Calling Dackel(!) ...Coolant in Germany Question...

nachob · 10-23-2015, 03:23 PM

Dackel, I was hoping you could help. The 1M is 4 years old now and I wanted to change the coolant but US dealers say it's not recommended and they make it sound like I will hurt my car if we change the coolant even if done by them with BMW Coolant. It is almost as if the German coolant is better than what we get in the US. I don't want to put cheap US BMW coolant if the German stuff is better. If it really is better, then I would like to know.

I have tried contacting BMW and all I get here is a "genius" and it is a joke. They don't know anything at that level they just read off the BMW USA service line.

Do you know any BMW engineers or someone at BMW that could find out what coolant is in our 1Ms from the factory and at what concentration? My guess is that it is some sort of Pentosin thing but the concentration is important.

Thank you.

MDORPHN · 10-23-2015, 03:37 PM

Just buy some BMW coolant and go 50/50.

Neil

BrokenVert · 10-23-2015, 03:54 PM

Calling Dackelone. nachob has a question for you

The best for your car would be a coolant flush. 4 year old coolant isnt doing anything good in your radiator.

nachob · 10-23-2015, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDORPHN

Just buy some BMW coolant and go 50/50.

Neil

I want the best for my car. If factory stuff is better I really want to know.

Dackelone · 10-23-2015, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nachob

Dackel, I was hoping you could help. The 1M is 4 years old now and I wanted to change the coolant but US dealers say it's not recommended and they make it sound like I will hurt my car if we change the coolant even if done by them with BMW Coolant. It is almost as if the German coolant is better than what we get in the US. I don't want to put cheap US BMW coolant if the German stuff is better. If it really is better, then I would like to know.

I have tried contacting BMW and all I get here is a "genius" and it is a joke. They don't know anything at that level they just read off the BMW USA service line.

Do you know any BMW engineers or someone at BMW that could find out what coolant is in our 1Ms from the factory and at what concentration? My guess is that it is some sort of Pentosin thing but the concentration is important.

Thank you.

This is what BMW dealer over here sell... a 1.5l bottle of concentrated coolant. You mix it 50/50 distilled water or better yet de-ionized water.

BMW p/n 83192211191

http://www.leebmann24.de/bmw-kuhlerf...z-1500-ml.html

BASF is also a well known coolant(Kühlerfrostschutz) supplier over here. You see this brand all over Germany in auto parts stores and gas stations on the Autobahn. Pentosin is also a good product. (bellow)

BASF Kühlerschutz GLYSANTIN® PROTECT PLUS-G48 1.5 Liter

http://www.amazon.de/BASF-K%C3%BChle...z++83192211191

I would absolutely change your coolant. At five years it's due to be changed. There is a lot going on with engine coolants - see this video...

Here is a good video on the German coolants like Pentosin...

ayao · 10-23-2015, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nachob

Dackel, I was hoping you could help. The 1M is 4 years old now and I wanted to change the coolant but US dealers say it's not recommended and they make it sound like I will hurt my car if we change the coolant even if done by them with BMW Coolant. It is almost as if the German coolant is better than what we get in the US. I don't want to put cheap US BMW coolant if the German stuff is better. If it really is better, then I would like to know.

I have tried contacting BMW and all I get here is a "genius" and it is a joke. They don't know anything at that level they just read off the BMW USA service line.

Do you know any BMW engineers or someone at BMW that could find out what coolant is in our 1Ms from the factory and at what concentration? My guess is that it is some sort of Pentosin thing but the concentration is important.

Thank you.

My dealer was happy to take my $ and perform a flush. Don't know about origin of the coolant they used, though.

Mike Miller's BMW Maintenance FAQ doesn't say anything about coolant type other than to use 50/50 distilled + BMW-branded coolant.

Dackelone · 10-23-2015, 04:49 PM

Depending on your car's miles... you might also want to change the water pump and thermostat(and the hoses and bolts to the pump) at the same time you change the coolant. That would be your best bet for long term maintenance.

ayao · 10-23-2015, 04:58 PM

In addition to the p/n referenced above by Dackel, RealOEM lists ( http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...08#83192211191 ) the following as BMW EU coolants:

83192218347
83192211914

The *1914 one is, if I'm reading it correctly, one for Scandinavian cars. (?)

