DIY On deck: Rear Diff bushing. Another symptom of a problem with the coolant level sensor is low coolant. It only takes a minute to sign up. The engine overheating is another indicator of a problem with the sensor. The problem with using water in your cooling system is that water freezes at 0C. Proper installation is essential to ensure that your lights do not interfere with other drivers. If youre in the Fontana, CA area, we encourage you to stop by, chat with our professionals, and keep us in mind for your next BMW maintenance service or repair. Even litigation-wary vehicle manufacturers will invariably recommend this in owner manuals (paraphrased from my W12 Touareg manual): If the recommended coolant/coolant grade is not available and the coolant level is low, top up the reservoir with distilled water and have the system evaluated by an authorized dealership as soon as possible. Itis not leaking anywhere. Your ACs temperature may be affected by the proximity of your cars interior to your engine. (Compared), BMW i8 Reliability (How Long Does it Last? Part Number 82-14-2-209-769. It is preferable to stop if there is insufficient coolant in the vehicle. One of the most common symptoms of a faulty coolant level sensor is a Coolant Level Light that stays on. What to do next? Proper installation is essential to ensure that your lights do not interfere with other drivers. A malfunctioned coolant sensor may lead to a diminution in fuel efficiency or it may even lead to improper emission readings. This is way too big of a task to try to undertake with no knowledge of your BMWs cooling system. Which coolant type is best for your BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, or Volkswagen out of the many available options? It seems that there are mixed reviews on preventative maintenance on E90 water pumps and that just wait until it fails. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". I suppose it is also important to find out why coolant has disappeared. BMW specifies a special coolant with a high boiling point, low freezing point, and a specific ratio of water and antifreeze. A vehicle engine creates enough heat when in operation that it could weld its parts together. The gaskets at the oil filter housing and the oil cooler housing need to be changed. When you have given your automobile enough time to warm up, the blue light will turn off. While this is true for the majority of instances, it isnt always the case. That dipstick pops back into the foam float. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. It is important that you have your vehicle inspected as soon as you notice the low coolant light illuminated on your dashboard, so that you can have your vehicle serviced and make sure it is safe to drive on the road. Ignoring it could result in serious harm to your engine because its an indication that your engine is overheating. Can you drive with engine cooling light on? It might be obvious, but if the car won't hold coolant due to a major leak, you wouldn't want to drive it - the engine would overheat with disastrous and very expensive-to-repair consequences. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. You can technically drive a few miles with low coolant, but doing so is dangerous. Carolina Stone is the founder and lead contributor of carolinasbmwmoa.org, a popular blog dedicated to all things about BMWs. But if it is below the minimum, please do not even try to run your engine. Although using water instead of low coolant is significantly better for the engine, you should switch the water out as soon as you can for the proper coolant for your car. I did not bleed the pump as mentioned above. Part Number 82-14-2-209-769. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. You need to read fault codes to find out why your BMW check engine light is . Intermittent "low coolant" light. The water pump seems to be. A cold air intake works by moving the engines air filter away from the engine, so that . If the coolant warning light becomes illuminated on your dashboard as youre driving along, its a certain sign that your engine is overheating. Any remaining coolant in the radiator is diluted when water is added to it. This warning does not need to be reset. If the problem occurs again, have it checked for leaks. One very common cause of a leaking BMW radiator is when a plastic pipe connection at the bottom of the radiator cracks or breaks.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'yourbmwblog_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_4',118,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yourbmwblog_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); This is a common cause of many warning lights coming on temporarily. While using water in place of the coolant will allow you to drive the automobile for a brief period of time, your engine wont be adequately protected. If the coolant level is low, add the correct coolant to the reservoir (not the radiator itself). Silicate and phosphate corrosion inhibitors are not used in OAT coolants. Add more coolant if needed and repeat this process until the coolant warning light goes off. If your vehicle's low coolant light is on, it means there is not enough coolant in the system. I had a similar issue, with Low Coolant warnings when starting on cold days (freezing) only. In order to do this, it must contain the coolant but it also must contain the pressure in the system. If the low coolant light comes on while driving, you should pull over at the first safe place you can. How much does it cost to replace a coolant temperature sensor? In the last few days the "low coolant" light has been intermittently turning on on my friend's BMW X3 (2007 ~70K miles). If your doing a 50/50 mixture the water does not have to be distilled. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as a leak in the cooling system, or a malfunction in the coolant level sensor. The CEL light will reset itself in a few driving cycles, typically within a day or two. If this warning light comes on, it is important to check the engine coolant level and add coolant if necessary. Check it by unplugging the sensor wire from your reservoir and connect it to that of an empty known working one and flip it upside down. Any indication that your BMW is not running as it should is cause for concern. I own a 2000 323I. Pull the hood release under the dash twice. It is common for the light to come on during a temperature change to cold weather due to contra. If this light comes on, it means that the engine is not being properly cooled and could be in danger of overheating. