That fits with my understanding too. :thumbup:

My 2001 3.0i with high cluster does have the wiring and connector, and will give a text warning message on the cluster.

I believe the low cluster cars do not even have the wiring and connector. Definitely not a light or text warning message.

Digging deeper into my memory, and not so sure about ...
So with some cars not having a way to connect to the level sensor in the expansion tank, they could (and I think originally did, at least) sell two different types of tanks - those with sensors and those without. Then it got complicated - some Chinese tanks having the sensor but wired wrong, some with no sensor when they should have one, etc. I never got burned by this (have a BMW tank), but read about it.

So if your car did not come with a high cluster, you won't have a connector, and don't need to worry about a wrong tank. If you do have a high cluster, be on alert for getting a sensorless tank.

For at least as much as you ever wanted to know about the coolant level sensor:
https://xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/...l-message.html

post #16 there reveals the answer to the mystery.

Seems I have the low cluster and not supposed to have the low coolant warning. :dunno:

Not having a low coolant warning on these BMW cooling systems makes about as much sense as their cup holder design

So how would one know if your coolant is low? I have to check it live a savage??

I guess for the time being I won't worry about the consequences of having no warning light and a plastic cooling system :confused:

Curiosity is killing me as to why the sensor was done away with after years of the design being around already. Oooohhh the mysteries of life

Since I've been spending time in, around and under the engine bay I had enough the dirt, grime and oil on everything that I touched and I've also wanted to try out the scrubbing bubbles vs my usual routine.

Let's get to it


https://i.imgur.com/ITcA7ga.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/483NnUH.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/dkJLdtK.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/MFLqfD3.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/z5fRlCk.jpg


I'm going to try the knock off scrubbing bubbles from the Dollar Tree


https://i.imgur.com/luMrEVw.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/QHhCdGj.jpg


I let it sit for 10 minutes and rinsed it thoroughly with a hose


https://i.imgur.com/XkzYU6B.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/3rIl3K7.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/K3xuKcE.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/akLCTGs.jpg


Meh, I wasn't impressed at all with the results. There was still a noticeable layer of film and grease after rinsing.


My usual routine is Super Clean at 4:1 or 2:1 depending on how heavy the grime is. Since I already had some 4:1 mixed up I sprayed everything down again, let it sit for a couple minutes and then lightly went over a couple areas with my large detailing brush.


https://i.imgur.com/eUpoyWH.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/bI2Cp4O.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/fwIqbv2.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/ZZXnrxS.jpg


MUCH better. No film at all and even the hard to reach areas that I didn't feel like sticking my arm into (like in and around the DISA and throttle body) come out very respectable with a couple rounds of Super Clean from a spray bottle.


So either the actual Scrubbing Bubbles is a much better product than the Dollar Tree stuff I used or it's more for light duty and maintenance cleaning as opposed to dealing with a really grimy engine bay :dunno:

Anyway, I top it all off with my secret sauce to get rid of the chalkboard finish that Super Clean leaves on the rubber and plastic.


https://i.imgur.com/B5m057A.jpg


Decent results for 20 min of work :thumbup:

Swampy..? Is that yooou..?

The scrubbing bubbles are good for maintenance cleaning, not heavy cleaning as you discovered. After cleaning with scrubbing bubbles I go over everything with 303 protectant. It makes it look nice and it seems easier to clean the next time.

So last week I blew my back out trying...TRYING to tear a piece of cardboard so I wouldn't get brake fluid all over the place.

While I was laying around waiting for my spinal cord to fuse back together, I managed to do several cycles of the cooling system flush with distilled water. If I'm going to be as useful as a wet towel, might as well be lying under the car pretending I'm still a capable man.

I think this last drain and flush cycle might be the last one before a final fill with coolant, she's looking pretty clear.


https://i.imgur.com/CjZLiZp.jpg


I'm about 5 gallons into the flush.

Since math isn't my forte we'll talk this filling it back with coolant thing out loud together.

From my understanding the stock cooling system capacity on the e53 3.0 is just shy of 8L correct?

So if the capacity is 8L and I drain 4L I would need to add 4L of concentrated coolant and the mix would be approximately 50/50 and the difference I would top up with mixed coolant, right?

However, the average draining I'm getting about 3 liters coming out. So if the capacity is 8L, and I drain out 3 liters of coolant that leaves us with 5L of distilled water in the cooling system. uhhhhh help??

Should I just force 4L out and make my life easier?

Last time I did this was a couple years ago and it seems I forgot how it is supposed to go.

Well, if you figure there are still 5L in there, even dumping 3L of concentrate won't get you to 50/50 so in order to get to 50/50, you will have to get 1 additional liter out of there somehow, my suggestion, pop the lower hose just loose and wiggle it around to drain that additional liter so that you can dump 4L of concentrate in for your final 50/50 mixture. Assuming she holds 8L of course.

It holds 7.something liters. Less than 8 so I'll make sure to force out 4L of water