Engine coolant loss - XBimmers

BIMMER UK 76 · 01-13-2013, 07:44 AM

Had error code saying engine coolant too low, top up immediately! Once engine warmed up and engine turned off message went and hadn't returned. Slight frost but temperature still +1 degrees.

I assume to lose coolant would be a leak (nothing under car on driveway).

I also assume it was a duff fault warning, anyone had similar?

BeeCee1116 · 01-13-2013, 07:52 AM

Had a spurious warning light re rear fog lamp failure which has subsequently disappeared!

02420X3 · 01-13-2013, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIMMER UK 76

Had error code saying engine coolant too low, top up immediately! Once engine warmed up and engine turned off message went and hadn't returned. Slight frost but temperature still +1 degrees.

I assume to lose coolant would be a leak (nothing under car on driveway).

I also assume it was a duff fault warning, anyone had similar?

I had a similar problem recently. I have about 23K miles on my X3, and this was the first time that I had seen the message. On cold mornings, before the engine warmed up, I would get a low coolant warning. After it occurred for the second or third time I splashed 1-2 ounces of bottled water into the reservoir, which was sufficient to turn off the warning light. I had an oil change scheduled for later in the week, so I had the dealer top it off with BMW coolant during the service visit.

If I hadn't had the oil change already scheduled then I would have gone to the dealer on the way to/from work and had them top off the reservoir with approved coolant.

lbjgh · 01-13-2013, 10:27 AM

This is a very common issue at about 10k kms ±.

A splash of coolant is all that is needed.

noka · 01-13-2013, 11:21 AM

Has anyone checked the reservoir to see if it was below the "min" mark when cold (and if so, how far below)?

BIMMER UK 76 · 01-13-2013, 11:57 AM

23,000 miles on clock and coming up on 2 years old. Will check reservoir if warning comes on again and booked into dealers for condensation in headlight and steering column clunk next Friday so will mention it (sounds like my X3 falling to bits!!)

BIMMER UK 76 · 01-14-2013, 01:22 PM

Same error message this morning but gone this evening.

Mingstar88 · 01-14-2013, 02:17 PM

add some distill water and top it off @ the dealer

Alligator69 · 01-16-2013, 06:00 AM

Had similar issue with my 2.0d after about 16000km. I believe the process at factory doesnt' fully fill the reservoir with coolant. I added more or les1.5 to 2 L coolant and since then no warning anymore. I also had it checked for leaks and none was found.

noka · 01-17-2013, 10:28 PM

Above I said: "Has anyone checked the reservoir to see if it was below the "min" mark when cold (and if so, how far below)?" Now, after taking delivery today, I was looking under the hood and realized that BMW in their wisdom made the coolant reservoir opaque! Really? So the only way to check is to wait until it cools down and open it. There is a min/max diagram on the outside showing min/max but I don't quite understand what lines it refers to. Anybody have a clue?

BIMMER UK 76 · 01-18-2013, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alligator69

Had similar issue with my 2.0d after about 16000km. I believe the process at factory doesnt' fully fill the reservoir with coolant. I added more or les1.5 to 2 L coolant and since then no warning anymore. I also had it checked for leaks and none was found.

No leak found at dealer but definite coolant loss? Keeping my eye on it.

mspringer · 01-19-2013, 07:59 AM

There is a relatively small difference is coolant necessary to bring the level from the add mark (where you can just no longer see the level) to the full mark. When the weather gets cold the coolant volume shrinks and the level can fall below the add mark triggering the sensor, especially if BMW (dealer) didn't fill to the top to begin with. As stated above the add coolant warning is pretty common when the when the weather turns cold. Happened on mine, but only when started from cold but, after a few minutes as the car warmed and the volume expanded the light when out and stayed out until the next morning when the car was again cold. This occurred during a 4wk trip and I just brought the car to dealer I passed who added 50/50 mix to the full line and I've no lights since.

01-13-2013, 07:44 AM	#1
BIMMER UK 76 Major Drives: BMW F25 X3 20d SE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,080 iTrader: (0)	Engine coolant loss Had error code saying engine coolant too low, top up immediately! Once engine warmed up and engine turned off message went and hadn't returned. Slight frost but temperature still +1 degrees. I assume to lose coolant would be a leak (nothing under car on driveway). I also assume it was a duff fault warning, anyone had similar? __________________ BMW F25 X3 xDRIVE 20d SE Black Sapphire \| Oyster Leather \| Fineline Sienna Wood \| 307 V Spokes \| Auto \| Prof Multimedia Package \| xLine Package \| Xenons \| Business Radio \| Sports Steering Wheel \| Sports Seats \| Panoramic Sunroof \| Sun Protection Glass \| Sun Blinds \| Folding Ext. Mirrors + Titanium Grille \| Chrome Exhaust Trim \| Mudflaps
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01-13-2013, 10:27 AM	#4
lbjgh Major Drives: 2013 AW X3 M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North of Toronto Posts: 1,243 iTrader: (0)	This is a very common issue at about 10k kms ±. A splash of coolant is all that is needed. __________________ 2013, AW, xDrive35i, M Sport Package, Technology Package, Dynamic Comfort Package, Premium Package, 3M Clear Bra, Euro foglight switch, a few coded fixes

