Why use BMW coolant

[dzrocks_11]

So im not posative if this has been discussed before or not but is it strickly nessacary to use the BMW brand coolant and if so why? Because BMW says so? i dont like that idea, it sounds like bmw screwing us outa money by buying their brand on antifreeze.

i was wondering because im planning on doing a coolant flush soon and its not convinent for me to drive 120 miles to the nearest bmw dealer just to get coolant if the Napa a mear 18 miles away can supply me with coolant that will work.

I mean whats so special about bmw's coolant system that normal antifreeze coolant wont work, its a standard alluminum(i think) radiator connectied to a standard iron engine block using rubber hoses. the only thing i can think of is maybe that BMW is retarded and purposely uses hoses and gaskets that break down because of normal coolant....but i dont know give me your imput on this please

[ImperialDuckM3]

You could use the stuff that sells in your local autopart stores. Just make sure its compatible and you should be fine.

Most used the BMW coolent because its made for our car, no guessing game if it work or not work with our BMW's. Also its not that expensive..

[Boile]

I just went and checked for you.
The label in the back on my gallon of original BMW coolant says its free of nitrate and phosphates, which reduces the formation of harmful deposits in the system.
I remember reading elsewhere that certain chemicals used in regular coolants are harmful to aluminum parts in the system.
Take your chances.

[___lk___]

i would just use the bmw stuff...it's not that much more (a couple of bucks, iirc) and at least u wont have to wonder about it. :rolleyes:

[Boile]

i would just use the bmw stuff...it's not that much more (a couple of bucks, iirc) and at least u wont have to wonder about it. :rolleyes:
He already gave his reason: the dealer is 100 miles away. And they don't ship toxic stuff.

[bmw325]

There have been huge debates about this here and on other forums. I seem to recall, that there are other brands of coolatn which meet BMW's specs, but they'r emostly only available in Europe. Everytime somone mentioned a coolant that seemed fine, someone else would shoot it dwn with "it doesn't meet blah, blah, blah spec". I don't remember the details; I just decided "screw it, i'll just use BMW coolant". You're right though-- a BMW shouldn't be any more special than any aluminum engined, alumnum radiator car. It may also have something to do w/ the relatively long change interval that BMW specifies- 4 years. I forget. But do some more searching, you'll turn up the relevant threads.

[bolt-on-bandito]

as crappy as the rad, h2o pump and general cooling system on the e -36's are i personaly just bought some non BMW coolant.

i can't see the paying the difference, or wating 4 years between flush and fills. i usuially change coolant about once a year. just my 2 cents though.

[zachgeo]

I've driven plenty of other aluminum block/radiator cars, and none of their manufacturers have specified their particular marque of fluid. If BMW comes out and tells me that my block and radiator are made of the rare metal bimmeridium, then maybe I'd consider using their fluid. Otherwise, Prestone will work just fine.

[zachgeo]

I've driven plenty of other aluminum block/radiator cars, and none of their manufacturers have specified their particular marque of fluid. If BMW comes out and tells me that my block and radiator are made of the rare metal bimmeridium, then maybe I'd consider using their fluid. Otherwise, Prestone will work just fine.

[justme_esco]

Hey has anyone used that evans coolant from bavarian. Its supposed to be waterless or something like that which you probabily won't have to change anymore since it has a high boiling point. I'm thinking of doing a coolant flush too and i was thinking of going with that but i'm not too sure if i should or not. Any input?

[Rolltide323IS]

Does BMW really say that by useing their coolant you can go up to 4 years with out changing it? thats amazing and totally worth the extra bucks!

[McMeinerbury]

F*CK the dealership. Seriously.

[Rolltide323IS]

Yup i agree, espically if u didnt buy your car from them with a current warranty!

[Rolltide323IS]

Yup i agree, espically if u didnt buy your car from them with a current warranty!

[Rickman]

FWIW, I too thought that I was getting screwed on price with genuine until I priced around. The genuine 1 litre cost $11 (AU) and you mix it 50:50. This ends up less than I could by it from K'Mart for no-name brand. Also in Oz there are no standards for coolant, so you could end up with coloured water.

[my_e36]

Agreed with Rickman, and I am sure with the power of the net, you can find someone that will ship the BMW coolant at a good price. Besides, 120 mile drive isn't so bad, it could be an enjoyable drive in a bimmer~!

[Ågent99]

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46962

Here is an excellent thread. Looks like you can also use the Zerex G-05 as an alternative to BMW's coolant.

[Vornado]

Just get the factory recommended stuff... and a thesaurus while you're at it.