BrokenVert · 10-23-2015, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Depending on your car's miles... you might also want to change the water pump and thermostat(and the hoses and bolts to the pump) at the same time you change the coolant. That would be your best bet for long term maintenance.

I've taken the stance of "when the waterpump fails it fails" with my 7 1/2 year old, 130,000 mile, waterpump.

These pumps seem to break immediately or last forever. You can buy a brand new waterpump and have it fail, so why would you change it preventatively?

Dackelone · 10-23-2015, 05:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrokenVert

I've taken the stance of "when the waterpump fails it fails" with my 7 1/2 year old, 130,000 mile, waterpump.

These pumps seem to break immediately or last forever. You can buy a brand new waterpump and have it fail, so why would you change it preventatively?

You change it so one does not get stuck in the "bad section of town" or stuck in "no mans land" for a few days - while the closest dealer rapes you on parts and labor. I think you my friend on running on borrowed time.

BrokenVert · 10-23-2015, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

I think you my friend on running on borrowed time.

People have been telling me that about forty different parts on this car for years.

I've seen new waterpumps fail after 10-15K miles, so I don't really buy that reasoning. QA has always been a problem on these things, and that doesn't seem to be changing in the near future.

So yeah, my waterpump will probably fail at some point. All waterpumps do eventually. That didn't stop me from taking half a dozen work related road trips and autoxing the car a few times.

What's the point in being afraid of it?

MightyMouseTech · 10-23-2015, 06:02 PM

I feel the same way. Maybe have a pump on hand for when it does fail. But a new one could fail just as soon as the old one. Just bought an E90, 183,000 km, 9 years old, original pump.

10-23-2015, 03:23 PM	#1
nachob Brigadier General 2314 Rep 4,341 Posts Drives: 2004 330i ZHP, 2022 Cayman T Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California iTrader: (5)	Calling Dackel(!) ...Coolant in Germany Question... Dackel, I was hoping you could help. The 1M is 4 years old now and I wanted to change the coolant but US dealers say it's not recommended and they make it sound like I will hurt my car if we change the coolant even if done by them with BMW Coolant. It is almost as if the German coolant is better than what we get in the US. I don't want to put cheap US BMW coolant if the German stuff is better. If it really is better, then I would like to know. I have tried contacting BMW and all I get here is a "genius" and it is a joke. They don't know anything at that level they just read off the BMW USA service line. Do you know any BMW engineers or someone at BMW that could find out what coolant is in our 1Ms from the factory and at what concentration? My guess is that it is some sort of Pentosin thing but the concentration is important. Thank you. Last edited by nachob; 10-23-2015 at 03:55 PM..
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10-23-2015, 03:37 PM	#2
MDORPHN Colonel 291 Rep 2,898 Posts Drives: AW 1M Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Wash, DC iTrader: (0)	Just buy some BMW coolant and go 50/50. Neil
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10-23-2015, 03:54 PM	#3
BrokenVert Resident Kerbalnaut 477 Rep 10,703 Posts Drives: Topless Brute/Hybrid Boogaloo Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Fahrvergnügen/NY iTrader: (0)	Calling Dackelone. nachob has a question for you The best for your car would be a coolant flush. 4 year old coolant isnt doing anything good in your radiator. __________________
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10-23-2015, 04:49 PM	#7
Dackelone European Editor 10532 Rep 22,992 Posts Drives: N54 e82 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Bayern, Germany iTrader: (1)	Depending on your car's miles... you might also want to change the water pump and thermostat(and the hoses and bolts to the pump) at the same time you change the coolant. That would be your best bet for long term maintenance. __________________ Dackel's European Delivery Museum Guide
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10-23-2015, 06:02 PM	#12
MightyMouseTech Major General 4338 Rep 6,196 Posts Drives: 13 135i 6MT LeMans Blue MSport Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Ottawa, Canada iTrader: (0)	I feel the same way. Maybe have a pump on hand for when it does fail. But a new one could fail just as soon as the old one. Just bought an E90, 183,000 km, 9 years old, original pump.
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10-23-2015, 04:58 PM	#8
ayao Thread killer 642 Rep 1,896 Posts Drives: 1M Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: CA iTrader: (2)	In addition to the p/n referenced above by Dackel, RealOEM lists ( http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...08#83192211191 ) the following as BMW EU coolants: 83192218347 83192211914 The *1914 one is, if I'm reading it correctly, one for Scandinavian cars. (?)
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