[RoccoVA]

2023 M2 6MT 17k miles

This morning leaving for work I got the following error message on the IDrive screen:

" Engine coolant level low. Risk of engine damage. Add engine coolant as soon as possible. Attention: Risk of scalding. See Owner's Manual for further information."

No signs of leaks/smells of coolant. I purchased new in April 2023. I have another vehicle to drive, so I can stop by the dealer and grab a bottle of coolant, but Im wondering why its low when the system is essentially sealed. Has anyone else had this error message pop up? Obviously ill be taking it in for an evaluation to make sure everything is ok mechanically Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

[ednir98]

Have you inspected your heat exchangers? I remember seeing someone on here that had a puncture on the back side of their radiator somehow.

[RoccoVA]

Originally Posted by ednir98

Have you inspected your heat exchangers? I remember seeing someone on here that had a puncture on the back side of their radiator somehow.

As far as I can tell, everything under the hood looks to be in order. If there are any leaks its definitely in an area that's not easily seen with the car on the ground.

[ednir98]

Hmm. This is on the extreme side but any oil droplets in your coolant reservoir? How’s your exhaust smoke look? I’d be willing to bet you:

A: started off with not much coolant to begin with and are now just below enough to set the warning off
B: have a small leak - with all the places that coolant flows on the S58, this wouldn’t be a surprise

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by RoccoVA

2023 M2 6MT 17k miles

This morning leaving for work I got the following error message on the IDrive screen:

" Engine coolant level low. Risk of engine damage. Add engine coolant as soon as possible. Attention: Risk of scalding. See Owner's Manual for further information."

No signs of leaks/smells of coolant. I purchased new in April 2023. I have another vehicle to drive, so I can stop by the dealer and grab a bottle of coolant, but Im wondering why its low when the system is essentially sealed. Has anyone else had this error message pop up? Obviously ill be taking it in for an evaluation to make sure everything is ok mechanically Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

Happened with my MY23 G42 M240 recently. No evidence of any leaks or issues. Took to dealership, all normal. Just a little low on coolant (deemed normal by dealership).

Also confirmed that is the only warning notice on the iD8 so whether it's due to natural loss or breach and leak in system, you will get the same warning (the one you received (.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by RoccoVA

2023 M2 6MT 17k miles

This morning leaving for work I got the following error message on the IDrive screen:

" Engine coolant level low. Risk of engine damage. Add engine coolant as soon as possible. Attention: Risk of scalding. See Owner's Manual for further information."

No signs of leaks/smells of coolant. I purchased new in April 2023. I have another vehicle to drive, so I can stop by the dealer and grab a bottle of coolant, but Im wondering why its low when the system is essentially sealed. Has anyone else had this error message pop up? Obviously ill be taking it in for an evaluation to make sure everything is ok mechanically Just curious if anyone else has experienced this.

My 2023 M2 has not issued this alert to me. But I will check the coolant level today before I use the car.

It is normal there can be a small loss of coolant. The water pump seal can seep coolant. A sign this is occurring is a bit of anti-freeze residue will be present on the water pump housing. But there should *not* be much and there should not be any signs of wetness. The hot coolant forces its way out past the seal but the water evaporates almost immediately and just leaves the anti-freeze behind.

But there can be a real leak although it may not be obvious.

Had a car suddenly alert me to a low coolant level. There had been no signs of leaks. No odor of anti-freeze from the hot engine. I checked all the usual places and found no signs of leaks.

But I did notice a some water condensation on the area of the bottomof the trunk lid that sealed the top of the fluid bay.

Long story short I put a foil tent over the coolant reservoir cap with the engine hot. After a few minutes there was water condensed on the bottom of the foil tent. A bad coolant reservoir cap was venting pressure and water vapor. A new cap put a stop to the venting and no more more low coolant level warning.

And another time the coolant level was dropping much too fast to be normal. A visual inspection turned up no signs of any leak. Topped up the coolant level with distilled water. With the A/C off drove the car around the neighborhood until engine was up to temperature signaled by the radiator fans coming on.

Parked the car and raised the RPMs to 1K. Held RPMs until the radiator fans came on. Then turned off the engine. Got out of the car and walked around. After a bit was suddenly surprised by the coolant tank gushing hot coolant. Fortunately it gushed straight down. The tank was emptied in nearly no time. Approx. 1 gallon of coolant.

It was not the cap. At the dealer after the tech removed the plastic coolant reservoir the tank was found to have developed a crack along the bottom mold seam. The tank would only leak when I shut off the engine very hot. Which I did rarely. When the engine is shut off hot the heat load in the engine increases the coolant temperature and pressure and can bring leaks to light a cold pressure test won't find.

New coolant tank was installed and that was that.

