Correct Anti-Freeze/Coolant Spec Question...

[Cheerio]

Hi all, I have just wasted an hour (and I really mean a full 60mins) in trying to find out the correct BMW spec anti-freeze which I'm looking to replace in my 2001 Z3 2.2.

My car handbook conveniently has the spec missing, the ECP website is confusing, Halfords was better but not 100% and I've tried searching the forum with no luck.

If anyone has replaced their coolant/anti-freeze lately, I would be really grateful if you could please tell me which one I should be purchasing? Colour/spec/brand name would be appreciated. Looking to replace my coolant asap as autumn coming and then the weather will all be downhill.

Many thanks, Rob

PS I'm not happy if it's not obvious....

 

[mwpe]

It is very difficult to find a spec, I have always used the OEM fluid from a main dealer. It is expensive but apart from routine changes, I have never had a problem or needed to top up in 98,000 miles.

 

[Bozzy]

Watching with interest as I've been thinking of changing the coolant as well.
@t-tony can you shed any light on it please mate ?.
Does it have to be sourced from BMW, or can you just use off the shelf stuff from e.c.p or the like ?.

 

[Bozzy]

It is very difficult to find a spec, I have always used the OEM fluid from a main dealer. It is expensive but apart from routine changes, I have never had a problem or needed to top up in 98,000 miles. [/QUO
Mike,how much do you pay from the main dealer ?.

 

[Bozzy]

Don't know what went wrong there .
Mike, how much do you pay at the main dealers ?.

 

[t-tony]

Whatever happened since all cars used Bluecol? We have two 205L drums at work, Red and Blue. Don't know what the difference is if I'm honest. Nowadays you get "coolant" in all shades of the rainbow, from blue to green to yellow. I'll try to get the specs off the barrels tomorrow.

Tony.

 

[Bozzy]

Whatever happened since all cars used Bluecol? We have two 205L drums at work, Red and Blue. Don't know what the difference is if I'm honest. Nowadays you get "coolant" in all shades of the rainbow, from blue to green to yellow. I'll try to get the specs off the barrels tomorrow.

Tony.

Thanks mate .
The coolant in mine is blue,don't know if that makes any difference.
You'd think it was all pretty much the same though,as long as it's a decent brand,should be ok ?.

 

[Jimmy Weston]

I've always used Toyota 4 life, it's around £30 for 5 litres ,but when it's done ,and mixed with deironsed water ,it's ok for many a year to come.
Jimmy.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

Put blue in mine after doing some work on it, seems fine a year and a half later. Changed the thermostat on my 330 a year ago, got some blue to refill it, and, would you believe, it had pink in. WTF? Near as damnit the same engine, apart from capacity. Don't know which is right, but had no problems with either.

 

[mwpe]

Don't know what went wrong there .
Mike, how much do you pay at the main dealers ?.

It was £9.52 a bottle last year when I changed the water pump etc. I think the bottles are 1.5 litres but I don't have one to check. it is a dark blue colour. I have never used much as the coolant change is only every 4 years.

 

[roadvoyager1]

It is very difficult to find a spec, I have always used the OEM fluid from a main dealer. It is expensive but apart from routine changes, I have never had a problem or needed to top up in 98,000 miles.

I am with Mike on this one. Price from dealer was similar to other recognised quality brands. By using OEM you are sure of getting the correct mix of corrosion protection additives. Although it is called anti-freeze that is only one of its functions, it is also a corrosion prevention for the engine coolant system. In this case, OEM is money spent wisely in my book.

 

[EssexZed]

Thanks mate .
The coolant in mine is blue,don't know if that makes any difference.
You'd think it was all pretty much the same though,as long as it's a decent brand,should be ok ?.

BMW OEM antifreeze is blue but so are many others! I think the reason it's not a good idea to mix different brands of antifreeze comes down to the corrosion inhibitors used rather than the ethylene glycol that most antifreeze is based on. Different types of corrosion inhibitors can react badly if mixed. The BMW stuff costs around £11 for 1.5 litres and needs to be mixed 1:1 with water. However, I would think if you completely drain the system and use a quality brand that might be less expensive you'd be ok - just check it's suitable for the metals in the engine.

 

[t-tony]

There can't be many engines which don't have a mixture of all types of common materials (metals and plastics) in them. Most ant-freeze should mixed 50/50 as a year round coolant. I would agree not to mix different brands too.

Tony.

 

[Stevo7682]

I can shed a bit of light blue / green antifreeze is 3 yr change and is pretty much what all older cars used .
Now you also get red / purple which is long life 5 yr change antifreeze and pretty much the norm in a number of newer cars .
Zeds will happily run on either .
BUT THEY MUST NOT BE MIXED
ITS ONE OR THE OTHER.
mine in my m43 is filled with red with no problems.

 

[Madtoady]

Hi all, I have just wasted an hour (and I really mean a full 60mins) in trying to find out the correct BMW spec anti-freeze which I'm looking to replace in my 2001 Z3 2.2.

My car handbook conveniently has the spec missing, the ECP website is confusing, Halfords was better but not 100% and I've tried searching the forum with no luck.

If anyone has replaced their coolant/anti-freeze lately, I would be really grateful if you could please tell me which one I should be purchasing? Colour/spec/brand name would be appreciated. Looking to replace my coolant asap as autumn coming and then the weather will all be downhill.

Many thanks, Rob

PS I'm not happy if it's not obvious....

Woo hoo! I'm not the only one struggling with this! I checked my levels last week and noticed it could do with a top up but it's important know what the previous owner used. I also checked Euro Car Parts and they recommend a waterless system. Again, that's like we'll and good if I knew that is what was in the system currently.

 

[Bozzy]

I can shed a bit of light blue / green antifreeze is 3 yr change and is pretty much what all older cars used .
Now you also get red / purple which is long life 5 yr change antifreeze and pretty much the norm in a number of newer cars .
Zeds will happily run on either .
BUT THEY MUST NOT BE MIXED
ITS ONE OR THE OTHER.
mine in my m43 is filled with red with no problems.

Great info,cheers Stevo .

 

[Cheerio]

Thanks all for your replies, gratefully received. I am planning on playing off Halfords/ECP and a local factor to get the best price, more educated now!

 

[Nodzed]

Woo hoo! I'm not the only one struggling with this! I checked my levels last week and noticed it could do with a top up but it's important know what the previous owner used. I also checked Euro Car Parts and they recommend a waterless system. Again, that's like we'll and good if I knew that is what was in the system currently.

I would be weary of the waterless coolant, there have been some horror stories regarding this stuff, it was found it can cause issues in more modern cars, but seemed OK on the older stuff such as pre 70s, most race circuits have banned the use of it in cars using their tracks due I believe to the fact it is super slippery if leaked onto the tarmac and difficult to remove once down. I was going to use it but was put off by some of the research findings. Do some checking before you consider it.

 

[5harp3y]

Blue coolant

Just buy it from BMW if you are unsure

 

[Dickymint]

a teck tip..... we live in a hardwater area so I use is rainwater from my water butt and I have a freshwater filter on the tap that makes the water clean enough to drink, I hate buying water when it drops out the sky for nothing