- Hood is open. The hood release on your BMW 3-Series can be found underneath the dashboard. When you hear the BMW hood pop open, pull the lever. The hood safety latch at the front of your 3-Series needs to be released next.
- The hood should be raised and locked open.
- the Coolant Reservoir’s location. The BMW’s coolant reservoir (tank) can then be found. Here, you may check the coolant level and top it out if necessary. The coolant expansion tank is found on the driver’s side of the engine in a 3-Series. Slowly remove the cover. Only after the engine has cooled should you open the cap.
- Remove cap to check the coolant level in a BMW 3-Series. Observe the low and high levels in the coolant reservoir tank. You must replenish coolant if the level falls below the minimal level, or your 3-Series risked overheating. The floating gadget is used by the BMW 3-series to gauge the coolant level.
- Add antifreeze and engine coolant. Use only the BMW-recommended coolant type.
In This Article...
Phantom E36
Car is cold: Fill reservoir to full line, drive for a minute to circulate the coolant, and keep adding fluid to maintain fill line. System bleeding You can now open the reservoir whenever you need to replenish coolant, as long as you don’t allow it become entirely empty.
You’re either letting it become entirely empty and let air in, or you’ve never fully bled it in the first place if you need to bleed it every time you fill coolant.
My BMW 325i needs coolant; how do I add it?
- Locate and clean the coolant reservoir by going to the reservoir.
- Check Level: Check the level of the coolant.
- Add Coolant: Select the right kind of fluid and add it appropriately.
- Replace the cap on the coolant reservoir and tighten it.
My BMW has no coolant, can I add some?
You can purchase antifreeze that is full strength and needs to be diluted with distilled water before being applied to the engine system, or you can purchase ready-made combinations of coolant that already have water added.
What sort of coolant is suitable for my BMW?
For BMW vehicles, the ZEREX G-48 coolant is perfect. The coolant, which is made for both diesel and gasoline engines, contains low-silicate, pH, anti-phosphate technology that guards against corrosion in all metals, including aluminum.
It is diluted at a 1:1 ratio to protect the modern engine’s components from freezing in the winter and boiling over in the summer. Additionally, the combination is prepared in 5:7 ratios for maximum protection. It also includes a high-quality defoamer system and contains less silicon than the vehicle’s mandated 250 parts per million.
Do BMWs require specialized coolant?
In addition to controlling engine temperatures, the quality of your BMW coolant is essential for lubricating the water pump, guarding against corrosion and buildup, providing anti-freeze during the winter, and, in some models, assisting in cooling for engine and gearbox oil coolers. Not just any antifreeze will do; BMWs have special coolant needs (nitrite and phosphate free) to prevent build-up and corrosion of metal components. Along with BMW coolant, we also sell coolant additives like Red Line Water Wetter, which lower combustion chamber temperatures and elevate boiling points in order to prevent detonation and banging.
Is the BMW coolant blended already?
BMW coolant is not pre-mixed when purchased. Simply purchase a gallon of coolant and a gallon of distilled water, then prepare the mixture as necessary. I would simply add a cup of distilled water if it only requires, say, a cup of coolant or water.
Can I use water in my BMW instead of coolant?
Your radiator system becomes more contaminated when you use water. Although using water instead of low coolant is significantly better for the engine, you should switch the water out as soon as you can for the proper coolant for your car.
Any remaining coolant in the radiator is diluted when water is added to it. Preventing corrosion, raising the boiling point of water, and reducing the freezing point of water are just a few of the crucial jobs that coolant does. While using water in place of the coolant will allow you to drive the automobile for a brief period of time, your engine won’t be adequately protected.
This means that the radiator needs to be filled with a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water as soon as the issue that led to a low coolant level is resolved.
How much does a BMW coolant fill cost?
A BMW 328i coolant change typically costs between $276 and $315. While materials are priced at $124, labor costs are projected to range from $151 to $191.
Why does BMW have two tanks for coolant?
Low refers to the charge air (water cooled intercooler) system, whereas High refers to the engine cooling system. Your engine’s coolant system has to be topped out. The center-mounted one marked “low” is not equipped with a sensor to alert you when it is low.
Why does my BMW’s coolant gauge show low when it is full?
If the low coolant indicator on your dashboard illuminates, your car may be having one of the following problems:
- The most frequent reason for the coolant light on your car to come on is that the coolant is low. While it’s possible that the car is just short on coolant, it’s more likely that it has another problem that’s causing it to gradually lose coolant over time. You should have your car checked out and serviced if this is the case.
- Faulty Sensor: Your vehicle needs a sensor that measures the amount of coolant in its engine in order to know when the coolant level is low. When the coolant level drops too low, a floating sensor in the coolant reservoir of the majority of automobiles activates, putting on the warning light.
Your vehicle’s coolant sensor may be broken if you check your coolant reservoir and it looks to be full but your low coolant signal is on. The majority of auto repair businesses are able to identify and replace faulty sensors.
Why is blue coolant used by BMW?
