topping up coolant normal on bmws?

[omodos]

What is the truth here?some people say it is normal to top up bmws, and others say the cooling system is highly pressurized and should not need topping up and does not lose coolant...

Does it self vent?if you top up too much for example?and when does the low coolant warning light appear for those of you who have topped up when they got the message?is it indeed when the the bob float in the coolant reservoir hit MIN level?or did you lose much more coolant than that.

I have notice that when I topped up my 3.0d 2004 e53 that taking bob/rod levele from MIN to MAX level hasn't taken more than a cupfull of wate/coolant mix......

[bgsquad]

yes, there is a nozzle to let any excess water escape, to avoid over-pressure.

no, you should not lose coolant, unless you put more than the maximum (refer to the above).

It takes more than the MIN to light up. I had a punctured radiator and was losing coolant once, but despite the whole secondary tank (the plastic one) was almost totally empty, yet, i wouldn't have a warning light. so it seems that you should lose water from the radiator to have the light.

BTW, i think it's time for you to go check your cooling system... nothing to be afraid of

[omodos]

So anyone else out there know if when the coolant hits MIN on bob you get low coolant level?

Ok fella thanks for the tip, I thought as much my wifes 318i also lost at least a litre and her coolant low message popped up then, since then we topped up and it was fine.

Get your point about my cooling system, but mechanics here in cyprus, see an x5 and see dollars or euros nowadays, and even so the odd honest one won't have the kit to test properly....

So we believe that the MIN on the coolant reservoir tank doesnt actually cause the ding low coolant message?, and that this only pops up when a sensor detects very low leveles ...I am gonna check www.realoem.com/ , ok have checked it and part 5 seems like the sensor that detects the coolant level as it is the only part of the rad system to have an electrical connection, bear in mind mine is a diesel so may differ and ican't check petrol models cos dont have any vin numbers to enter on site.

thanks for the feedback so far, anyway just visited my x5 andis is covered in eggs and shaving foam, weird festival today that marks the run up to lent....car has been pounded by school kids