Coolant level & Preventative Maintenance
 

Hello all -
I purchased E70 2008 3.0Si last week with 66K miles with 7-seater (3 rows).

Does anybody know how to check coolant level for the E70?

Car is running good, did oil change and engine filter last saturday. With 66K miles, is it a good time for replacing water pump, thermostat, belts, coolant and pulley?

Thank you all.

Wait until the engine is cool.
Open the cap of the expansion tank slowly, allowing pressure to release
Check the coolant level relative to the min and max marks at the neck of the expansion tank. There should be a diagram there showing the right level.
Tighten the cap until it clicks.

I would ensure that the coolant has been changed, I use four years as an interval. I use BMW OE coolant, as I don't consider it worth trying others to save a small amount every four years.

Personally, I wouldn't do the pump, belts, or thermostat at that mileage. Many will suggest it be done at 100,000 miles, but there is no set interval if you want to do it as preventative maintenance, there are just various opinions on how long you should run it to avoid a breakdown on the side of the road. I left mine after inspecting it at four years (it is a 2007) but I am attentive to the gauges, and I know not to run it overheated if it has a problem, due to the potentially high cost of consequential damage.

Hello Jeff -
Thank you for your detail instructions how to check coolant level. I bought a BMW label coolant gallon from dealer in case i need to top it up but i didn't see anything inside the expansion tank! I will follow your instructions later.

Today i already purchased water pump, thermostat, 2 belts, tensioner and d eflection pulley upper/lower hoses. Will put my hand to work on this job when i have a free day off. 100K Miles service interval is making sense however, i would like to replace it before it breaking down; we drive this SAV on highway more than local.
I replaced waterpump, thermostat for retired E53 when it was 75K miles. and I may do the same for this E70.

About Temp. Gauge for the E70, i am learning it from "Cool Hidden Menu". It is very strange!

Thanks again Jeff!

Do you believe in ATF changes or is it 'lifetime" for you?

Id skip the water pump- yes on belts- yes on fluids...

A

Ard, nothing is "lifetime", they say "life time coolant, life time ATF" - My answer is NO.
We should change ATF and spark plug when the SAV's mileages between 80K-100K. I changed ATF and filter for my E53 at 90K miles, i should change ATF right after 80K miles instead waiting until 90K. When we drained ATF out of transmission, the fluid was so horrible, 70% of it was "metal powder", and this metal compound could kill your transmission at anytime. I did not have any tranny problems after the ATF and filter changed.

Waterpump is another issue of the X5, when you reach to the pulley/belts, coolant drain process, it's better to replace thermostat and waterpump. 70-75K miles is good service interval.

I was being facetious.

IMO, 40-50k is a MUCH better service interval for ATF. (I should take a sample when I do mine and we can stop with the speculation on change intervals.... I'll try and remember to do so. My suspicion is that Blackstone will report the fluid to be 'done' by that time- but we shall see.)

Make sure you got the right water pump since there are two variants, one for non 4zone climate control and one with 4zone. There had been some owners who had waterpump failures at that mileage and model year E70's and it will leave you stranded since it will shutdown the engine to prevent overheating. It already happened to me, my brother and a friend of mine only months apart (we all have '07-'08's). It is also a PITA to replace the waterpump and thermostat (almost no room to get those 2 parts out).

40-50K miles is early, i would say changing the ATF after 65K or between 70-100K miles,
Thirdy, the one i bought is without 4-zone climate control and the part#: 11517586925 and it will be for my SAV.

Yes, i agree, it seems like no room to work around for the e70. Did you remove cooling fan when you replaced waterpump/thermostat and belt?

Based on what??????????

Do you have UOAs showing low wear metals at 50k with really no major increases until 65k??

I base my recommendations on the few UOAs published at BITOG. Principally due to contamination and not the oil failing.

A

So you have 3rd row seats but you don't have separate a/c controls at the back (second row)?

If you don't have the climate control at the second row then you don't have 4 zone climate control but that's strange for all I thought all X5's with third row seating like mine have 4zone climate control.

I was still under warranty when my waterpump broke (close to 50k miles) but my brother's X5 wasn't so he actually did a DIY and no he did not remove the radiator. He was able to remove the pump through the passenger side wheel well. He had to remove the front right wheel and rightside fender liner. It was like doing a puzzle when he was trying to get it out. Some DIY I saw here at the forum got it out right in between the engine and the radiator. For the first time it's hard but it can be done. And if you research and read postings of DIY'ers I'm sure it will help you a lot and will make your job easier.