What coolant and does it need topping up for 2004 onward?

[Oakandacorns]

Who's Z4 has coolant which has needed topping up? I have a 2004 2.5l Roadster and there has been no sign of coolant level getting low until my brother checked the coolant leveller (floater thing) and it was LOW. The handbook says refer to Dealer for correct coolant to use. I phoned the Indy garage that I use. Found out a) BMW use the blue coolant. b) my year car doesn't require coolant top-up (WHAT?) and has lifetime coolant. Huh? Is this the same with your car? No need to top up?

And do you know why it could be lost slowly? Well my brother doesn't think the coolant could last lifetime of the car without needing topping up or losing it's effectiveness. I tend to agree to a degree.

Please can the knowledgeable help?? We tried to find out what was in there - investigation revealed a clear looking liquid - has the colour faded or what? Have topped up with a little cooled down boiled water for now.

The coolant level was really low - the floater was at bottom.

 

[SGR1913]

From memory the service schedule recommends a coolant change every 4 years

 

[pvr]

Not life time on BMWs. I had the X5 changed at 4 years as per schedule. I had to top that one up once, bought the fluid from the dealer (not very expensive for a litre).

 

[VvrooomM]

BMW coolant is lifetime from 2004 ish onwards, they still check it and will change if needed. It used to be every couple of years pre 2004.

I speak from experience, had a falling out with service over it, confusion largely on my part moving from a 2003 M3 to 2006 Z4MC, either side of the change in coolant servicing

 

[2alpsade]

I got one of these to test the coolant efficacy on all 3 of my cars. The Roadster was fine at -20C and my newer D3BT was -22C. My recently re-acquired runabout/winter wheels was offscale so is getting a change of coolant right now. For a fiver, this piece of kit may save you a cracked block next winter if you're unsure about your coolant quality.....

A small coolant loss over time isn't a concern. The fluid expands and contracts in use, and if the engine got a little overhot sometime, it may have blown a bit out of the expansion tank vent. Don't just keep adding fresh water, though, as you'll thin the mix. Get some blue additive in there, too.

Oh, and what do BMW deem to be lifetime? 100k miles like everything else?

 

[Oakandacorns]

Thank you all for your replies.

I got one of these to test the coolant efficacy on all 3 of my cars. The Roadster was fine at -20C and my newer D3BT was -22C. My recently re-acquired runabout/winter wheels was offscale so is getting a change of coolant right now. For a fiver, this piece of kit may save you a cracked block next winter if you're unsure about your coolant quality.....

A small coolant loss over time isn't a concern. The fluid expands and contracts in use, and if the engine got a little overhot sometime, it may have blown a bit out of the expansion tank vent. Don't just keep adding fresh water, though, as you'll thin the mix. Get some blue additive in there, too.

Oh, and what do BMW deem to be lifetime? 100k miles like everything else?

Thanks for the link, I'm going to go to Halfords and see if they stock these there. Will top up with the blue BMW coolant after. And oh, checked the level inside the Coolant tank from the level thing and not moved a whisker since last week - so looks like all is well with the system so far.