[Sweeneyuk]

Can someone help answer a question and relieve my OCD a little 🙏

Why are there so many part numbers for what Seems like the same part?

For ex. BMW Coolant.
Ive Looked in the handbook but doesn’t say what coolant is required.
so I look on real OEM and see 2 different part numbers.
I speak to BMW main dealer and when I question them they seem to just use what they’re given. Lost confidence in them when they couldn’t answer why oil was changed from LL04 5w30 to 0w30. Just said that’s what they use. Didn’t know why or know of the 5w30.
I trawl the net and forums and get even more part numbers, all seem to refer to same coolant LC87 but can’t bottles look different shape and some say colour is blue or blue green.
This is even more confusing as I extracted some coolant to check the colour as I’d learnt the LC87 is blue whilst new coolant LC18 also known as HT12, is green, and my coolant is a blue green. Looks neither full blue or green, tried putting into white cap and still looks like a dilute blue green, so which is it?
why have I come up with multiple part numbers for virtually every part I look up when they all seem to be the same?
I’ve got 83192211191, 83192211191S1, 83512355290 & 83515A6CDD7 all for what looks like LC87 coolant?
I get there may be different numbers as parts are superseded or for different parts of the world but how do I conclusively zero in on the exact right part number I need so I can ease my OCD and keep the correct number for next time.
whislt I’m at it I can’t decide what oil I should use. My Garage wants to use 5W/40 TITAN GT1 FLEX 3 but BMW says they will use BMW 0w30 LL12FE but when I research it online I come up with 5W30 LL04.
Do I pay extra & stick with BMW brand? If so which one 5w30 or 0w30? Or do I get equivalent Castro/shell/Mobil version?
really appreciate your help guys.

[Keefy]

What X3 are you driving? an M40i, M40d etc etc? and what year?

[mattsheng]

The coolant will change color as it gets more and more heat cycles. For example, HT12 from the factory is like a bright light green. But as the coolant ages, it will turn into more of a darker shade of green. Same thing will happen with the blue LC-87.

Here is a technical document listing what coolant is technically suitable for BMW across different production periods and models. You can also find the latest part number for your region.

PS: all of these can be found in either ISTA or BMW AIR.

Technically suitable BMW antifreeze and anti-corrosion agent (SBS-ANL-SBS2018-170196140_A - V.12.pdf

BMW LC-87 (SBS-ANL-SBS1996-170196140_A3 - V.22).pdf

BMW LC-18 (HT12) (SBS-ANL-SBS1996-170196140_A3-3 - V.8).pdf