2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
 

2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 BMW 5-Series (F10) Forums General 5-Series Sedan and Wagon (F10 / F11) Forum Coolant level low.... AGAIN?!
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      06-06-2015, 10:57 PM   #1
tres_Culebras
Homegrown in CA!
United_States
6
Rep
18
Posts

Drives: '11 528i
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: S. Cali, USA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW 528i  [0.00]
Coolant level low.... AGAIN?!

Hey guys.... Felt like this was a good time to bring up my maintenance issue with all the recalls and all lately. First, I have a 528i, (I know.. .. No turbo.) but none the less. I've have the car for several months now, I keep noticing that every 500 miles or so Im having to add water/ coolant. Is this normal? Does your car do this? I drive a lot and with this being my first BMW, I'm not 100% confident that this is something that should continually happening. No other issues.. Or anything. The tech at BMW Bakersfield, said... "these guys burn through water, this is totally normal." .... But his super red eyes and "bra" salutation most certainly doesnt add to his credibility. Any thoughts? Previous issues or know threads I can refer to for assistance. Thanks!
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2015, 01:27 AM   #2
mko9
Second Lieutenant
mko9's Avatar
United_States
56
Rep
244
Posts

Drives: '11 535i
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Yorktown, VA

iTrader: (1)

No, this isn't normal. I'd tell you to check the dipstick for froth (indicating a blown head gasket), but some fucking retard decided we don't need a dipstick anymore.

How many miles on your car?
__________________
Mike

'04 330i ZHP
'11 535i
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2015, 03:14 AM   #3
The Beast
Lieutenant Colonel
The Beast's Avatar
United Kingdom
266
Rep
1,597
Posts

Drives: VW Transporter Sportline
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Wolverhampton

iTrader: (0)

Definitely not normal, have you checked for wet patches on your drive/garage floor after it's been parked up for a while?

You could have a minor leak on a hose/radiator.
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2015, 10:29 AM   #4
OEMonsterz
Private First Class
OEMonsterz's Avatar
United Kingdom
11
Rep
139
Posts

Drives: 535D M Sport
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: London

iTrader: (0)

Get to the dealership. BMW not an indi and have them investigate. This is how my E36 died a horrible death. Your car should never require coolant until it's due service. It's a world of pain once the engines cooked!

Also when did the problem start? Have you had any heating problems, including the heaters playing up inside the car? When you topped the car up, was it hot or cold?

Last edited by OEMonsterz; 06-07-2015 at 11:35 AM.. Reason: Poor Humour
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2015, 11:13 AM   #5
lsturbointeg
Lieutenant General
lsturbointeg's Avatar
United_States
9149
Rep
14,522
Posts

Drives: 2011 535i Jet Black
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Asian lost in OH

iTrader: (0)

Any coolant leaks on the floor? Any white smoke out the back tail? If we had a dipstick but we don't it would have been easy to check cause your oil would have a milky look to it. Do u feel like the car has loss some power?
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2015, 11:51 AM   #6
BMWrules7
Lieutenant Colonel
306
Rep
1,684
Posts

Drives: 2015, 740 LdX, Alpine White
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Boston Area

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tres_Culebras
Hey guys.... Felt like this was a good time to bring up my maintenance issue with all the recalls and all lately. First, I have a 528i, (I know.. .. No turbo.) but none the less. I've have the car for several months now, I keep noticing that every 500 miles or so Im having to add water/ coolant. Is this normal? Does your car do this? I drive a lot and with this being my first BMW, I'm not 100% confident that this is something that should continually happening. No other issues.. Or anything. The tech at BMW Bakersfield, said... "these guys burn through water, this is totally normal." .... But his super red eyes and "bra" salutation most certainly doesnt add to his credibility. Any thoughts? Previous issues or know threads I can refer to for assistance. Thanks!
You should never lose that much coolant.

BMW clamps are notorious for leaking when not tight. Easy fix!

