Garage talked me out of changing the coolant, are they right?

[Steve61]

My Z3 was booked in for the MOT today, plus an oil service, with an independent BMW specialist (who I rate highly). I also asked them to flush out and replace the coolant, but they talked me out of it.

I’ve had the car 2 years, but according to the service book and paperwork that I have, the coolant hasn’t been changed since Sept 2017 (at 24,000 miles). The service book states coolant should be changed every 4 years.

The garage said that coolant doesn’t need changing that often these days, views have changed since the service booklet was written 23 years ago. They said wait until say a hose or the thermostat needs replacing, then the coolant will be changed anyway. Besides, the car has only done 27,500 miles, I cover about 1,500 miles pa, temperature gauge is bang in the middle, and the coolant never needs topping up and appears to be clean. The car is garaged and rarely used in the winter.

Is this great customer service, or maybe they just can’t be bothered with the little jobs? Should I change the coolant anyway?

By the way, car passed the MOT

 

[t-tony]

So you're going from a guy you rate highly to someone you don't believe in an instant. I would tend to agree with him, coolants have improved a lot since the Z3 was even dreamed of. I would test the strength of the antifreeze mixture and carefully check the specimen you draw off to test and make sure it is totally clear with no cloudiness.

Tony.

 

[Steve61]

Thanks Tony, you are right of course, I think I was taken aback my someone wanting to save me money, quite refreshing these days! I still rate them highly.

I will do as you suggest, cheers.

 

[Zephyr]

What colour is your coolant?
Red or Green?

 

[t-tony]

Should be blue?

Tony.

 

[Zephyr]

Should be blue?

Tony.

Blue is the correct answer.
But many times I have seen Green and Red meaning
A- it is a non oem similar type
B- it is a totally wrong one that the tech just had on the shelve.
So the shop I go to suggests a flush in any case of a different colour and the owner doesn't know if it is similar type.

 

[the Nefyn cat]

I think I was taken aback my someone wanting to save me money,

He may just be playing the long game, of course.

 

[jaguartvr]

Green is best, if you get a leak it is very easy to see on the garage floor.

 

[colb]

Agree with @t-tony more important to do a check of the coolant strength with a tester to ensure its capable of withstanding our low winter temps.