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      01-13-2021, 10:18 PM   #1
kosmokratur
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Low Coolant

Hi folks

I just bought a CPO 2018 M550 on Saturday. I have put prob. 300 miles on it (bought it out of town and have been playing with it). I have a "low coolant" message at morning start-up. Sure enough, when cold, under the large cap, there is no coolant visible (under the small cap, it is a little above "max"). I do park on a slope and I will find a flatter place to park tomorrow so I can get a cold, level reading.

There is also a whiff of either unburned oil or maybe coolant after running it for a while.

My question: What coolant do I use? I keep traditional blue BMW coolant on hand for my e38 and e39, but what I saw under the cap of the 550 looked clear. I surely don't want to add the wrong stuff. The owner's manual is worthless ("take it to the dealer"). The closest dealer is over 60 miles away and I'd prefer to at least top it off once before making a trip and killing a day.

Thanks!
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      01-14-2021, 06:26 AM   #2
AP
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It certainly blue not clear. Haven't got mine to hand but bought mine from bmw directly along with some distilled water ( as you have to mix it)

Plenty of threads here about coolant leaks , seems to be a common issue down to several causes. Hopefully you are still in warranty in which case it's covered.
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      01-14-2021, 08:20 AM   #3
Junebug85
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This is what I used. It was blue not clear and like AP said, needs to be mixed.
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      01-14-2021, 02:53 PM   #4
rts2101
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The coolant in my 2019 530e is green. 100% sure. Just checked it.

Is this an issue?
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      01-14-2021, 07:31 PM   #5
clee1982
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I'm pretty sure 2018 and prior is blue then 2019 and on is green, but due to some certification issue, BMW couldn't bring the green stuff to US then, not sure what's the case now. Why don't you give the dealer a call see if the blue stuff is ok when your stuff looks clear.
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      01-15-2021, 08:28 AM   #6
kosmokratur
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Blue is good

The sales advisor emailed the chief tech; tech says it is OK to top off with Prestone, etc. so I took that as an affirmation that old school BMW blue is OK too.

It swallowed well over a liter. I really hope I don't have a problem, but that's why I bought a CPO with plenty of miles left when I decided to get the V8.

Green coolant? Might be BMW blue with fluorescent leak detector dye added. My old 750 looks like that.

Still can't figure out why the stuff in my "little bottle" (small cap over the alternator) is colorless. I dipped a finger in and it is slippery. Odd.
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