My 2004 530i is approaching 50000 mls, so I took it to the dealer and asked them to do a coolant flush since it was never done before, and the car is approaching 4yrs old. I was told by my service advisor that my car came with a lifetime coolant installed. I was always accustomed to change my coolant every 2yrs. Now my other car, a 2003 BMW 325ci has the same fluid installed but they have done a coolant flush on it. I then called BMW of North America and they told me that the coolant in my 2004 530i is lifetime warranty is because of the design of the cooling system of that car.I cannot understand how the design of the cooling system makes the FLUID lifetime.Anyone has any input on this? Thanks.

 

The lifetime they discuss is the lifetime of the car that is severely compromised by not changing your antifreeze. Nothing in our cars is lifetime unless it is the reason the car dies.

If you plan on keeping the car, you may want to replace the antifreeze. I think 4 years is about it.

 

does not the service interval indicator in idrive cover this? if not, then maybe you only need to do it if some parts need replacing. like hoses and or radiator parts to keep contaniments out of the system

 

Not just contaminents. Coolant has additives to prevent corrosion that wear away over time. I have to believe the "lifetime " stuff is better than regular coolant but it ain't gonna last a lifetime.

 

There is only one coolant BMW sells for both the 2004 530i and the 2003 325ci. I cannot understand how they can say it is lifetime in the 530i and not lifetime in the 2003 325ci. I have decided to have my lifetime coolant changed every 3 yrs. on all my BMWs. I bought a gallon of BMW coolant from the dealer, and on the container it states that the coolant should be changed every 3 yrs.I believe every thing has a life span, including the coolant in my 530i.

 

there no need to flush the coolant
also I add about 1l a year of coolant in HK so they say itis lifetime well no itis not.