[myaghi]

Before a trip last month i checked the coolant as a precaution and I found that I had no coolant into the big tank, so was well bellow the minimum sign. I checked the small tank and this had cooland but to the minimum. No warning on the idrive. I topped the coolant with the right one from the dealership, I think about 3-400 ml and everything is fine after about 4000km. When I bought the car I checked the coolant and both tanks where between max and min.

After my experience I checked my collegue G82 M4 with about the same milleage as mine and the situation was similar. No coolant into the big tank, minimum into the small one and no warning.

So don't panic, just check the coolant from time to time. It likes to drink a little bit of coolant from time to time

[RoccoVA]

So I called the dealer this morning and they gave me the OK to drive it and swing by after work for a top-off. When they went to add coolant the reservoir was completely dry. They decided that warranted making an appointment for a pressure test of the cooling system. Unfortunately that won't be until Nov 4th. Ill post up when I know more. Thanks for all the replies guys.

[Hypori]

I had this warning a couple weeks ago at 12K miles. Reservoir looked dry, so I brought it in to the dealer. They topped it off, but it actually didn't take much coolant. SA said this consumption is "normal".

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Hypori

I had this warning a couple weeks ago at 12K miles. Reservoir looked dry, so I brought it in to the dealer. They topped it off, but it actually didn't take much coolant. SA said this consumption is "normal".

It is never normal.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by RoccoVA

So I called the dealer this morning and they gave me the OK to drive it and swing by after work for a top-off. When they went to add coolant the reservoir was completely dry. They decided that warranted making an appointment for a pressure test of the cooling system. Unfortunately that won't be until Nov 4th. Ill post up when I know more. Thanks for all the replies guys.

I would not accept that answer...one month out? Go to your CA for help, if need be. He is your real contact. Raise hell if need be (even go to NA). If all else fails, go to a different dealership.

[RockCrusher]

Originally Posted by RoccoVA

So I called the dealer this morning and they gave me the OK to drive it and swing by after work for a top-off. When they went to add coolant the reservoir was completely dry. They decided that warranted making an appointment for a pressure test of the cooling system. Unfortunately that won't be until Nov 4th. Ill post up when I know more. Thanks for all the replies guys.

While some coolant loss is normal the normal loss in my experience with other cars is minimal. I would see a bit of charge for coolant top up at my 5K mile oil/filter services.

The only time I've seen the reservoir dry -- by dry down by almost a gallon of coolant based on how much distilled water I had to add -- is when the pressure cap was bad and venting water vapor when the engine was hot.

I topped up the coolant and drove the car but the low coolant level warning light came on in around a month's time. My daily usage was 60 miles a day work commute so I put some miles on the car.

When the low coolant light came on a 2nd time and after a brief time I suspected a leak and went about finding it.

Get the pressure test. Have to mention though too often in my 1st hand and 2nd hand experience a cold pressure test will not turn up a leak.

If the car comes back with no leak found consider a hot pressure test.

Briefly, top up the coolant with distilled water. Do not over fill but the higher the level of coolant without being over filled is better. Be sure cap on securely.

Turn off A/C. Start engine and drive the car around on surface streets until the engine coolant (and oil) is up to temperature.

At home on your driveway raise RPMs to 1K and hold until radiator fan comes on. Shut off engine.

Heat load of engine will raise coolant temperature and pressure. And with everything hot and the hoses/seals/o-rings/plastic more pliable if there's a leak the odds are it will make itself known.

Be careful. Open hood and check with a bright light for any signs of coolant. Hoses/hose connections. Water pump -- if you can see it from above. Radiator. Front and back and around the seam where the bottom tank is crimped to the core.

Get down and look under the car.

Even if you don't spot a leak right away a telltale is if you smell anti-freeze.

[beren]

sounds unusual to me. Whenever I've had low coolant issues, there was a leak somewhere.

[BgsDks]

Originally Posted by RoccoVA

When they went to add coolant the reservoir was completely dry. They decided that warranted making an appointment for a pressure test of the cooling system.

Uh-oh. I hope coolant isn’t leaking into a cylinder or someplace else. At least you are not throwing any codes, but no detectable coolant is no bueno. Please share the diagnosis when you get one.

[F8xamaar]

Any update?

[techwhiz1]

You guys overthink this.
A bad or weak cap on the expansion tank can allow coolant loss.

Some loss is normal just due to heat soak if you drive in hot climates.

[M_Power Rob]

Originally Posted by techwhiz1

You guys overthink this.
A bad or weak cap on the expansion tank can allow coolant loss.

Some loss is normal just due to heat soak if you drive in hot climates.

Exactly...and that is the only warning the iD8 provides, whether it's just a harmless evaporation or breach/hole/leak in the system (as harsh as it seems).