Antifreeze

[Callum89]

Morning chaps,
I have checked my coolant levels this morning and the float isn't popping up when i removed the cap, so I'm guessing I need to top up. How much anti freeze to water do I need to put in ?
Cheers

[lezmtaylor]

To be on the safe side I always top up with neat antifreeze ,but have a good search for a leak, especially the coolant tank with the pop up level guide.
They tend to develop leaks after 60,000 miles/ 8-10 years old ( mine did, a leak along the seam, which was hardly discernible ).

The E46 , 3 series is also notorious for this.

Lez

[X5Sport]

And make sure you use the correct type with the right inhibitors in it.

I buy BMW coolant just to be certain.

[henrym3]

Must admit I've never heard of anyone using neat coolant,  I use 50/50 and on the hydrometer that shows protection down to -35C ideally if your mixing then use distilled water. On another note, initially I kept my coolant at the correct float level. It would use coolant till it was a bit more than visible in the header tank, I topped up X5 used it, done that for 6 months then stopped to see what happened, it's still at that level 18 months later?

[lezmtaylor]

I only use neat anti freeze for top up purposes, use 50/50 if replacing a large amount of coolant.( I have never had a problem doing this and obviously if frequent top ups are required there is a problem).

Lez

[ianst0028]

scarily neat antifreeze freezes worse than water and causes more damage
also neat antifreeze finds any possible leak better than water or water/ antifreeze mix

[X5Sport]

Weird innit, but true.

I think the BMW 'coolant' is either a 50/50 or 60/40 mix.  I haven't got any left to check on the bottle.  Not needed it since selling the X5.  Neither of our other BMWs lose anything.