[Pirate_copy]

Just get the factory recommended stuff... and a thesaurus while you're at it.

.......ouch!!

anyway, this has come at the right time as i am doing my flush at the weekend and didn't even think about which coolant to use.

i am lucky and live 20 miles from a dealer, but would rather drive 120 miles to get it than going up the road, getting the wrong stuff and not being able to drive my car at all.

Does seem odd that BMW are the only people to put this stipulation on though!!

[CJH]

Check this post, includes a quote from BMW's technical service publication:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=470644&page=2

[PhilipWOT]

I've driven plenty of other aluminum block/radiator cars, and none of their manufacturers have specified their particular marque of fluid. If BMW comes out and tells me that my block and radiator are made of the rare metal bimmeridium, then maybe I'd consider using their fluid. Otherwise, Prestone will work just fine.



"bimmeridium" LoL!!!!!!!!:rofl:

[RiDE]

pelicanparts has the BMW coolant and it looks like they ship it but it's $20 before shipping. :dunno:

[Rickman]

BTW, you'd reckon by now that if alternative brands of coolant cause damage you would have heard about it. Considering how long the E36 has been out for it would be a known quantity. My local mechanic sells BMW coolant, so I don't need to drive to the stealer. This is lucky as Auto Classic are 500 kilometres away in the city! Find a reputable mechanic and with the money you save (from the stealer) you can afford the BMW coolant.

[Dudesky_E36]

Looks like you can also use the Zerex G-05 as an alternative to BMW's coolant.
That's what I use, and have no problems.

[randywalters]

BTW, you'd reckon by now that if alternative brands of coolant cause damage you would have heard about it. Considering how long the E36 has been out for it would be a known quantity. My local mechanic sells BMW coolant, so I don't need to drive to the stealer. This is lucky as Auto Classic are 500 kilometres away in the city! Find a reputable mechanic and with the money you save (from the stealer) you can afford the BMW coolant.I learned firsthand not to use non-OEM coolant in my VW GTi - i ignored this advice back in 1987 and replaced the OEM blue coolant with green Prestone coolant that claimed to be safe for all aluminum engine components. Within a year this crap ate through my aluminum waterpump housing which i had to replace, then within the next year it attacked the bonding agent that glues the plastic components to the aluminum radiator which split apart at only 3 years old, and also caused severe buildup of corrosive chalky stuff in my aluminum waterneck and the cylinder head cooling jackets.

I visited a friend who rebuilds German car cylinder heads at his machine shop and he said this problem is rampant among VWs, BMWs, Mercedes, and Porsche heads and showed me tons of scrapped heads that had been ruined by people using the wrong kind of coolant. I suggest you seek out someone in the cylinder head rebuilding business and ask him about this. Or any factory service technician at a BMW or VW dealership.

Even stuff that's "Phosphate-Free" can still be the wrong formula for the unique alloys that the German carmakers use in their engines.

[Keith]

I don't but the BMW stuff either, I buy the Mercedes stuff, same damn thing (but a different color) as the BMW stuff, but for some reason it was half the price.

I buy ALL my stuff here: http://www.bmaparts.com/, but call and talk to Patrick or Yves,
1-888- 262-3911.

[Pirate_copy]

does anyone know what coolant i need for my E36 328i 1995?

i hear they have different ones :)

[randywalters]

I don't but the BMW stuff either, I buy the Mercedes stuff, same damn thing (but a different color) as the BMW stuff, but for some reason it was half the price.They're a different color because they have different formulations, some of which are incompatible with one another !!

A lot of guys with older VWs that used the old blue coolant started using the newer red or yellow coolant and reported clogged water passages and the appearance of a jelly-like substance in their cooling system as a result of the incompatibility. The old stuff must be flushed out completely before the newer type is introduced.

[Rickman]

Obviously it pays not to be a rocket scientist, nor so cynical that you don't trust BMW's own coolant. I am happy to use their product as I don't think it's worth the risk when you consider what a replacement engine costs. My (unfortunate car dealer, like who cares) stealer had to replace a whole engine at around $8k, so I'm happy to pay the little bit extra to protect his investment LOL...

[ptabaco]

I don't follow the logic of some people, they spend good money buying a luxury car, and then try to save $20 every two years by using cheap antifreeze :dunno:

[Boile]

I don't follow the logic of some people, they spend good money buying a luxury car, and then try to save $20 every two years by using cheap antifreeze :dunno:

You got it backwards.
Exactly because those people are thrifty, they can afford to buy a luxury car.
The vast majority of the world's billionairs are thrift in nature. Once in a while, they buy a luxury item.