The Five Best Coolants to Use on Your BMW
BMW’s aren’t cheap cars. They’re an investment. And an investment demands careful maintenance and plenty of TLC. Ensuring you use the right kind of coolant on your Beemer is one of the cheapest and easiest ways of keeping it in tip-top shape. Coolant is a little miracle worker: it protects against corrosion, acts as an anti-freeze in winter, and assists in engine cooling in summer.
All cars need it, BMW’s just as much as any other. But a BMW isn’t your ‘average’ car, and its coolant needs are a little different from what you might be used to. Beemers need coolants that are free of nitrates and phosphates and that prevent the corrosion of aluminum components, not to mention a whole list of other things that make the job of choosing the right one a lot more challenging than you might think.
But don’t panic. If studying the small print on the back of coolants is getting in the way of you and a good time, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve studied the labels, dug through the research, and read the reviews. In the process, we’ve found the five best types of BMW antifreeze on the market today. Without further ado, here they are.
1. BMW 81-22-9-407-454 Antifreeze / Coolant
Some people prefer to stick with genuine OEM parts and products for their car. And it’s understandable – BMWs aren’t cheap and no one wants to risk the health of their investment by using a product that isn’t compatible. By choosing a coolant with the BMW stamp of approval, you take the guesswork out of deciding whether or not a product is going to work, or whether you might inadvertently end up doing your engine more harm than good.
As far as genuine OEM coolants go, you’d be hard-pressed to find much better than BMW Coolant Antifreeze 81 22 9 407 454 Blue – Concentrate. Ranked by carfromjapan.com as one of the best coolants for BMWs, it’s based on a phosphate-free mono-ethylene glycol and amine formula that offers all-year-round temperature control and superb corrosion protection.
Suitable for all BMW models from 1980 onwards (not to mention cars from Porsche, Ford, Jaguar, Honda, Land Rover, and General Motors), it’s been subjected to intensive research, development, and testing to guarantee optimal efficiency and performance.
Whether you’re more concerned with keeping your engine cool in summer, warm in winter, or free from the damaging effects of rust and build-up year-round, this outstanding BMW approved coolant is the product for the job. It’s not necessarily the cheapest anti-freeze on the market, but better to spend a few extra bucks now than land yourself with a giant auto repair bill down the line.
2. BMW 82-14-2-209-769 Antifreeze / Coolant
If you’re in the market for a genuine OEM coolant that’s going to optimize engine efficiency and make your car run like a dream, you could do far worse than investing in a bottle of BMW 82-14-2-209-769 Antifreeze / Coolant. Designed to suit all BMW models, it’s a superb all-rounder that delivers on all fronts. In the hot days of summer, it will keep your engine beautifully cool. During winter, it’s stellar anti-freeze properties will keep things ticking over nicely. And as for any premature corrosion or rusting… forget it.
3. BMW 82-14-1-467-704 Grey Antifreeze / Coolant
Carcody.com ranks the BMW 82-14-1-467-704 Grey Antifreeze / Coolant as one of the best examples of BMW antifreeze on the market. Why? Because simply put, it is. Designed exclusively for BMW models, it’s the number one best-selling automotive engine coolant in the world – and for very good reason.
As well as offering superb protection against corrosion, pitting, and rust by keeping the car’s water pump perfectly lubricated, it keeps a firm check on the engine’s temperature, protecting it from freezing in winter and overheating in summer. Better still, it has zero nitrites and phosphate content, meaning worry-free motoring without any risk of build-up on aluminum components. A superb all-rounder with flawless technology and the BMW sticker for added confidence, you’ll find few better ways to protect your engine than with this.
4. Zerex G-48 Formula Full Strength Antifreeze / Coolant
Some car enthusiasts think you have to stick with manufacturer-specific coolants. If you’ve got a Honda, you should use a Honda coolant; if you’ve got a BMW, you need a BMW coolant. But while they’ve got a point (not all coolants are suitable for all vehicles, and if you use one that’s not compatible with your engine, you’re going to do more harm than good), they’ve not necessarily right in all cases.
Some clever coolant makers have developed antifreeze that can be used across a range of makes, models, and years. Take the Zerex G-48 Formula Full Strength Antifreeze / Coolant as an example. It’s not specifically intended for BMWs, but thanks to its low-silicate, anti-phosphate technology, it may as well be. When diluted in a 1:1 ratio, it offers superb temperature control.
No matter how hot or cold it gets, your engine will never freeze or boil over. Mixed in a ratio of 5:7, it delivers optimal all-round protection against corrosion, buildup, and scaling. With less than 250 parts per million of silicon, it’s the perfect formula for BMWs.
5. Prestone All Vehicles Full Strength Antifreeze / Coolant
If you want an outstanding antifreeze that delivers on all fronts, you’ll find it hard to beat the product that twelfthroundauto.com describes as one of the best types of antifreeze on the market -Prestone All Vehicles Full Strength Antifreeze / Coolant. Designed to work with all vehicles regardless of year, model, or make, Prestone All Vehicles Full Strength Antifreeze / Coolant is a great all-rounder with a host of very impressive features.
As well as offering year-round temperature control, it delivers outstanding protection against corrosion. Thanks to its patented Prestone CorGuard technology, you can kiss goodbye to buildup, pitting, scaling, rust, or any other preventable damage.
It’s not necessarily the cheapest coolant on the market, but the initial outlay will soon pay for itself in a massive reduction in auto repair bills and downtime. With a shelf life of 10 years and engine protection for up to 300,000 miles, it’s an outstanding product that’s well deserving of a place on our list – and in your garage.
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