328i Warning coolant level - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

Gel214th · 09-25-2012, 08:45 AM

Hey,

I just got a warning pop on the dash about low coolant level. Is this supposed to run out at this stage? My scheduled service according to the system check is another 5000Km or some time in 2013.

I thought we weren't supposed to touch the fluids etc. in the car really.

Should I just put bottled water into the coolant tank??

mocohead · 09-25-2012, 08:48 AM

This is not unusual. You should check fluids regularly. Please add distilled water to your expansion tank until it is full. Best practice is to fill it when the car is cold.

Note that if the system was very low on coolant, there may be an air bubble. Don't be surprised if the car asks you to again add coolant in a couple of days. That is not a problem.

On the e9x series cars (I haven't tried it with the f30) you follow this procedure to bleed the system:

Turn heat all the way up
Put fan on low speed
Turn ignition on, but do not start engine
Hold throttle pedal all the way down, past the kick down switch, for 15-30 seconds

When you open the coolant filler cap (again, cold engine) you should see the water circulating. This will get all the air out of the system.

You should give this procedure a try. It couldn't hurt...

Gel214th · 09-25-2012, 08:57 AM

Distilled water is not bottled water?

mocohead · 09-25-2012, 11:02 AM

Not all bottled water is also distilled. Check the label. If you can't find distilled, don't sweat it. But this is a good time to add some Redline Water Wetter to help keep your engine cooler!!!

nbennettksu · 09-25-2012, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mocohead

Not all bottled water is also distilled. Check the label. If you can't find distilled, don't sweat it. But this is a good time to add some Redline Water Wetter to help keep your engine cooler!!!

Water Wetter mixed with coolant turns into goop. If I remember correctly, the WW bottle states: not to mix with coolant. I could be wrong, it was about 8 years ago when I last used that stuff...

martinf79 · 09-25-2012, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gel214th

Distilled water is not bottled water?

Ummm no .. bottled water still as minerals in it. It just removes hard minerals (as part of the reverse osmosis process). There is still "nutritional" value in the water

Distilled water is essentially "dead water" meaning all minterals have been removed and drinking it isn't actually recommended. You won't die from it, but not good over the long term as it provides zero nutritional value. Distilled water is needed so that no desposits are left within the cooling system.

n55x3 · 09-25-2012, 11:47 AM

Assuming you are just going to add a few ounces bottled water or distilled would suffice. This little amount should not have an impact to the coolant plumbing if bottled water is used.

They say 'distilled' water because distilled water is a constant anywhere in the world, has no deposits and is always the same thing and is always safe. If it just said clean water then it would be open for interpretation. Some would add river water, salt water, you name it.

Now if you were doing a complete flush and replace then, by all means, definitely use distilled for your 50/50 mix.

ramonE90-NL · 09-25-2012, 03:27 PM

I have the same problem in my F30. I've had the warning low coolant 2 times.

It seems to be a coolant sensor problem. Its a known fault at BMW, they are going to replace it on warranty

Romaytor · 09-27-2012, 10:58 PM

Hey guys ive had the same problem twice already. Took it to my dealer n cheked it out n said the coolent level was fine i guess ill just keep an eye in it!

adeelabid · 11-24-2012, 03:04 AM

i've been getting low coolant warnings for the last couple of days.. theres no signs of leakage.. i topped up the coolant a few times (first time it was very low).. went to bmw today, they put my VIN number in their system and then told me its a common fault with the most 3 series models.. i personally believe its the iDrive problem.. they have asked me to leave my car at the workshop overnight.. i'l update you guys as i hear from them!

karaeloko · 11-25-2012, 03:25 PM

It could be a sensor problem. Check the coolant level before adding anything...

It happened to me twice, and had it checked by the dealer and they said it was a problem with the sensor. The replacement part arrived a week or so later and they changed it free of charge.

Both times the warning came up, I had the car parked outside for several hours on a hot day with no roof over which I don't usually do. Don't know for sure but that was the only thing in common both times it happened.

bmw328jc · 11-30-2012, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karaeloko

It could be a sensor problem. Check the coolant level before adding anything...

