I Need To Top Up The Coolant

[bad company]

I have a new 540 M Sport purchased March this year. Up to today I hadn’t opened the bonnet, no need to.

Today the coolant level warning showed, no problem I can see to that. I just spent about 20 minutes trying to get the bloody cap off, it’s like it’s welded on.

Oh the embarrassment of calling the AA or taking the car to BMW to top up the coolant.

[helix402]

Coolant type is G48.

[bad company]

helix402 said:

Coolant type is G48.

Thanks but I still to get the ******* cap off.

[Ructions]

bad company said:

helix402 said:

Coolant type is G48.

Thanks but I still to get the ******* cap off.

Pour some hot water over the cap.

[xjay1337]

My car does similar with the oil cap.
I think it's something to do with heat and pressure.

[anonymous-user]

Is the coolant actually low? Can you see it through the side of the header?

My F10 hasn’t had top up coolant put in in 4 years.

[bad company]

REALIST123 said:

Is the coolant actually low? Can you see it through the side of the header?

My F10 hasn’t had top up coolant put in in 4 years.

Yes I was surprised to need coolant in a 9 month old car but no I can’t see it.

I’m going to borrow Mrs BC’s hairdryer to heat and expand the cap.

Is it really necessary to use BMW coolant?

Edited by bad company on Saturday 16th December 18:56

[helix402]

bad company said:

Thanks but I still to get the ******* cap off.

Sorry, afraid I cannot bestow grip strength via the medium of an Internet forum. Hope you get it sorted. It it helps I’m fairly sure you will have BMW Emergency Service Cover, they will come to your house and sort it for you if necessary. (24hr Service)

When I worked for a BMW dealer and also did Emergency Service work all new cars had one years free cover. In the olden days you were covered for as long as you owned the car, we used to go to one owner E30s in the 2000s!

[helix402]

helix402 said:

I have checked, you have 3 years cover.

https://m.bmw.co.uk/en_gb/bmw-ownership/contact-bm...

You do not need gen BMW coolant. You need any coolant that meets G48 spec as per my earlier post.

[bad company]

helix402 said:

I have checked, you have 3 years cover.

https://m.bmw.co.uk/en_gb/bmw-ownership/contact-bm...

Thanks. To be fair I’m sure the car is driveable the warning just says coolant low. If I really can’t shift the cap I will take it into BMW.

[AlwynMike]

B58 3 litre engine?

Coolant consumption is not an uncommon problem I believe

There's two coolant reservoirs as well - or at least there is on the 340/440 - next to each other

And yes, tight AF

[SebringMan]

bad company said:

Yes I was surprised to need coolant in a 9 month old car but no I can’t see it.

I’m going to borrow Mrs BC’s hairdryer to heat and expand the cap.

Is it really necessary to use BMW coolant?

Edited by bad company on Saturday 16th December 18:56

What Helix said. Something to the spec.

On some cars with cooling 'issues' I've rarely had them when using approved coolants and I've done some big mileages in cars (as in 200k+). It's not just keeping the water from freezing it's having anti-corrision that work with the seals/water (in our case hard water) and metal in the system.

[alpinab3]

Once you get the cap off, smear some grease on the threads.

[Fox-]

bad company said:

Today the coolant level warning showed, no problem I can see to that. I

Are you sure it's no problem? It's a sealed system - where has the coolant gone and why in a 9 month old car?

[bad company]

Fox- said:

bad company said:

Today the coolant level warning showed, no problem I can see to that. I

Are you sure it's no problem? It's a sealed system - where has the coolant gone and why in a 9 month old car?

Fair point. I’m away for Xmas now and will attend to this when I return. Perhaps I should take the car into the dealer so they can top up the coolant and investigate what happened.

Presumably the dealership will be able to take the cover off even though the system will be hot?