What Antifreeze for 2001 E46?

Oxide™

Oxide™

Oxide™

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Need to top up the coolant but want to put in the correct antifreeze - manual says ethylene glycol (not the OAT stuff) extended-duty antifreeze with corrosion inhibitor. Going past Halfords tonight but I can't see them stocking this type, any suggestions please?
 
Halford's do that type of coolant, its named advanced engine coolant or something, I was going to get some for the mr2 but it was cheeper to get coolant direct from Toyota.
 
Get one that's the same colour as the one in the rad, this is very important. I don't believe there is anything more to it than that really.
 
Clarkey said:
Get one that's the same colour as the one in the rad, this is very important. I don't believe there is anything more to it than that really.
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This is the worst advice ever I thought? Different manufacturers use different colours for different coolants, or so I've read on the internet. :D
 
Wicksta you have a BMW, what antifreeze do you use?
I have second thoughts on this halfords stuff - may just take it back and get official BMW antifreeze which is £8.50 for 1.5 litres so not a lot for peace of mind.
 
Oxide™ said:
Wicksta you have a BMW, what antifreeze do you use?
I have second thoughts on this halfords stuff - may just take it back and get official BMW antifreeze which is £8.50 for 1.5 litres so not a lot for peace of mind.
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Oxide, I've not changed coolant on BMWs recently, none have needed it (I wanted to keep the service/stamp history on any I've had recently or had service packs). The only thing I've done lately is change oil and power steering fluid. But I've read that colour isn't a decent indicator of type of coolant.
 
The more important question is why are you topping it up? Its a sealed system and it doesnt need topping up unless there is a problem.
 
No idea Fox, I checked today and the floaty bob thing is basically resting on the bottom, I reckon 300 ml will get it right. Booked my first service with her next week Friday so will see what they say (Inspection I)
 
Oxide™ said:
No idea Fox, I checked today and the floaty bob thing is basically resting on the bottom, I reckon 300 ml will get it right. Booked my first service with her next week Friday so will see what they say (Inspection I)
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I suspect you have a problem.

Mine was changed in 2008 and has remained at exactly the same level ever since.
 
Found a bottle of bluecol that sounds ideal, it was left here when we moved in 4 years ago. Don't suppose anyone knows the shelf life of Bluecol?
 
To be compeltely honest with you when I went through my cooling system problems I was topping up with 50% deionised water and 50% antifreeze and didn't have a problem.

I was more concerned with the fact it was leaking it out all over the engine bay rather than how it would mix with what little was left in the system, mind, but it was fine.
 
Were the issues with the cooling systems "revised" with new parts or will they be due to pack up again a few years down the line?
 
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