:11 PM	#8
Londonboy Private First Class 18 Rep 137 Posts Drives: M6 Gran Coupe Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys. I might not even need to top up now, the warning light went away after I restarted the car. I checked the level aswell and it's on max. But there is another coolant container on the right hand side which doesn't have a measurement gauge?!
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04-09-2019, 04:14 PM	#10
OliSharp Private 9 Rep 61 Posts Drives: E93 330i Highline MSport Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: SW London iTrader: (0)	power steering fluid reservoir?
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04-09-2019, 11:56 PM	#11
rasa bmw Colonel 243 Rep 2,026 Posts Drives: 640d sport/f31 330d x drive Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: northumberland iTrader: (0)	and when you say right hand side,,you mean when sitting in car?coz that would be screenwash,,and other side power steering bottle
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04-10-2019, 03:23 AM	#12
therealdb1 Lieutenant 106 Rep 576 Posts Drives: Graphite E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Norfolk UK iTrader: (0)	Doesn't really matter you wouldn't want engine coolant in either of those!
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04-11-2019, 05:30 AM	#15
Londonboy Private First Class 18 Rep 137 Posts Drives: M6 Gran Coupe Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I'm definitely not referring to the screen wash. There are two tanks for the engine coolant. One is for the "charge air" tank I believe.
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04-16-2019, 03:20 AM	#16
lloydie Private 12 Rep 56 Posts Drives: E92 335D Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	The secondary coolant tank is for the chargecooler on your car, all E90/1/2/3 use intercoolers so you might be in the wrong section... Anyhow both reservoirs on your car take the same coolant, and both can produce low coolant alarms. Last edited by lloydie; 04-16-2019 at 03:29 AM..
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