01-13-2013, 11:21 AM	#5
noka First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 x35i M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: MA Posts: 310 iTrader: (0)	Has anyone checked the reservoir to see if it was below the "min" mark when cold (and if so, how far below)? __________________ 2013 x35i (Space Gray, MSport, CW/CWII, DHP, Premium, Premium Sound, Technology, BMW-Apps) Retired: '09 C300 4Matic, '09 GTI, '06 750i, '05 C55, '04 R32, '03 M5, '02 GTI, '01 M5, '00 M-Coupe, '00 540i/6, '99 M3 Coupe, '98 M3 Coupe, '96 328i,... '86 4000 CS Quattro... too many to list.

01-13-2013, 11:57 AM	#6
BIMMER UK 76 Major Drives: BMW F25 X3 20d SE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,080 iTrader: (0)	23,000 miles on clock and coming up on 2 years old. Will check reservoir if warning comes on again and booked into dealers for condensation in headlight and steering column clunk next Friday so will mention it (sounds like my X3 falling to bits!!) __________________ BMW F25 X3 xDRIVE 20d SE Black Sapphire \| Oyster Leather \| Fineline Sienna Wood \| 307 V Spokes \| Auto \| Prof Multimedia Package \| xLine Package \| Xenons \| Business Radio \| Sports Steering Wheel \| Sports Seats \| Panoramic Sunroof \| Sun Protection Glass \| Sun Blinds \| Folding Ext. Mirrors + Titanium Grille \| Chrome Exhaust Trim \| Mudflaps

01-14-2013, 01:22 PM	#7
BIMMER UK 76 Major Drives: BMW F25 X3 20d SE Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 1,080 iTrader: (0)	Same error message this morning but gone this evening. __________________ BMW F25 X3 xDRIVE 20d SE Black Sapphire \| Oyster Leather \| Fineline Sienna Wood \| 307 V Spokes \| Auto \| Prof Multimedia Package \| xLine Package \| Xenons \| Business Radio \| Sports Steering Wheel \| Sports Seats \| Panoramic Sunroof \| Sun Protection Glass \| Sun Blinds \| Folding Ext. Mirrors + Titanium Grille \| Chrome Exhaust Trim \| Mudflaps

01-13-2013, 07:52 AM	#2
BeeCee1116 Registered Drives: BMW X3 3.0d SE Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: UK Posts: 2 iTrader: (0)	Had a spurious warning light re rear fog lamp failure which has subsequently disappeared!

01-14-2013, 02:17 PM	#8
Mingstar88 Private First Class Drives: BMW X3 35i Carbon Black MSport Join Date: May 2011 Location: GTA Posts: 152 iTrader: (0)	add some distill water and top it off @ the dealer

01-16-2013, 06:00 AM	#9
Alligator69 Private First Class Drives: X3 F25 2.0d Mineral Silver Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Italy Posts: 143 iTrader: (0)	Had similar issue with my 2.0d after about 16000km. I believe the process at factory doesnt' fully fill the reservoir with coolant. I added more or les1.5 to 2 L coolant and since then no warning anymore. I also had it checked for leaks and none was found.

01-17-2013, 10:28 PM	#10
noka First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 x35i M-Sport Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: MA Posts: 310 iTrader: (0)	Above I said: "Has anyone checked the reservoir to see if it was below the "min" mark when cold (and if so, how far below)?" Now, after taking delivery today, I was looking under the hood and realized that BMW in their wisdom made the coolant reservoir opaque! Really? So the only way to check is to wait until it cools down and open it. There is a min/max diagram on the outside showing min/max but I don't quite understand what lines it refers to. Anybody have a clue? __________________ 2013 x35i (Space Gray, MSport, CW/CWII, DHP, Premium, Premium Sound, Technology, BMW-Apps) Retired: '09 C300 4Matic, '09 GTI, '06 750i, '05 C55, '04 R32, '03 M5, '02 GTI, '01 M5, '00 M-Coupe, '00 540i/6, '99 M3 Coupe, '98 M3 Coupe, '96 328i,... '86 4000 CS Quattro... too many to list.

01-19-2013, 07:59 AM	#12
mspringer Enlisted Member Drives: BMW X3 35i SAP/DHP Join Date: May 2011 Location: NJ Posts: 30 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2002 BMW M3 [0.00] 2011 BMW X3 35i [0.00]	There is a relatively small difference is coolant necessary to bring the level from the add mark (where you can just no longer see the level) to the full mark. When the weather gets cold the coolant volume shrinks and the level can fall below the add mark triggering the sensor, especially if BMW (dealer) didn't fill to the top to begin with. As stated above the add coolant warning is pretty common when the when the weather turns cold. Happened on mine, but only when started from cold but, after a few minutes as the car warmed and the volume expanded the light when out and stayed out until the next morning when the car was again cold. This occurred during a 4wk trip and I just brought the car to dealer I passed who added 50/50 mix to the full line and I've no lights since.

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