Which coolant to use? (BMW)

hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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Good people, my coolant light came on just now.

Checked the coolant tank. And it seems to be dry....

2007 BMW 2.0.

Do I need to go to BMW and be charged what I presume will be an exorbitant amount for their BMW coolant, or can I use R70 coolant from Game?

I've Googled to no avail... People seem to be leaning towards the BMW variety from what I can tell...

Thanking you kindly :)
 
P

PostmanPot

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hj2k_x said:
Good people, my coolant light came on just now.

Checked the coolant tank. And it seems to be dry....

2007 BMW 2.0.

Do I need to go to BMW and be charged what I presume will be an exorbitant amount for their BMW coolant, or can I use R70 coolant from Game?

I've Googled to no avail... People seem to be leaning towards the BMW variety from what I can tell...

Thanking you kindly :)
Click to expand...

You should go to a BMW specialist ASAP. Coolant should never dry out, there's a leak in your system somewhere. Hopefully a pipe or something minor, and not your head gasket etc. which can lead to engine damage.

Any coolant from Midas/Game should be fine. Keep a bottle of water in your car...
 
hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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PostmanPot said:
You should go to a BMW specialist ASAP. Coolant should never dry out, there's a leak in your system somewhere. Hopefully a pipe or something minor, and not your head gasket etc.
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Crisis. That's not what I wanted to hear :(
 
hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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PostmanPot said:
Don't worry yet, they'll do a compression test and probably find it's something cheap to replace. Don't go to BMW.
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Ya. Not keen to go to BMW if I can avoid it. Don't trust anything they'll tell me.
 
Rickster

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hj2k_x said:
Good people, my coolant light came on just now.

Checked the coolant tank. And it seems to be dry....

2007 BMW 2.0.

Do I need to go to BMW and be charged what I presume will be an exorbitant amount for their BMW coolant, or can I use R70 coolant from Game?

I've Googled to no avail... People seem to be leaning towards the BMW variety from what I can tell...

Thanking you kindly :)
Click to expand...

What pot said, but on a side note, whatever colour it is, just top it up with the same colour, Red, blue or green.
 
hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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Rickster said:
What pot said, but on a side note, whatever colour it is, just top it up with the same colour, Red, blue or green.
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I've added some normal water for now. Topped it up to the appropriate level. Maybe it wasn't as empty as it appeared. It took maybe 200ml to fill it up.
 
hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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dj_jyno said:
That is some of the worst advice ever. Unless you know which coolant is in the system at the moment and replace it with the same.
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The googling I did suggested that the different kinds and colours are quite similar?
 
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PostmanPot

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hj2k_x said:
I think it might just have been the spout which was dry.

I get that it's a closed system and shouldn't leak at all though. A bit like oil?
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Oil gets used up, some cars slower than others. People put in pints fairly regularly.
 
hj2k_x

hj2k_x

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dj_jyno said:
Reserve that saying for the OP when his cooling system sludges up because he mixed coolants. Topping up with water is better in this case.
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For now I'll see if it stays at the same level after a few days.

The low coolant light came on. And then went off again. (before I'd added the water). Ie it wasn't on constantly.
 
F

froot

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hj2k_x said:
Good people, my coolant light came on just now.

Checked the coolant tank. And it seems to be dry....

2007 BMW 2.0.

Do I need to go to BMW and be charged what I presume will be an exorbitant amount for their BMW coolant, or can I use R70 coolant from Game?

I've Googled to no avail... People seem to be leaning towards the BMW variety from what I can tell...

Thanking you kindly :)
Click to expand...

I bought a bottle at BMW for like R70.
 
falcon786

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froot said:
I bought a bottle at BMW for like R70.
Click to expand...

Exactly and coolant is one thing you don't want a substitute for BMW's you should use water for now and then top up with the original coolant from BMW as soon as possible. But yes you might have a small leak which is common with petrol 4 cylinder BMW's unfortunately... Had the same issue on my 2004 318i a few years back had to replace a few pipes which you can get OEM from goldwagen.
 
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