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Then, turn off the engine and check the coolant level again. If your coolant light stays on even after driving for a few minutes, then its time to check your coolant levels and the coolant sensor. Its air bubbles trapped inside the water pump assembly, the entire coolant system had to be flushed which took over 2 hours to accomplish. What does the coolant light look like on a BMW? You should have your car checked out and serviced if this is the case. Can you top your coolant up with water? How long can you drive a BMW without coolant? if the level doesn't drop again and all is good you can always arrange for a coolant flush later on down the line. Could this have caused any damage? Open expansion tank cap 6. This could indicate that a sensor is malfunctioning or that there is a significant issue with the coolant no longer circulating around the engine. Tally how many spark plug wires are present. All coolants are naturally transparent, and dye is used to give them color. The first thing you should do is stop the car, even if you have just been a few miles to the supermarket and are on your way back. If your car has a low coolant you can drive for some time. I had the same problem too and it was fixed by the dealership. If the coolant light on your vehicle's dashboard is illuminated, this is a certain sign your engine could be overheating and you should safely pull your vehicle over as soon as possible. While you can drive the car for a short time using water in place of the coolant, it wont effectively protect your engine. A cold air intake works by moving the engines air filter away from the engine, so that . _____ 2008 335i Alpine White Sport Sedan AT | Avant Garde M364 Staggered 19" Appreciate 0 Quote 01-20-2014, 10:34 AM #20: Augster. by Edward Hernandez | Nov 21, 2021 | BMW Repair. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. open the hood and check the level in the black container in the left hand side. Keep our number in your phone or give us a call today at (909) 997-1731. There are a couple of things that could cause the coolant to go down faster than anticipated including leaks and cracks, if the coolant is below the required level, top it up and switch the car on. People on the forum were like WTF????!!!! Continued use of an overheated engine could lead to permanent damage, such as pistons welding to the cylinders. Is It Safe To Drive With The VSA Light On In Your Car? Never appears when the car is first started. Having a similar problem. In that case bottle water is fine for a 50/50 mixture. I have a 2014 335 Exide BMW. In 2018, she decided to combine her passion for BMWs by creating a blog specifically for BMW enthusiasts in the region. I'd recommend cleaning the oil spots and monitoring to see if the stains return in the short term. What is the BMW 3 Series Coolant Warning Light? Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. If this has happened, youll probably notice a pool of coolant underneath your car. When the cooling system reaches a low pressure, the car might perceive this as low coolant. Typically, coolant can affect your ACs temperature, humidity, and airflow. It has no impact on the coolants chemical properties that each producer adds their own colour blend. These coolants are made to last for 150,000 miles and have a long service life (or 5 years). When the message says Reset, let go of the button and press and hold it once more. Takes exactly 12 minutes each time and you'll probably need a jump if your battery isn't very new. Then drive to the nearest auto store.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'yourbmwblog_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_10',120,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-yourbmwblog_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0'); Your email address will not be published. 71. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". A failed coolant sensor is the main reason why your BMW's coolant light flashes on and off; if the light flashes on and off while coolant is present in your expansion tank, the sensor is probably damaged. As soon as its safe to do so, you should first and foremost stop your car. Maintenance/Repairs. However, if the level is below the minimum, kindly do not even attempt to start your engine. The right coolant is necessary to keep the engine from running hot and triggers the coolant sensor. Zerex G-48 Formula Full Strength Coolant The ZEREX G-48 coolant is ideal for BMW cars. The reason behind such defective sensor would be a probable loose . Then in few days filled up another 1 liter of BMW gray coolant. While this typically means the coolant level has hit a point that is too low, you should immediately pull over and stop driving if this happens to you. Carolina Stone is the founder and lead contributor of carolinasbmwmoa.org, a popular blog dedicated to all things about BMWs. That's the low coolant warning. Even a brief drive in such a vehicle is not recommended because it could seriously harm the engine of your vehicle and incur expensive repairs. There are several other reasons this may happen that are unrelated to the amount of coolant in your BMW: Most of these issues will have to be fixed by a trained mechanic. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. In total, one could expect to pay $70-$330 to have their engine coolant temperature sensor replaced. In some cases, it will cost you less than $100, especially if its a minor leak that just needs to be sealed. No matter what type of car you drive, whether its a BMW, Porsche, Mercedes Benz, Audi, Mini, or Volkswagen, your car circulates a solution of water and coolant to dissipate the heat generated within the engine and prevent it from completely melting down (one notable exception are older Porsche models that are air and oil cooled and did not use water or coolant, but instead circulated a large amount of oil to dissipate the heat). Copyright Momentum Motorworks. It cost me $8.35 (also available on GetBMWParts website for $6.68. If your vehicles coolant warning light is lit on the dashboard, you need to bring your vehicle to an automotive shop promptly to ensure it receives the maintenance it needs. Engine overheating. Had the car up on a lift, no drips/leaks from anywhere while running. BMWMatt. Given that the coolant is blue, it could be that the cooling system has been adversely affected by the use of a coolant type it wasn't designed for, though I'm not sure if I would blame it for this vehicle's coolant loss woes. The easiest way how to fix low coolant is to begin filling your coolant back to acceptable levels and allow the coolant to soak back into the system. If it's normally closed, then you would have to short the connector plug after disconnecting it when performing the test. The dealer has 1 liter bottles of BMW branded coolant available for purchase. First, check the coolant level and add coolant if needed. Never found any leaks, cloudy oil during an oil change or smell anti-freeze. The BMW coolant system is designed to keep the engine at a consistent temperature, but if there is a leak, the coolant level can drop quickly. Connect a ground wire (1) to the battery negative terminal. If you can, park it until you can get it to a shop. They handle great, rear-wheel-drive accelerate extremely fast and are very comfortable in every type of environment. Why Does Your Mini Hesitate to Start During Cold Mornings in Fontana? I used 100% dexcool on our GM, and no water. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. The light is not constantly on yet. High boiling point, low freezing point, low freezing point, and airflow coolant warnings when starting on days! To drive with the VSA light on in your car checked out and serviced if this light comes on it. Coolant, it isnt always the case to drive with the coolant warning light and repeat this until... Even lead to improper emission readings and a specific ratio of water and antifreeze her for!, she decided to combine her passion for BMWs by creating a blog specifically for BMW cars if., check the coolant level sensor is low, add the correct coolant to the battery negative terminal give a. 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