It may not even be serious. Go to a new dealer.
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2015, 06:16 PM   #7
493263
Lieutenant
493263's Avatar
71
Rep
510
Posts

Drives: 2011 550i xDrive
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: DC

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tres_Culebras View Post
I keep noticing that every 500 miles or so Im having to add water/ coolant.
You definitely have a leak and a significant one. Don't let them lie to you. Even the 550i doesn't burn through coolant that much and it's a much hotter engine.
Appreciate 0
      06-07-2015, 06:35 PM   #8
Dhu
Private
2
Rep
76
Posts

Drives: 2011 550
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SF Bay area

iTrader: (0)

similar issue, they found a leak when it went in for service. Similarly for the oil...had a small leak.
__________________
_______________________________________________
Dinan Stage 5 550i, Dinan springs, Dinan Exhaust, Shockware
Appreciate 0
      06-09-2015, 11:01 PM   #9
tres_Culebras
Homegrown in CA!
United_States
6
Rep
18
Posts

Drives: '11 528i
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: S. Cali, USA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW 528i  [0.00]
Sorry for the delay... Thanks for all the help!

Car only has 42K in miles, no heather issues or running hot. Car stays below 250 on the dash for temp. every time I have filled up the water, the car has been warm, some minor white froth while topping off.

Hopefully get my car to the shop by Thursday. Thanx for the help guys. Let you know what happens.
Appreciate 0
      06-10-2015, 02:03 AM   #10
493263
Lieutenant
493263's Avatar
71
Rep
510
Posts

Drives: 2011 550i xDrive
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: DC

iTrader: (0)

Did you check for leaks or smell burnt coolant? There's no way any car should burn that much coolant. Smell your oil to see if it's leaking in there.
Appreciate 0
      06-10-2015, 04:24 PM   #11
Roswell
Second Lieutenant
87
Rep
235
Posts

Drives: 2012 535xi
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Canada

iTrader: (0)

That's not normal, I'm laughing at how incompetent some tech at the stealership can be.

U definitely have a leak in ur system, and let's hope it's not going into ur engine oil.. Get it check ASAP.
Appreciate 0
      06-13-2015, 11:45 PM   #12
tres_Culebras
Homegrown in CA!
United_States
6
Rep
18
Posts

Drives: '11 528i
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: S. Cali, USA

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
2011 BMW 528i  [0.00]
Yeah checked but didn't smell anything abnormal. No water or stains on the floor. Got an appt for this Wednesday. We'll see.... Hopefully no big damage has been done.
Appreciate 0
      10-12-2015, 02:59 PM   #13
drlonline
Lieutenant
drlonline's Avatar
United_States
138
Rep
514
Posts

Drives: 2019 i8 Coupe
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: L.A., CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by tres_Culebras View Post
Yeah checked but didn't smell anything abnormal. No water or stains on the floor. Got an appt for this Wednesday. We'll see.... Hopefully no big damage has been done.
Know this was posted several months ago, but am curious what the problem was. I have a similar situation with getting the "low coolant level" warning. This is the second time I've gotten this in two months.
Appreciate 0
      10-13-2015, 11:37 PM   #14
Teddylongtooth
ZEROdoubleZERO
Teddylongtooth's Avatar
228
Rep
659
Posts

Drives: 2011 550i m sport
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Las Vegas

iTrader: (1)

Quote:
Originally Posted by drlonline View Post
Know this was posted several months ago, but am curious what the problem was. I have a similar situation with getting the "low coolant level" warning. This is the second time I've gotten this in two months.
Pop your engine cover off and look at the water lines going to the turbos, those water lines are known to leak where they clamp to the metal lines on the turbos. Mine were leaking and bmw charged me $500 to replace them, I was out of town at the time and said "fuck it go ahead". My mistake, I could have replaced them for like $25 with regular hose clamps and heater hose from the auto part store. There is a thread on here where a guy replaced his that can be used as a reference.
Appreciate 0
      10-19-2015, 02:38 PM   #15
drlonline
Lieutenant
drlonline's Avatar
United_States
138
Rep
514
Posts

Drives: 2019 i8 Coupe
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: L.A., CA