It happened to me twice, and had it checked by the dealer and they said it was a problem with the sensor. The replacement part arrived a week or so later and they changed it free of charge.

Both times the warning came up, I had the car parked outside for several hours on a hot day with no roof over which I don't usually do. Don't know for sure but that was the only thing in common both times it happened.

its an issue with the expansion tank and sensor. I was getting low coolant errors at almost every red light. The replaced the tank and sensor and that solved the problem. Tell them they need to pull that service bulletin.

unintelligible · 12-03-2012, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmw328jc

its an issue with the expansion tank and sensor. I was getting low coolant errors at almost every red light. The replaced the tank and sensor and that solved the problem. Tell them they need to pull that service bulletin.

Thanks for this, I got the light a few times as well, coolant level has always been at max in the expansion tank. Another one for my list of glitches for the dealer

You don't happen to know what the SIB number is for this, by chance? Just in case they try to give me grief over it since I probably won't be able to reproduce it for them.

bmw328jc · 12-05-2012, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unintelligible

Thanks for this, I got the light a few times as well, coolant level has always been at max in the expansion tank. Another one for my list of glitches for the dealer

You don't happen to know what the SIB number is for this, by chance? Just in case they try to give me grief over it since I probably won't be able to reproduce it for them.

I don't they didn't give it to me but come to think of it they never gave me any paperwork. I will get them to fax to me tomorrow and it if has it listed I will post it.

stylus1133 · 12-12-2012, 06:25 PM

I just took mine in for the low coolant warning coming on even though there was plenty of coolant in there. They fixed it per the SIB. My service advisor told me that the sensor wire was getting corroded, so they replaced the sensor and put some type of cover over it. Also, there were two other SIBs that they performed on the car. One was a software update (possibly the wiper issue in other threads), and the other was putting some rubber stops in the front headrests.

As far as using only distilled water over a 50/50 mix, that should be fine, as long as you don't live somewhere with freezing temperature, because when I took my car in initially for them to look at it, they just put distilled water in it.

bcl0328 · 03-17-2013, 03:46 PM

i just started getting this

had no issues prior to this. i went in once already and they just topped it off. it did go away but came on again. level is the same.

estoril335 · 05-10-2013, 09:34 PM

When i got my car, (60 miles on the odo), the car was showing low coolant. Service topped it off, and i havent seen it since then. Car has 300 miles now. Any ideas on why it was low?

09-25-2012, 08:45 AM	#1
Gel214th Private Drives: Melbourne Red BMW 328i sport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Trinidad Posts: 53 iTrader: (0)	328i Warning coolant level Hey, I just got a warning pop on the dash about low coolant level. Is this supposed to run out at this stage? My scheduled service according to the system check is another 5000Km or some time in 2013. I thought we weren't supposed to touch the fluids etc. in the car really. Should I just put bottled water into the coolant tank??
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11-25-2012, 03:25 PM	#11
karaeloko New Member Drives: BMW 328i 2012 Imperial Blue Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Panama Posts: 5 iTrader: (0)	It could be a sensor problem. Check the coolant level before adding anything... It happened to me twice, and had it checked by the dealer and they said it was a problem with the sensor. The replacement part arrived a week or so later and they changed it free of charge. Both times the warning came up, I had the car parked outside for several hours on a hot day with no roof over which I don't usually do. Don't know for sure but that was the only thing in common both times it happened. Last edited by karaeloko; 11-25-2012 at 03:30 PM.

