Coolant For A 1995 Bmw E36?

[Delmarco]

I turned my back for a second today and caught a mechanic pouring bright green liquid into my coolant tank to "top off" the unknown brownish/greenish liquid I already had in there (it was in there when I bought the car last june and I never found out what it was used ).


Now I freaked out because someone here said once that the green coolant is real bad for BMW especially in the winter because it clogs up your hoses or something. Can someone confirm this?

Also if I need to get that stuff out, how soon do I have before my hoses get messed up? Is it better to flush it myself or go to the BMW dealership (how much do they charge)?

[Delmarco]

anyone...bad or good? come on I gotta go home in a second....
thx

[RIBEMR26]

Bad.....flush it yourself and fill with only BMW coolant.

[RIBEMR26]

The mechanic is a jackass...make him flush it for being a fu**ing dope

[97alpineM3]

There is a big write up on this in the FAQ section of this forum.. search it...

Les

[Bear]

Originally posted by Delmarco@Nov 10 2004, 05:46 PM
I turned my back for a second today and caught a mechanic pouring bright green liquid into my coolant tank to "top off" the unknown brownish/greenish liquid I already had in there (it was in there when I bought the car last june and I never found out what it was used ).


Now I freaked out because someone here said once that the green coolant is real bad for BMW especially in the winter because it clogs up your hoses or something. Can someone confirm this?

Also if I need to get that stuff out, how soon do I have before my hoses get messed up? Is it better to flush it myself or go to the BMW dealership (how much do they charge)?

[snapback]228284[/snapback]

My indy tech (BMW tained master tech) uses the green stuff. I use ZEREX G05 (same formula used by Mercedes, Audi, Vw), available at Auto Zone or Pep Boys.

[Delmarco]

Originally posted by 97alpineM3@Nov 10 2004, 08:20 PM
There is a big write up on this in the FAQ section of this forum.. search it...

Les

[snapback]228375[/snapback]

Hey I saw that write up (unless there more than one). And it is a long write up but I don't recall hearing about the colors..They just mention coolant ingredients and H2O/Coolant mixtures...I'll check again....

[RallyE36]

Don't freak out too much.
At your earliest convenience go to a BMW dealer and buy their "bluish" anti-freeze coolant, as this has been specially formulated to run in BMW's aluminum heads.
Most other coolants available in the North American market will eventually "sludge-up" your system, then you'll have a bigger bill to pay.
So don't panic. Just do it on the weekend.

[Diabolic]

Originally posted by RallyE36@Nov 11 2004, 09:17 AM
Don't freak out too much.
At your earliest convenience go to a BMW dealer and buy their "bluish" anti-freeze coolant, as this has been specially formulated to run in BMW's aluminum heads.
Most other coolants available in the North American market will eventually "sludge-up" your system, then you'll have a bigger bill to pay.
So don't panic. Just do it on the weekend.

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Hello there
the color is not the main issue here, green or blue or whatever.
You just need to be sure its a GOOD quality Antifreeze and Coolant for all-seasons.
This way, the liquid dont freezes up in winter, and cool your engine in summer thus maintaining your engine running smooth.
Good brands are: Comma / STP / ...

[NeverLeaned]

Im running the 'Green' stuff now. Yup, its not recommended but I from everything I've read if you maintain a tight schedule of coolant flushes and changes (yearly) then it shouldn't have enough of an opportunity to break down in your cooling system.

If your not gonna change your anti-freeze every year I would just get the BMW stuff.

Proceed at own risk.
NL

[RIBEMR26]

Hello there
the color is not the main issue here, green or blue or whatever.
You just need to be sure its a GOOD quality Antifreeze and Coolant for all-seasons.
This way, the liquid dont freezes up in winter, and cool your engine in summer thus maintaining your engine running smooth.
Good brands are: Comma / STP / ...

Whatever you do don't listen to this noob ...he obviously has no idea what he's talking about...I think we are a little beyond freezing points....

BMW coolant is "silicate free." Other more mainstream coolants are not. These silicates have been found to break down in BMW's causing a "green goo" to form, thus clogging the cooling system.

Also, regardless of this, you shouldn't mix coolants...I don't know too much about the chemistry...read the write-ups for that.

[JAX]

I am not an expert in antifreeze but I think I agree with Diabolic.
Had 20 cars or more until now (5 were bimmers) and never heard of problems with the anti freeze... maybe I'm getting old...

[RIBEMR26]

I am not an expert in antifreeze but I think I agree with Diabolic.
Had 20 cars or more until now (5 were bimmers) and never heard of problems with the anti freeze... maybe I'm getting old...

Which means you were lucky...and maybe you changed your coolant every year which would help....but that doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist.

[mech9T8]

Just make sure you use distilled water to dilute the coolant.

[JAX]

I think you can find good quality allready prepared.

And yes , I did changed every 6 months or so , not because I'm some kind of rich f** but I like to take care of my ride , it takes care of me