X5 35d - Exhaust fluid

[XXX555]

Perhaps the flush requires pressure?

[Diesel Guy]

It's not surprising that the BMW dealer doesn't know much about the refill process in Europe. However, the big rigs have been using DEF for over 4 years in Europe, and I'll be you'll find bottles (litres) of the fluid at your favorite truck stop. I don't think they call it DEF, so you might ask for Adblue.........they'll probably understand that.

The fill neck for the main tank is near the windshield fluid cap on the passenger side. You'll have to use the orange tool in the trunck to put in the square recess of the plug. Check your owner's manual out for more details. The second refill point is on the driver's side, beneath the air intake tube (you'll have to remove) and it looks just like the primary spout.

Good luck !!

[DocComix]

Originally Posted by Diesel Guy

It's not surprising that the BMW dealer doesn't know much about the refill process in Europe. However, the big rigs have been using DEF for over 4 years in Europe, and I'll be you'll find bottles (litres) of the fluid at your favorite truck stop. I don't think they call it DEF, so you might ask for Adblue.........they'll probably understand that.

The fill neck for the main tank is near the windshield fluid cap on the passenger side. You'll have to use the orange tool in the trunck to put in the square recess of the plug. Check your owner's manual out for more details. The second refill point is on the driver's side, beneath the air intake tube (you'll have to remove) and it looks just like the primary spout.

Good luck !!

AdBlue rings a bell, I heard that before.
Thanks a lot for the answers. I just ran outside and found the two valves you're referring to. They (BMW LUX) should know that and I wonder why they kept talking about the pressure device.
Clear indication to me that they have no plan and simply try the "let's use something technical and expensive to put him on old"-tactics.

So basically anyone can refill it and you won't need the BMW service for that. It's like adding motor oil or gas, you won't ask BMW for that either...

Thanks for the quick help. I can't wait to call them tomorrow.

[Craig]

Originally Posted by DocComix

AdBlue rings a bell, I heard that before.
Thanks a lot for the answers. I just ran outside and found the two valves you're referring to. They (BMW LUX) should know that and I wonder why they kept talking about the pressure device.
Clear indication to me that they have no plan and simply try the "let's use something technical and expensive to put him on old"-tactics.

So basically anyone can refill it and you won't need the BMW service for that. It's like adding motor oil or gas, you won't ask BMW for that either...

Thanks for the quick help. I can't wait to call them tomorrow.

It has to be flushed and filled once a year. You can't do that yourself...

Craig

[ard]

Originally Posted by Craig

It has to be flushed and filled once a year. You can't do that yourself...

Craig

No, it doesn't- not necessarily.

And you can DIY.

Perhaps it is semantics, but if you are running through adblue at a rate that requires you to fill it in less than a year, WHY IS THERE A 'requirement' to 'flush and fill' at the arbitrary one year anniversary of the last flush and fill???

So I'd submit that there is no 'need' to F&F when you use enough.

A

[London Lad]

Its probably BMW mandated to cover the possibility of the DEF going stale on infrequently used cars and thus not conforming to some emission standard. Probably no need to F&F whatsoever.

As for DIY, if one man can do it so can another :-)

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by DocComix

....The mechanic (called me 6 days after the oil change) said that they are looking for a special piece of equipment, worth approximately 1500 USD, to refill the fluid. His words were "it has to be done under pressure...".....

From what I've pieced together.....

The tanks are not very accessible. The small one in is the right front wheel well and the large one is under the left front seat. So I'm guessing they don't have drain plugs. The plastic tubes that run from the filler connections to the tanks are corrugated, fairly small diameter and the one leading to the small tank has at least one 90 degree bend in it. Simply getting out any old DEF left in the tanks, probably requires a suction pump (or a pressure pump) with a fairly small diameter flexible hose. I suspect this is why BMW dealers call the DEF maintenance procedure done on a 35d a "flush & fill".

Or maybe that term refers to the procedure on the 35d owner

Funf Dreisig

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by DocComix

Ladies,Gents,
I'm with my X5 35d in Europe and just had an oil change done. Since I read this forum (thanks to all at this point) i talked to the service crew upfront and told them about the exhaust fluid and the required refill.
They only did the oil change and are still trying to figure out how to get the fluid (purchase) and how to get it into the car. That put a big question mark on my face since I am under the impression that you only "refill" it.
The mechanic (called me 6 days after the oil change) said that they are looking for a special piece of equipment, worth approximately 1500 USD, to refill the fluid. His words were "it has to be done under pressure...".

My question is, can anyone please be so kind and post something here (pics, pdf) on the "how-to"?

I think that the BMW dealership just has no idea and tries to BS me.
Any help and comments are highly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!
Cheers,
Mark

I don't think that you can go too hard on the dealer as this feature is not fitted to Euro spec diesels.

[London Lad]

+1

[FunfDreisig]

Originally Posted by ard

No, it doesn't- not necessarily.
And you can DIY
....
So I'd submit that there is no 'need' to F&F when you use enough.

Here's my DEF maintenance plan...

Drive a minimum of 12-15,000 miles a year. Run the DEF down until the warning appears. Fill ONLY the passive tank. After the DEF warning disappears, top up ONLY the passive tank. If the total DEF added is at least 5 gals., leave well enough alone

Funf Dreisig

p.s. I almost forgot the most important step. Tell my SA that removing the DEF filler caps will detonate gel explosives in the spare tire.