05-10-2013, 09:34 PM	#17
estoril335 New Member Drives: 2013 335i estoril blue on red! Join Date: May 2013 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 12 iTrader: (0)	When i got my car, (60 miles on the odo), the car was showing low coolant. Service topped it off, and i havent seen it since then. Car has 300 miles now. Any ideas on why it was low? __________________ F30 335i M Sport Estoril Blue on Red

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09-25-2012, 08:48 AM	#2
mocohead First Lieutenant Drives: 2012 328i (ED)/ 2011 328i (ED) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CA Posts: 301 iTrader: (0)	This is not unusual. You should check fluids regularly. Please add distilled water to your expansion tank until it is full. Best practice is to fill it when the car is cold. Note that if the system was very low on coolant, there may be an air bubble. Don't be surprised if the car asks you to again add coolant in a couple of days. That is not a problem. On the e9x series cars (I haven't tried it with the f30) you follow this procedure to bleed the system: Turn heat all the way up Put fan on low speed Turn ignition on, but do not start engine Hold throttle pedal all the way down, past the kick down switch, for 15-30 seconds When you open the coolant filler cap (again, cold engine) you should see the water circulating. This will get all the air out of the system. You should give this procedure a try. It couldn't hurt...

09-25-2012, 08:57 AM	#3
Gel214th Private Drives: Melbourne Red BMW 328i sport Join Date: May 2008 Location: Trinidad Posts: 53 iTrader: (0)	Distilled water is not bottled water?

09-25-2012, 11:02 AM	#4
mocohead First Lieutenant Drives: 2012 328i (ED)/ 2011 328i (ED) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: CA Posts: 301 iTrader: (0)	Not all bottled water is also distilled. Check the label. If you can't find distilled, don't sweat it. But this is a good time to add some Redline Water Wetter to help keep your engine cooler!!!

09-25-2012, 11:47 AM	#7
n55x3 Lieutenant Drives: n55 x3 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: us Posts: 412 iTrader: (0)	Assuming you are just going to add a few ounces bottled water or distilled would suffice. This little amount should not have an impact to the coolant plumbing if bottled water is used. They say 'distilled' water because distilled water is a constant anywhere in the world, has no deposits and is always the same thing and is always safe. If it just said clean water then it would be open for interpretation. Some would add river water, salt water, you name it. Now if you were doing a complete flush and replace then, by all means, definitely use distilled for your 50/50 mix.

09-25-2012, 03:27 PM	#8
ramonE90-NL Private First Class Drives: bmw F30 320iA Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: The netherlands Posts: 135 iTrader: (0)	I have the same problem in my F30. I've had the warning low coolant 2 times. It seems to be a coolant sensor problem. Its a known fault at BMW, they are going to replace it on warranty

09-27-2012, 10:58 PM	#9
Romaytor Private Drives: 2012 bmw 328i Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: El paso tx Posts: 50 iTrader: (0)	Hey guys ive had the same problem twice already. Took it to my dealer n cheked it out n said the coolent level was fine i guess ill just keep an eye in it!

11-24-2012, 03:04 AM	#10
adeelabid New Member Drives: f30 328i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Bahrain Posts: 12 iTrader: (0)	i've been getting low coolant warnings for the last couple of days.. theres no signs of leakage.. i topped up the coolant a few times (first time it was very low).. went to bmw today, they put my VIN number in their system and then told me its a common fault with the most 3 series models.. i personally believe its the iDrive problem.. they have asked me to leave my car at the workshop overnight.. i'l update you guys as i hear from them!

12-12-2012, 06:25 PM	#15
stylus1133 Registered Drives: 2012 Alpine White 328i Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Scottsdale, AZ Posts: 1 iTrader: (0)	I just took mine in for the low coolant warning coming on even though there was plenty of coolant in there. They fixed it per the SIB. My service advisor told me that the sensor wire was getting corroded, so they replaced the sensor and put some type of cover over it. Also, there were two other SIBs that they performed on the car. One was a software update (possibly the wiper issue in other threads), and the other was putting some rubber stops in the front headrests. As far as using only distilled water over a 50/50 mix, that should be fine, as long as you don't live somewhere with freezing temperature, because when I took my car in initially for them to look at it, they just put distilled water in it.

03-17-2013, 03:46 PM	#16
bcl0328 Captain Drives: 2012 328i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Abingdon, MD Posts: 955 iTrader: (0)	i just started getting this had no issues prior to this. i went in once already and they just topped it off. it did go away but came on again. level is the same.