Pentofrost Antifreeze-my two cents

[2003x5guy]

Wanted to top off the coolant.
I searched a few posts on antifreeze and the consensus seems like 50% think any non bmw brand will work and 50% will only go with BMW coolant and if don't you're insane.

Well my 2 cents.

Called NAPA. They have Pentofrost for about $11/1.5 liter.

They also supply REEVES BMW around here.
And its blue
And it ticks off the major points notated in the service manual.
Oh and its made in Germany. No car maker is going to produce their own antifreeze...

[bastereo]

Well, that sucks.
Go to BMW you could get the real stuff for $25 for 3.78 liters
Your paying $22 for 3 liters.

[JCL]

You don't need to use BMW coolant, as long as it meets BMW specs. To make it easy you could just use one of the many coolants on the BMW approved list. There are others that work, but BMW lists the ones they have tested, for those that don't want to check the specs.

I just recently used OE coolant, not because it is necessarily the best, but because different coolants can react with each other, and I knew what was in there last. Lowest risk.

[SlickGT1]

BMW coolant is cheap. Especially when you have a connection at BMW, it makes no sense to buy anything else. Plus, it comes concentrate, and when you mix it, it doubles. I wouldn't even think about anything else.

[TwinTurboGTR]

Agreed. It is cheap. It comes to roughly $10/gallon and if you can find a discount store, then even less. I am sure Prestone, Zerex, etc are just as good.. But if BMW is stating it is Phosphates free, it meets OE spec, and is readily available... (FYI, if it isn't... You need to find a new dealer) then I wouldn't change it.

Only fluid that isn't OE on my X5's are Power Steering Fluid (Mobil 1 ATF), Brake Fluid (ATE Super Blue Easier to figure out when to stop bleeding), and Motor oil (Either Mobil 1 or Castrol Edge, whichever is on sale.)

[SlickGT1]

Why does my car have Pentosin for the power steering fluid? Am I the only one?

[bastereo]

What is $10 a gallon? Both coolants mentioned are over $20 a gallon?

Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express

[JCL]

Originally Posted by SlickGT1

Why does my car have Pentosin for the power steering fluid? Am I the only one?

Because BMW used two different PS fluids on the X5. They don't mix.

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by bastereo

What is $10 a gallon? Both coolants mentioned are over $20 a gallon?

Sent from my SGH-i917 using Board Express

Maybe where you get it. I paid $17 from Bloomfield BMW. When you add distilled water, lets say $2, and mix it, you get 2 gallons. That comes out to like $10 a gallon.

[SlickGT1]

Originally Posted by JCL

Because BMW used two different PS fluids on the X5. They don't mix.

I realized this. My only gripe about it is why my car. I have not seen anyone else have pentosin in the PS.