Time for a coolant drain and refill?

tekmoe · 12-07-2010, 09:38 AM

Car has 29k miles and is almost 4 1/2 years old from manufactured date. Just wondering if a coolant drain and refill is due. If so, is there a DIY on this? I'm familiar with how to remove the plastic cover in the front of the engine bay to gain access to the radiator but a DIY would be nice if anyone has done this before.

It's running great but I'd like to be proactive rather than reactive.

mhughett · 12-07-2010, 11:18 AM

Most recent bulletins out of BMW say that the BMW coolant formulations from the last 5 years or so no longer require periodic drain and fills. This could be more of the same rhetoric we have been hearing about "lifetime fluids" in other areas since it gets them out of paying for coolant changes that used to be 4 years from build date. In any event, it seems that many cars require drain and fill of coolant when thermostats and water pumps are replaced so maybe they figure that it's best/more efficient to wait for a component of the cooling system to fail and change the coolant at that time.

Incompatible · 12-07-2010, 12:01 PM

This would make a good DIY post.

lstratos · 12-07-2010, 12:22 PM

There is a diy somewhere.. if its not in the diy section ill post it.. fairly easy.. just need to get the right fluid in there

Ron Stygar · 12-07-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekmoe

Just wondering if a coolant drain and refill is due.

There isn't one except for repair.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...7&postcount=30

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...6&postcount=73

12-07-2010, 09:38 AM	#1
tekmoe Captain 55 Rep 844 Posts Drives: ///M Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Texas iTrader: (0)	Time for a coolant drain and refill? Car has 29k miles and is almost 4 1/2 years old from manufactured date. Just wondering if a coolant drain and refill is due. If so, is there a DIY on this? I'm familiar with how to remove the plastic cover in the front of the engine bay to gain access to the radiator but a DIY would be nice if anyone has done this before. It's running great but I'd like to be proactive rather than reactive.
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12-07-2010, 11:18 AM	#2
mhughett Captain 25 Rep 615 Posts Drives: 2007 Z4 M Coupe Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok iTrader: (0)	Most recent bulletins out of BMW say that the BMW coolant formulations from the last 5 years or so no longer require periodic drain and fills. This could be more of the same rhetoric we have been hearing about "lifetime fluids" in other areas since it gets them out of paying for coolant changes that used to be 4 years from build date. In any event, it seems that many cars require drain and fill of coolant when thermostats and water pumps are replaced so maybe they figure that it's best/more efficient to wait for a component of the cooling system to fail and change the coolant at that time. __________________ 2013 Audi TT RS (Tech Pkg, Sport Exhaust, Heated Seats, Sirius) Retired--2007 Z4 M Coupe (Imola Red/Black, Premium Pkg, Heated Seats, XM, Bimmian stubby antenna, CDV delete, Apex EC-7--Anthracite, Goodyear F1 Asymetric 2.
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12-07-2010, 12:01 PM	#3
Incompatible Major 55 Rep 1,224 Posts Drives: 07 AW Z4C 3.0Si Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1)	This would make a good DIY post. __________________ If you can't take the time to teach a kid something good, someone will take the time to teach them something bad.
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12-07-2010, 12:22 PM	#4
lstratos Private First Class 8 Rep 139 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Queens iTrader: (0)	There is a diy somewhere.. if its not in the diy section ill post it.. fairly easy.. just need to get the right fluid in there
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