Question: My BMW needs some more coolant, and I usually have this done at the mechanic when I get my car serviced, but there doesn’t seem to be anything else going on with my car. I don’t want to take the car in just to get more coolant. Is there a way I can top off the coolant myself?
Answer: Coolant is a fluid used in your BMW’s cooling system, primarily designed to transfer heat and protect the engine from damage caused by freezing or boiling.
In a BMW, you will know that you have to add coolant when your coolant warning light comes on. According to BMW of Warwick, it can either be a warning message, on your dashboard or iDrive, that tells you to refill coolant or you will see an orange icon. The orange icon looks like a container with fluid in it, with a spout on the top right. Finally, if your engine is overheating, low coolant levels could also be a suspect.
Where to put coolant in BMW?
According to the 2023 BMW X3 manual, you should only work on the cooling system when the engine is cool because hot coolant can scald you.
BMW coolant reservoir location
Your engine compartment could have up to two coolant reservoirs, and they are located on either the right or left side of the engine compartment.
Check coolant levels
- Let the engine cool and open the hood.
- Turn the lid of the coolant reservoir slightly counterclockwise to allow pressure to dissipate, then open it.
- Check if the coolant level is within required levels by making sure it’s between the minimum and maximum marks in the filler neck.
- If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant to the specified filled level.
- Close the lid.
The X3 manual also states that if you notice coolant loss, you should eliminate the cause as soon as possible.
What type of coolant to use?
BMW makes its own OEM coolant that’s sold in a gray or white, one-gallon container. According to BMW parts dealer, Bimmers, they recommend using genuine BMW coolant because they have been made in close cooperation with BMW, and they say it’s unlikely you would find a coolant that prevents damage to your engine’s seals and metals like the official BMW coolant. The downside is that it will cost more.
In your manual, you will find further recommendations on what to use. For example, in a 2023 BMW X3 manual, BMW recommends that you use a coolant with the BMW LC-18 specification and avoid mixing additives of different colors. Make sure to dilute to a 50:50 water to additive ratio.
Xuyun Zeng is a content strategist with a wide-ranging content background including tech, journalism, cars and health care. After graduating with highest honors in journalism, Xuyun led a newspaper to win eight awards, helped start an award-winning film industry podcast and has written over a hundred articles about cars repair, state laws and insurance. Prior to joining Jerry, Xuyun worked as a freelance SEO consultant with a mission to create the best content that will help readers and grow organic traffic.
Chris Burkhardt is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience across various storytelling mediums. With Jerry, Chris hopes to help anyone with a question about their vehicle easily find the answers they are looking for. Whether you need to know how much insurance costs for a classic car, how to replace a broken light or tell if you need an oil change, Chris wants to help you find solutions the best he can. Prior to joining Jerry, Chris was a digital content producer and writer for NBC and a freelance editor for NerdWallet. A graduate of the University of Oregon’s School of Journalism and Communication, if Chris is not working on content, he’s sure to be found cheering on his Ducks!
