Coolant/Antifreeze

[JBala84]

So whilst driving I got the 'coolant low' warning lights...
I called a whole bunch of mechanic up and they couldn't give me a exact answer to what coolant/colour of coolant/which reservoir to use etc... (barring, use BMW recommended).
So I found out through a forum that as small top of de-ionised water is adequate.
After the top up in the (blue) circled reservoir the light/warning etc disappeared.
When I opened the (red) circled reservoir, I couldn't see any fluid.

Is that a bad sign?

I presume that both tanks take the same coolant?

Should I fill up the (red) circled tank with some coolant or de-ironised water?

Or should I leave it alone till I get a warning light?

[M5Rick]

The red circled one is the engine cooling reservoir and needs top up with 50/50 mix BMW a/freeze and de-ionized water to the bottom of the pipe,torch may help here.
You topped up the blue circled which is the turbo intercoolers reservoir so you need to remove the engine cover carefully and check the 4 small turbo coolant hoses for leaks and replace using new hose clips.It's an M5 weak spot but easy to fix. It gets very hot there above the turbos and even with the heat sleeves in place they do eventually fry. As an additional protection I put a piece of folded thick oven foil underneath the hoses fixed with thin wire.

[JBala84]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

The red circled one is the engine cooling reservoir and needs top up with 50/50 mix BMW a/freeze and de-ionized water to the bottom of the pipe,torch may help here.
You topped up the blue circled which is the turbo intercoolers reservoir so you need to remove the engine cover carefully and check the 4 small turbo coolant hoses for leaks and replace using new hose clips.It's an M5 weak spot but easy to fix. It gets very hot there above the turbos and even with the heat sleeves in place they do eventually fry. As an additional protection I put a piece of folded thick oven foil underneath the hoses fixed with thin wire.

Cheers for the advice mate.
Does that mean that I made a mistake putting the de-ironised water in the blue tank?
Would you advice in adding some de-ironised water in the red tank too? At least till I can get the correct coolant etc...?

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by JBala84

Cheers for the advice mate.
Does that mean that I made a mistake putting the de-ironised water in the blue tank?
Would you advice in adding some de-ironised water in the red tank too? At least till I can get the correct coolant etc...?

De-ionized goes in both those tanks with 50/50 a/freeze mix, if it's just a bit of io water for top up then no problem until you get the BMW blue a/freeze.

[JBala84]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

De-ionized goes in both those tanks with 50/50 a/freeze mix, if it's just a bit of io water for top up then no problem until you get the BMW blue a/freeze.

Thanks. Appreciate your help.
Any thoughts on the following?


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00...1OLE&psc=1


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00...QTLI&psc=1

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by JBala84

Thanks. Appreciate your help.
Any thoughts on the following?


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00...KL5A1OLE&psc=1


https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00...8Z5BQTLI&psc=1

Can't really comment on these products as I only use the BMW solution but if they are BMW approved then it should be fine.You've just got to find out if they need mixing or are ready to pour in.It does say 'concentrate' on the G48 container which may mean it still need mixing.
For normal BMW's Comma and the others may be fine but for M cars I would only use the BMW product.

[JBala84]

Originally Posted by M5theonlyone

Can't really comment on these products as I only use the BMW solution but if they are BMW approved then it should be fine.You've just got to find out if they need mixing or are ready to pour in.It does say 'concentrate' on the G48 container which may mean it still need mixing.
For normal BMW's Comma and the others may be fine but for M cars I would only use the BMW product.

Appreciate all your help mate.

[M5Rick]

Originally Posted by JBala84

Appreciate all your help mate.

Anything else you want to know come here, some mechanics for other makes don't know a lot about M5 engines and their idiosyncrasies.

[OneExtra]

I wondered about my engine coolant and found the red side was only visible with a torch, it should just be at the bottom of the tube not right to the top.