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by drlonline View Post
Know this was posted several months ago, but am curious what the problem was. I have a similar situation with getting the "low coolant level" warning. This is the second time I've gotten this in two months.
Just to close the loop on my previous post, it turns out the low coolant sensor wire connector was loose, and that caused the error message. Though still under warranty, I'm glad it wasn't something more serious. And I got a free car wash
Appreciate 0
      05-20-2018, 06:18 PM   #16
Dwaine876
Registered
United_States
0
Rep
1
Posts

Drives: 2011 550i rear drive
Join Date: May 2018
Location: connecticut

iTrader: (0)

I also am having this problem . My car gave me a warning that its low on coolant. Also my 1st BMW I have 88,000.00 miles on it . and I do i have minor wisps of white smoke from tail pipes.
Appreciate 0
      05-22-2018, 04:03 PM   #17
TLK
First Lieutenant
TLK's Avatar
108
Rep
384
Posts

Drives: '14 M5 CP, '12 550i, '04 545i
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SF Bay, CA

iTrader: (0)

If you never check the coolant level yourself, the warning is probably real. You can check it yourself by using a tape measure set to 6 inches. Do this only when the car has sat overnight and it's cold. Stick it in the filler neck until the plastic body and tape measure hits the top of the filler neck. The measure should just reach the coolant level in the lower part of the filler neck. If it doesn't, you don't have enough coolant.
Appreciate 0
      05-24-2018, 09:51 PM   #18
pdrf10
A Man of Wisdumb...
pdrf10's Avatar
United_States
28
Rep
114
Posts

Drives: 2011 F10 550i M Sport
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Playa Del Rey, CA

iTrader: (0)

I had the "low coolant" alert earlier this month, and ended up having to put over a liter of fluid (50-50 mix of BMW coolant & distilled water) back into the system just to bring the levels back up to normal.

As the original owner, this is the first time I've experienced this issue. I've only got 59,850 miles on the odo, and my first thought was the dreaded turbo coolant lines were the culprit, once again (they were all replaced last year, and ended up not being the source of my leakage).

Further investigation revealed the expansion tank coming off the radiator was slowly weeping fluid at the top/sidewall seam; a problem that was not obvious at first, but after some online research and verification by placing a clean white towel along the seam after a spirited drive, the blue-tinted coolant leak became readily apparent.

The separate mini expansion tank for my intercoolers seems to be holding up fine, but I ordered a new cover lid as a preventative measure (cheap insurance courtesy of ECStuning.com). I'm having the main expansion tank / "radiator cap" / fluid level switch replaced next week during a 60K service interval, and hope this cures the problem...

Good luck in resolving your issue!
__________________

Last edited by pdrf10; 05-24-2018 at 09:58 PM..
Appreciate 0
      05-25-2018, 12:34 AM   #19
Big Mexican Women
Banned
100
Rep
343
Posts

Drives: 2011 528i
Join Date: May 2018
Location: GTA

iTrader: (0)

everybody says it's not normal, and it's not. your coolant system is a sealed unit so it's definitely not normal for any coolant to be consumed, but for whatever reason this seems to be a common issue with BMW's. I have had to top up the coolant on both my vehicles many times.
Appreciate 0
      05-27-2018, 12:33 PM   #20
TLK
First Lieutenant
TLK's Avatar
108
Rep
384
Posts

Drives: '14 M5 CP, '12 550i, '04 545i
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SF Bay, CA

iTrader: (0)

The tank caps are notoriously bad. I remember reading letters in Roundel about how one person had to go through 3 new ones just to get a good one. I've not had that bad a problem, but you do have to change them out every few years because they seem to lose their pressure rating. They are supposed to allow blow off after the pressure gets to the stated amount, but they start to leak out at lower pressure than that after a while and you can see dried coolant round the area.

BMWs are quite prone to coolant leaks, I've had 9 BMWs are generally the coolant systems require more maintenance, and on some models some of the parts aren't too robust, and need more frequent replacements. If you are losing coolant, you have a leak somewhere. You can have a shop pressure test and figure it out if you can't find it at home.
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:05 AM.




5post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST