What Coolant Is In Your BMW?

[genphreak]

green + red = blobs
isn't red the organic as opposed to ethylene glycol based coolant which is green/blue

I've never mixed red and green Rob, but yes I imagine the result would be more exciting than an off shade of purple. Its interesting how many people hare reporting a purple colour (eeeeuuwww!) in thier Bimmer in this poll... although they are probably referring to Zerex (ie yellow)

[genphreak]

Well, since this thread got more replies than mine that probably brought about this poll in the first place. I called the dealer today and spoke to the service manager and his shop foreman. Both gave me the same answer. Prestone's green coolant is phosphate free and something else free, and is safe to use in an M50. They also mentioned to do the standard coolant flush service every two years like the manual says. I wanted a reason to take back the green stuff for blue, but at twice the cost, and with the same chemical make up more or less, it's not worth it. The dealer uses the green stuff in M50's, so obviously we can too.

The Blue stuff they said was definitely what they use on the M60 and M62's though.

Thanks, that's interesting. I'm sure you'll be OK then, especilaly given what Bill R says. However I do wonder who told them its OK to use Prestone green (whatever grade/type it is), the accountant, the service manager... it sure as hell wouldn't have been BMW or BEHR... given our debate here it'd be interesting to know why these people might chose that something is worth the change. Surely for a dealer it'd be easier to go with Blue on all- surely they don't pay too much for it, and explaining to a customer why they have changed the coolant colour is surely something they'd rather avoid given the bad words going around about green coolants.

[Fetch]

I've been quiet in this thread, but I'm really interested with all the posts & votes.

Since it's such an 'informal' poll, it is my conclusion that most of us aquire our cars with some form of green coolant, and then change it to BMW spec blue coolant under our ownership!

[genphreak]

Yes its a good poll. Not surprising that a lot of Green is in use- although I expect a lot of Green reports are Blue with a litre or two of Green (which makes it perhaps less intense shade of green), due to an owner adding it at a gas station where there is no choice other than water (which would be better).

The poll shows that a lot of people, including dealers, are choosing to save money and ignore/disrespect BMW's advice. It may be semmantic as for sure some think it makes no difference. Some believe they know better. Surely most don't care.

Certainly by the time a Bimmer is on its way to 15 years it would be facing a serious downgrade in the level of care inflicted by uncaring owners and mechanics.

Of course this is mostly due to the low availability of G48 in markets (gas stations, auto parts suppliers, etc.) outside Europe.

What do you peeps think?

[Atl530i]

BMW blue after doing a complete cooling system overhaul. It was green and changed every 18 months though.

[bill g]

For any Aussies who are interested -

After research on available coolants I have been using Nulon Longlife Concentrate (green) which is readily available here and considerably cheaper than BMW coolant, although more expensive than many of the green coolants on the market.
It is an ethylene glycol low silicate formulation which seems to me to have the right characteristics - contains no nitrites, phosphates or amines.
Label on container states it is suitable for use where BMW (UK) specifications are cited.
I use a 40% concentrate/60% water mix. No ill effects after 3 years of use (I know, too early to tell).

Link to tech info -
http://www.nulon.com.au/products.php?productId=ll

Bill G Melbourne

[genphreak]

I wish I knew how Nulon developed their products, they seem (to me) not to disclose their level of expertise in the area very well. I still can't quite establish them as a decent crew. They are not a major R&D company (branding might be more their strength). Some I know argue that they have been selling dodgey additives as automotive panaceas to consumers for years. I do know that in the industry they have won many freinds as well as many enemies, but I don't profess to know if their **** works or not. Their marketing makes it plain that the products work for the battlers and the racers (but this is often sponsorship buying profile).

But for sure the is in the detail on this one: Like most in the field, they pay a testing agency to test the product (wherever it comes from) to see if it meets minimum standards (in this case outlined in AS2108). However they only substantiate their claims with these documents, which are very generic specs that a bunch of Aussie boffins come up with, usually to suit the minimum requirements of their employers and stakeholders (ie the Aussie auto industry). They usually reference US and/or British specs, and I believe AS2108 met the spec of the British one.

What swung me away from the product when I considered using it in my E28 was a little nag wondering if they would be accountable should it create a problem (in fact would I even know it was the products fault as the car was old). When I searched for info about it there was real lack of anything from Nulon or others (bloody manufacturers ignoring us again!!). The back of the pack was pretty much all I could find to go on, except for the Australian Standard of course. Apart from pissing me off, I figured that the reason for this lack of info may be more than slack marketing. Regardless I wondered if a PR person was actually responsible for the reference to the BMW UK spec simply because they saw a note describing BMW documentation in the English standard. Any such person can leap to thihnk that therefore the Aussie one was also covered adn be completely wrong.

Exactly what that note was, which models it relates to and how this flows through to the product's capabilities or even the Aussie standard they omit to say. Check Nulon's website on this and it is probably as inconclusive now as it was then: Then their website wasn't even Open Standards compliant so I was became happy with my choice to not use their product in my car (call me a geek but this was often a good indicator back then).

Despite all my cynicism for poor old Nulon's efforts to make a coolant that mentioned BMW on the pack it was at least clear that BMW had no skin in it. I guess I decided that for the sake of an extra $20 every 2 years I wouldn't risk it. Sad about it though, it could be just great... probably is even! Who bloody knows... but you'd think if they did any more relevant and impressive tests that they'd actually say so and publish them.

[Kobe Diesel]

What about Pentosin, G12? pink stuff? I know the Audi enthusiasts use this coolant.

[632 Regal]

thud thud thud...

What about Pentosin, G12? pink stuff? I know the Audi enthusiasts use this coolant.