To maintain your cooling system operating at its peak, use only German OEM engine antifreeze, component number 82141467704. (82 14 1 467 704). Because they don’t include nitrites, amines, phosphates, or borates, BMW exclusively suggests specific coolants. BMW cooling systems typically do not work with off-the-shelf coolant from a neighborhood parts store, and mixing various coolant formulas is not advised (in a pinch you should use distilled water).
The well-known blue coolant, which has been in use since the 1990s, is only permitted for vehicles with model years up to 2018. Internally, it is referred to as the G48 formula and is exclusive to BMW/MINI vehicles. In comparison to other forms of coolant, the blue coolant formula is a hybrid that extends coolant service life and is less harmful to the environment. On vehicles manufactured in 2018 and later, BMW replaced it with a new formulation that contains silicate and offers superior immediate corrosion protection. BMW does not advise using the older blue formula for vehicles created after January 2018.
For increased corrosion resistance, anti-freeze defense, and water pump lubrication in street cars, we advise combining distilled water in a 1:1 ratio with the mixture. Reduce the amount of antifreeze in your coolant mixture if you want more cooling properties, but only in warmer climates where freezing is impossible (see chart below). We advise monitoring the freezing point of the coolant mixture if you want to use antifreeze and water ratios other than 1:1.
Red Line Water Wetter can also be added if high temperatures could lead to engine banging or pre-ignition.
- BMW # 82141467704, genuine German OEM antifreeze
- optimum cooling, freeze prevention, lubrication of the water pump, and corrosion resistance
Is BMW coolant leakage typical?
Your BMW might have one problem. Several issues, including a damaged radiator, a poor head gasket, or a frail radiator cap, might cause coolant leakage. You should contact a specialist as soon as you notice a coolant leak as this could cause very serious issues for your engine.
When your low coolant light illuminates, what should you do?
When the coolant temperature or level warning light is on, your automobile will still be able to be driven. However, if your car’s engine is overheating, you run the risk of seriously damaging it. The best thing to do if the coolant level warning light illuminates while you are driving is to stop as soon as you can in a secure location. Then, wait at least 30 minutes for the engine to cool down before attempting to approach it. This is due to the fact that the engine will be extremely hot by this time, and removing the radiator cap could result in a burn if the coolant begins to boil.
Check the overall coolant fluid level once the engine has had time to cool. To temporarily make it safer to take the automobile to a mechanic and have it inspected, you can add some water. The coolant reservoir can also be filled with a 50/50 solution of water and antifreeze to help cool the engine while you drive to a shop to have the issue professionally assessed.
Can I replace coolant on my own?
Step back as the pressure releases, then slightly loosen the reservoir cover. The cap should then be fully removed. Add the proper coolant to the reservoir if the coolant level is low (not the radiator itself). Use diluted coolant alone or combine concentrated coolant and distilled water 50/50.
Can I operate a vehicle with little coolant?
Electric cars, hybrid cars, diesel engines, and gasoline engines all inherently produce heat. Some of this heat is directed into the interior of your automobile when you turn on the heater for comfort. However, there are other ways to control the majority of the heat.
Your car relies on a liquid known as antifreeze, sometimes known as engine coolant, to guarantee that the engine maintains an ideal working temperature. Driving with insufficient coolant could cause your engine to overheat, which is usually bad for your engine, your car, and your trip!
Are antifreeze and coolant the same thing?
Antifreeze, commonly referred to as engine coolant, is combined with water to prevent the radiator from freezing in extremely cold weather and overheating in extremely hot weather. Knowing which coolant type is best for your automobile or truck is crucial because there are numerous varieties available.
How long can you keep your coolant low?
How long can an engine run without coolant? is a question we hear a lot. Maybe answering this issue will be simpler now that you are aware of how crucial radiator coolant is. It is dangerous to drive a car with low or no engine coolant since it could harm some of the engine’s secondary and even primary components. It is preferable to stop if there is insufficient coolant in the vehicle. Even a brief drive in such a vehicle is not recommended because it could seriously harm the engine of your vehicle and incur expensive repairs.
Many new and modern automobile brands have a cut-off feature that checks the engine temperature and detects a lack of coolant. This detection feature turns off the car engine to guard against potential engine damage if there is a shortage of coolant in the cooling system of the car and, as a result, a perception of a significant increase in engine temperature.
However, if you drive an older vehicle, you must be aware of the symptoms of a coolant shortage to save your engines from overheating, seizing, or bursting a gasket. The following is a list of some of the most frequent cooling system parts that sustain the most harm when the cooling system overheats and runs out of coolant:
- water meter
- head seals
- engine timing for the cylinders and pistons
- piston head
- twisted or warped connection rods
- Lack of a crank
Repairing or replacing these parts is quite pricey. Therefore, try to avoid allowing your car’s cooling system to overheat due to a shortage of coolant.
How far can a car be driven without coolant, then? You can continue driving for a while if your car’s coolant level is low. Really, it depends on the coolant level. You can drive your car for a few days if it is low but still higher than the required amount. However, if the level is below the minimum, kindly do not even attempt to start your engine.