Coolant question

[Bayerische]

I left my car into a BMW main dealer in Dublin recently for a coolant change. I specified that I wanted deionised water used.

The previous time the coolant had been changed was at a specialist. I noted the the coolant that he put in the car was a pink colour.

When I got the car back from the BMW main dealer and looked under the bonnet, I was expecting to see the familiar blue BMW coolant, as I know BMW OEM coolant is blue in colour. I was surprised to see that the coolant in the expansion tank was still pink in colour.

I left two cars in with them that day, the other car had blue coolant in the expansion tank and when I got the car back it was blue.

Am I missing something here guys? Do BMW use a pink coloured coolant?, As I have a suspician that they did not change anything and charged me €100 for doing absolutely nothing.

[kendo]

100 euro for a coolant change.....my god that is nuts. Yeah blue is the colour used along with bottled water, well thats what i do.

[JohnH]

I might be wrong but were both cars of the same vintage.

Something in the back of my head tells me that e30s e28s etc use a different colour coolant from e46s etc if you follow the owners handbook.

I strongly doubt you were charged and no work was done. But if you're uncertain ring the service manager and double check

[Bayerische]

Both cars are late 80's vintage. Normally, I have only ever seen blue coolant in them.

Any coolant that I have bought off BMW has always been blue.

I am going to call them tomorrow and enquire what coolant they use. I don't want to accuse a garage of something without being sure that I am 100 percent correct.

[kendo]

Actually thats a good point for some reason i presumed they were E46s :hehe!:

[rebel.ranter]

100 euro for a coolant change.....my god that is nuts. Yeah blue is the colour used along with bottled water, well thats what i do.

Bottled water still has minerals in it, you are best off using de-ionised water in order to minimise the potential for damage caused by contaminants in the water. It's cheaper than most bottled water too!

[Bayerische]

BMW's use OEM blue coolant.
Mini's use OEM pink coolant.

I am guessing that when the mechanic saw the existing pink coolant in the car that he refilled it with the pink stuff.

[kendo]

100 euro for a coolant change.....my god that is nuts. Yeah blue is the colour used along with bottled water, well thats what i do.

Bottled water still has minerals in it, you are best off using de-ionised water in order to minimise the potential for damage caused by contaminants in the water. It's cheaper than most bottled water too!

Ah right I always presumed bottled was ok iv been using it with the coolant no problems so far.