BMW Coolant.

[rosakirk12]

Does BMW coolant stay blue or does it become greenish after being in the cooling system?


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[Timm]

It stays blue!

[rosakirk12]

Thought so.


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[TxGR8White]

The only thing green about using BMW coolant is the extra cash you will be spending for it...

[petejk]

The only thing green about using BMW coolant is the extra cash you will be spending for it...

I swear I read elsewhere on this forums that the $$$ BMW coolant was recommended. I guess I spent more than I needed to on the 'good' stuff. Good to know that I can save cash on my next coolant flush.

[Timm]

Why use anything other than BMW coolant? It has the correct plasticisers, corrosion inhibitors, lubricants and preservatives for our engines - and it costs a tenner for 1.5 Litres (part number 81229407454). It really isn't worth a punt just to have the plastic bits disintegrate and the water pump to seize up!

[petejk]

So BMW coolant is recommended for a reason for our cars? If so I'll keep with it. Thanks Timm

[TxGR8White]

I have been running PRESTONE 50/50 in my 850Ci for the past 125,000+ Miles and have had ZERO issues. I did replace a radiator due to FOD from the highway, but am still on the same expansion tank and second water pump (bearing gave out on that one).

Advantages:
1. Available EVERYWHERE
2. costs 1/3 that of the BMW coolant (no BMW “surcharge” for branding)
3. It glows in the dark

The important thing is to make sure you do preventive maintenance (which most owners do not do), and flush the system in intervals as described in the manual (drained and refilled every two years). The manual also states that you should use “antifreeze concentration of at least 50%, no where does it specifically state to use the blue stuff.

[masbury]

Somewhere in all my wanderings, I ran into a post that made an excellent case for Zerex Z06 as it was (theoretically) the same chemically as BMW Blue, but YMMV. Been using it in ALL the cars except the truck and Dart and no problems.

[toufeili]

I don't see the problem with the BMW coolant. It costs twice as much as the others, AND it comes concentrated so you'll have to dilute it and end up with twice the amount as the others.

So at the end it costs the same as everything else, and the brilliant engineers already did the job for us so why mess with it.

[CD05001CIA]

The only thing green about using BMW coolant is the extra cash you will be spending for it...

Well I guess that depends how much you value your dog. The BMW blue stuff has a bittering agent in it, so that if it blows out and drips in your garage and your dog goes in there, the dog won't lick it up and die of kidney failure.
Now you know.

[TedBobo]

Well I guess that depends how much you value your dog. The BMW blue stuff has a bittering agent in it, so that if it blows out and drips in your garage and your dog goes in there, the dog won't lick it up and die of kidney failure. Now you know.

Interesting!

[TxGR8White]

Well I guess that depends how much you value your dog. The BMW blue stuff has a bittering agent in it, so that if it blows out and drips in your garage and your dog goes in there, the dog won't lick it up and die of kidney failure.
Now you know.

my dogs have no way of getting into the garage, as they lack opposable thumbs with which to open the door. Also, have never had any of my vehicles leak coolant in the garage...

[bdiefAZ]

Whatever you do, don't mix coolants, they do not mix well and can cause issues. If you change coolant types, drain the block and radiator, then flush.

My 850 came with green, has had green without issues, but will be flushed out for blue when changing it next. All the other cars in the house have BMW blue and its simpler to keep one type on hand.

[CaifanSC]

Whatever you do, don't mix coolants, they do not mix well and can cause issues. If you change coolant types, drain the block and radiator, then flush.

My 850 came with green, has had green without issues, but will be flushed out for blue when changing it next. All the other cars in the house have BMW blue and its simpler to keep one type on hand.

What Brian said. 850 came and is kept with green coolant. CSi came and is kept with oem BMW coolant. Neither has had out-of-the-ordinary repairs done. Just the normal wear and tear (expansion tank on 850, cracking radiator plastics on CSi).