hi, all, I noticed that my coolant maybe slightly less than Min and want to add some, can I just add most of the coolant available in market, or I need to add specific Mini OEM ones?

it's a 2005 R53, i bought it used few year ago, and seems it's already many years after it get coolant service.

I assume it doesn't matter as long as I add any good quality branded coolant

thanks for the answers.

 

Look at the color of whay you have now....and add something compatible.
Generaly any NON-DEXCOOL, IEorgange coolant is ok....
Mini/bmw oem is blue....it is better to use a mini/oem compatible coolant...i think zerix g05 global is the same as mini's, but a different color...
And it sounds like you are overdue for a coolant service...every 36-48 months max is when it should be done.

 

Yes OEM MINI coolant or Zerex G-05 is good. It will look blueish just like zippy said.

If you do a coolant flush I like either one of those. Also inspect the coolant expansion tank , they sometimes leak at the seams and that's where you can loose coolant.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/82140031133/



http://www.ecstuning.com/ES2142836/




Here is the coolant expansion tank. Make sure you inspect your old one.




Thanks and I hope that helps.

 

I use OEM as it is low phosphate. I cannot vouch for others.

 

Make sure you mix it with distilled water.

 

What buzzsaw was referring to:



This is the label on the back of the MINI OEM Coolant.

 

I've used Zerex G-05 in both my MINI and 330i. Just like OEM. Good stuff.

 

Cannot get the here. +1 on distilled water.

 

Don't wish to take this thread in a different direction but have a question about coolant. If each year, you would siphon almost all of the coolant out of the expansion tank, and replace it with a mixture of 50/50 coolant/distilled water, would that coolant circulate though the system or just sit in the tank? Also, I read where the cap would leak in the pressure was high. Doesn't the coolant tank have an overflow hose?

 

It would circulate, it will blow out the cap, and the cooling system is a sealed system. So no overflow hose. It will spit it out the cap.

 

On the s, the tank is the expansion tank....it is all underpreassure, and the overflow is the cap.....the fastest way to make a tank leak is to overfill it......some mixing will occur from the tank, but that is not the purpose.

 

If you want to do a "no bleed coolant refresh", try this....
With the car/warm, (thermostat open), you can open the bleed valve partway, letting coolant drip out, with the car running, while refilling the tank till you have drained and filled about a gallon or so....not very efficent, but will work, just dont't let the tank run dry, and catch and dispose of the coolant properly. One tip....if the bleed valve is opened more than a couple of turns, it will pop out, opening big opening, and scaling hot coolant will gush out.....very rapidly.
Imo dropping the lower radiator hose, draining, then reconnecting is less messy, gets any chunks out, and is more through....just takes a bleeding with BOTH bleed locations, and mayve a couple of short drives to be sure...most home mechanics bleed 2 or 3 times to get it right and use an extra half gallon or so off coolant.