Quick coolant question!

[Tyra]

Hiya - really quick girl question for you, yesterday my coolant light came on whilst driving home, today I popped to the garage but the light is no longer on?

I am due to be heading out for lunch in the next half a nour so need to know if it is ok to drive or do I need to top up my coolant levels? If so, how, where and what with?! LOL I am such a girl and cannot find my Haynes manual to check.

I realise I am probably about to get a lot of flak for not knowing something this basic LOL

[Rav335uk]

What year is the car??
Is that yours in the sig??
If so, open the bonnet, your coolant bottle will be on the Passenger side inner wing, make sure the coolant is cold, don't go opening it while it's hot!!!.
Probably will need a top up and normal water will do it.
On the side of the bottle is a horizontal level mark, fill up to there.

[Tyra]

Hiya Rav - 89 325i SE, the one in the avvie - THANK YOU so answering LOL I looked at that bottle but got confused when it said coolant as I wasnt sure if I could use just water.

Is tap ok?

x

[gareth]

tap water is fine
the coolant light is a low level warning and in my experience, is rather sensitive. i probably wonl;t need a lot if the level is visible. don't top it up to the brim though!

[Rav335uk]

Hiya Rav - 89 325i SE, the one in the avvie - THANK YOU so answering LOL I looked at that bottle but got confused when it said coolant as I wasnt sure if I could use just water.

Is tap ok?

x

Sorry for getting back to you so late, but as Gareth said, a top up will be fine.
Couldn't reply as I was at a Meet and posted just as I was leaving the door. sorry.

Rav

[Brianmoooore]

Don't use water to top up as a matter of course, as you will be diluting your antifreeze mix.

[Blitz]

Ready mix the antifreeze and water in a bottle.

[Tyra]

Thank you to everyone for helping out a damsel in distress!

I checked the levels and they seemed already quite high, perfectly visible and so I played it safe by topping it up with the tinest amount of water - more of a token gesture really. The lights hasn't come back on since so I am guessing it was just a super sensitive warning but will get the boss to double check my efforts once he returns tomorrow!

[Brianmoooore]

The correct coolant level is the seam in the tank, half way up, but a lot of E30s will insist on maintaining the level about 1/2" lower, so don't be paranoid about maintaining exactly on the seam. Just start worrying if the level keeps on going down and down!
A poor connection at the switch plug will also turn the light on, and the level sensors aren't known for their long term reliability.
North Devon? Where abouts?

[Tyra]

The correct coolant level is the seam in the tank, half way up, but a lot of E30s will insist on maintaining the level about 1/2" lower, so don't be paranoid about maintaining exactly on the seam. Just start worrying if the level keeps on going down and down!
A poor connection at the switch plug will also turn the light on, and the level sensors aren't known for their long term reliability.
North Devon? Where abouts?

Thank you for that!

Re: North Devon - I am in Barnstaple, see quite a few E30's around, all much nicer than my work horse!!