THE LARGEST BMW 2-SERIES FORUM ON THE PLANET
2Addicts
2Addicts
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum Technical Topics Mechanical Maintenance and TSBs: Break-in | Oil & Fluids | Servicing | TSB is it worthwhile to chang out coolant?

Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      11-13-2018, 06:40 AM   #1
buster-riley
Enlisted Member
United_States
24
Rep
44
Posts

Drives: 2016 m235i 6MT no sunroof
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Minnesota,USA

iTrader: (0)

is it worthwhile to chang out coolant?

I have only 20K miles on my 9/2015 build date m235i. does coolant change prevent trouble later with electric coolant pump etc? If so do you change it out based on time or milage?
Appreciate 0
      11-13-2018, 03:59 PM   #2
B58togo
Major
806
Rep
1,367
Posts

Drives: M240i
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: NY

iTrader: (0)

I plan on doing mine around the three year mark. I’ll be around 50k by then, but if you’re at three years, regardless of mileage, it would be wise to do it soon.
__________________
2017 M240i/ ZF8 Pure Drivetrain Solutions Stage 1 & torque converter/xHP/ Pure 800 cast/ DS2/ E40 Doug Newton tuned/ ER catless DP/ Remus axle back/ BMS intake/ FTP CP/ M Performance LSD
Appreciate 0
      11-13-2018, 04:35 PM   #3
overcoil
Major General
3069
Rep
5,577
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

I’m coming up on to 4-1/2 years still under 35,000-miles. Will probably get a refractometer or hydrometer (I’ll research if they work on these long life coolants) and test my coolant before the temps drop into single.

I’ll also check my hoses and think about changing out any hoses that have easy access.
Appreciate 0
      11-14-2018, 07:43 AM   #4
MarcoZandrini
Major
United_States
439
Rep
1,251
Posts

Drives: 2018 M240i
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Virginia

iTrader: (0)

I highly recommend that the cooling system be drained, flushed with distilled water and refilled with a 50/50 mix of BMW and distilled water every 3 years. These cars, especially those with a turbo, are hard on the coolant. Btw, I’ve owned and wrenched on bimmers since 1974.
Appreciate 1
      08-01-2019, 12:56 AM   #5
MiamiM235iEstorilBlue
Private First Class
60
Rep
176
Posts

Drives: 2016 m235i
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: miami

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini View Post
I highly recommend that the cooling system be drained, flushed with distilled water and refilled with a 50/50 mix of BMW and distilled water every 3 years. These cars, especially those with a turbo, are hard on the coolant. Btw, I’ve owned and wrenched on bimmers since 1974.
never heard of mixing 50/50. Is that normal practice? Is it a Bad idea to just refill with 100% BMW coolant?
Appreciate 0
      08-01-2019, 04:31 AM   #6
overcoil
Major General
3069
Rep
5,577
Posts

Drives: M235i 6spd
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Mid-Atlantic

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue View Post
never heard of mixing 50/50. Is that normal practice? Is it a Bad idea to just refill with 100% BMW coolant?
Usually the coolant bottle will have a chart that gives % of water to coolant for the maximum minimum temp ranges you’ll see.

I actually believe water is a better heat exchanger then anti-freeze but in cold temps water will freeze and water doesn’t offer the anti-corrosion. And water converts to steam at too low a pressure so anti-freeze helps with system pressurization.

Jay Leno talks about a radiator fill that has neither the need for water and is not glycol based - it’s main attribute is long life and no corrosion for cars that have a long life 100 years, it’s a classic car savior.
Appreciate 1
      08-01-2019, 08:48 AM   #7
aerobod
Car Geek
aerobod's Avatar
3578
Rep
3,555
Posts

Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Calgary

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue View Post
never heard of mixing 50/50. Is that normal practice? Is it a Bad idea to just refill with 100% BMW coolant?
Many coolants from parts stores are already pre-mixed 50/50 with water, it should say on the bottle. BMW coolant from the BMW parts dept is not generally pre-mixed.

It is a very bad idea to fill with 100% coolant as the engine will likely overheat due to poor heat transfer in typical summer conditions and in very cold conditions the coolant will freeze sooner than a 50/50 mix with distilled water.
Appreciate 1
      08-01-2019, 12:43 PM   #8
John in VA
Colonel
974
Rep
2,180
Posts

Drives: 2015 228i M Sport
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Leesburg, VA

iTrader: (6)

Agreed - 100% coolant is never a good idea.
There are paper "dipsticks" & gauges that can test the acidity of your coolant to let you know if it should be flushed.
__________________
____________________________________________
2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
Appreciate 1
      08-11-2019, 03:26 PM   #9
MiamiM235iEstorilBlue
Private First Class
60
Rep
176
Posts

Drives: 2016 m235i
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: miami

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarcoZandrini View Post
I highly recommend that the cooling system be drained, flushed with distilled water and refilled with a 50/50 mix of BMW and distilled water every 3 years. These cars, especially those with a turbo, are hard on the coolant. Btw, I’ve owned and wrenched on bimmers since 1974.
Im not finding many DIY's for the M235i at all. Are most things very similar to the 435i/335i?
How hard is the car to flush properly for a shadetree DIY person?
Appreciate 0
      09-05-2019, 02:45 PM   #10
biz4two
Private
15
Rep
50
Posts

Drives: 2014 f22 n20 228i
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: ABQ, USA

iTrader: (0)

Arrow

Quote:
Originally Posted by MiamiM235iEstorilBlue View Post
Im not finding many DIY's for the M235i at all. Are most things very similar to the 435i/335i?
How hard is the car to flush properly for a shadetree DIY person?
Try to focus on the type of engine you have not the type of car you have. So, search for N55 coolant flush, etc. YES, the N55 in the 435i is identical or nearly identical to your M235i. Small variations from year over year, but pretty darn close. Especially when wanting to perform a coolant flush.


biz
__________________
====
2014 BMW 228i f22 n20
Prod.date: 2014-06-27
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Appreciate 1
      11-07-2019, 07:18 PM   #11
123Britt
Captain
United_States
287
Rep
863
Posts

Drives: 15 M235i AT
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Madison, Alabama

iTrader: (0)

1/2 Life on Everything

BMW says 100K Coolant then change it at 50k.

BMW says 10K oil change then change at 5K

BMW says 100K AT Fluid then change at 50K

.
.
Simple and effective for Long Long Long Term ownership. If you plan on selling the car before 100K mile then just follow BMW Std change intervals.
.
.
Appreciate 1
WolfGTI688.50
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 08:32 AM.




2addicts
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST