cokeefe

Hi guys,
I'm going through and replacing all the "lifetime" fluids on my '06 550i at 35K miles, since the dealer doesn't want to. I just did the manual transmission and rear diff oils with no problems.

Up next is a coolant replacement. I'm having a hard time finding out what the capacity of the system is. I need to know how much of the "super-special secret-formula BMW coolant" to buy at the dealer. Anyone know?


Thanks!

cokeefe

Hoping someone who has access to a shop manual can look this up. Anyone know how much coolant a 550i takes?

Thanks!

whitebmw22

hi


sorry to change the post, but i really want to change my transmission oil, i have a 530i auto so do i change gear box and rear diff? i have 80k on the clock and bmw wont change it, what fluid shall i use? and is there anything important i should no?

also what else would you say to change as in life time fluids,


thanks

MiamiPhill

I think the coolant has to be diluted anyway so 1 or 2 gallons should do.

dropped545

cokeefe

Thanks for the replies everyone.



I have a manual, which has both fill and drain plugs so the gearbox oil is easy to change. The diff also has a drain plug. I understand the autos require that you drop the reservoir pan to change the fluid so your situation is different.

I'm using the special BMW fluids from the dealer, since they seem to be the only ones approved for the car. They are expensive but I'm only going to do this every 30K miles so it's no big deal. It took 2 hrs to change diff and gearbox.

Someone PMed me asking about capacities - the gearbox took about 1.6L and the diff about 1.5L including the normal amount of dribbling and spillage. I raised the car on a 4-point lift and filled until the fluids came to the fill-plug level. This is an '06 550i with sport package.