Recently discovered I'm low on coolant and I don't have any of the official blue BMW 82141467704 coolant around. Can some tell me what's the recommended coolant alternative that I can find at an Autozone or O'Reilly's?
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
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You buy the prestone recommended for bmw stuff. It's blue as well.
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Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Any of these are perfectly safe and made using the same type of formula as the oem bmw coolant.
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Thanks @seagreen323i .
Is there a recommended brand of coolant expansion tank for my E39 530i, or do I go with a BMW tank again and cross my fingers?
Last edited by LuckyBill; 04-14-2024 at 03:25 PM.
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Well, I found the BMW coolant on Amazon, and a BMW expansion tank kit on FCPEuro, and since they both arrive on Tuesday I'll do the work myself then.
Downside is I miss a party Monday night.
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Nate J.
(oOO\ (|||)º(|||) /OOo)
Titanium Silver/Black Nappa Full 07-18-2001 E39 M5 Heritage (BZ99672). 198,000mi+. Increasing daily. Engine rebuild thread.
(eŌō\ (||||)º(||||) / ōŌe)
Alpineweiss III/Black Merino Full 03-26-2007 E60 M5 Manual (CX08265). 157,000+. Dead starter -_-
RIP, Seabiscuit. Black Sapphire/Schwarz 03-11-2003 530iA Sport (CK39185). T-boned 03-01-2017 at 155,861mi.
Take 2 "Otto" - Toledo Blue/Sandbeige 04-25-2002 530iA Sport (CH98032). Sold 11-10-2017 at 147,743mi.
Take 3 "Manuel" - Toledo Blue/Grau 10-29-2001 530i5 Sport (CE92358). Sold 02-01-2019 at 217,600mi. I regret that. Build Log
Reliable P.O.S. - Green/gray 1995 Camry V6 LE. 270k mi. Sold for space.
Okay so I got the coolant expansion tank kit from FCP Euro today. I started the procedure to replace the tank and on my 530i removed the expansion tank cap. But when I removed the expansion tank bleeder screw, I heard some gurgling from the expansion tank. After a few seconds the red level float bobbed up and it looks like I have a full expansion tank!
850 miles ago I had my mechanic install a Stewart water pump and flush/fill the coolant. After the new pump with the engine cold the float would go straight to the top and the fluid was at the very top (which I thought was correct?). Now the coolant is about 2.5 inches below the bottom of the cap while the red float is pinned at the top - I never got a low coolant warning. So I'm guessing that the fluid I felt at the bottom of the expansion tank wasn't a leak, but maybe an overflow from the 2.0 bar cap?
I should note that I noticed the coolant leaking on Friday when I had the car idling for about 10 minutes while waiting for the state emissions inspection (I passed). I didn't pop that hood to check (I know, dumb of me). My plan is to not replace the tank yet, and just bleed the system (my first time!). Looking for opinions/advice.
Last edited by LuckyBill; 04-16-2024 at 04:01 PM.
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Yes, I'd think that's true. That tank was massively overfilled. The red float is supposed to be LEVEL with the top of the cap. Not over it.
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Removed the thermostat bleeder screw. Turned the key to position 2, engine off. Coolant kept spewing from the thermostat bleeder screw until I turned the key off. WTF?
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Possibly aux water pump running? I'm not sure about the operating parameters on that.
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I've never bled the coolant before and I thought the system is supposed to be bled with the aux water pump running?
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Correct, could just be the aux pump pushing coolant out of the bleeder port, indicating to me that the system is full.
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I followed the procedure from this post: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...0#post29535150
1. Removed coolant tank cap, bleed screws closed.
2. Filled tank to brim.
3. Key in Pos2, engine OFF. ATC set to 90°F with fan on lowest setting
4. Watched the bubbling in the tank, level fell about 2 inches.
5. Slowly opened thermostat bleed screw until some coolant came squirting out, closed screw.
6. Repeat 5 for tank bleeder screw.
7. Checked tank level, good.
After the last unsuccessful bleed I heard squishy sounds on key off, which according to google meant the electric pump was pushing water and air through the system. After this, no squishy sounds.
When finished the car took half a gallon of 50/50 mixture.
Last edited by LuckyBill; Yesterday at 05:58 PM. Reason: speling
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
Perfect, sounds like you've solve the issue!
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Went for a drive, Bimmer stayed at 98°F, never went above 99°F. I'll let it cool then check the level again.
Present car: 2003 BMW 530iA M-Sport, Premium Package, 160K+ miles, Darth Vader Black. Conti ExtremeContact Sport 02 tires, Dinan ignition coils
Previous car: Original Owner 1989 Ford Taurus SHO 317K miles (totaled 2017 by a SUV texting & driving)
Don't Text & Drive
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