Anyone know the right proceedure for coolant bleeding on e90 M3?

[OneSickM]

I cannot find anything online that mentions exact procedure on bleeding coolant. I had to disconnect one of coolant pipe and good amount of coolant was spilled. I am trying to bleed the system to get rid of air and fill what is lost but I cannot seem to make it work.

What I have read so far:

1- keep tank reservoir cap open
2- start car and put heater on max and fan settings to lowest
3- fill tank to max level
repeat.

I followed exact procedure however the stick didn't move and stayed same level as before coolant spill

[deansbimmer]

There's not much online because there's not much to it. It's a self bleeding system. But these are the official BMW instructions:

https://www.newtis.info/tisv2/a/en/e...-check/Hq5CpsJ

[BimmerMan33]

Add coolant to max level, close expansion tank cap.
Start engine, set climate control to max hot.
After a couple minutes, slowly loosen the bleeder screw located on top of the coolant expansion tank and keep loose for a few seconds until a bubble free stream of coolant spilling is seen, then tighten.
May repeat this procedure once or twice/until no air bubbles are seen with the spilling coolant from the bleeder screw.
Use a thick absorbent cloth near the bleeder screw so you don't spill coolant onto engine bay.

I personally would not run the engine with coolant expansion tank cap open. The bleeder screw is meant to be used for bleeding the coolant system.

Hope this helps!

[OneSickM]

Originally Posted by BimmerMan33

Add coolant to max level, close expansion tank cap.
Start engine, set climate control to max hot.
After a couple minutes, slowly loosen the bleeder screw located on top of the coolant expansion tank and keep loose for a few seconds until a bubble free stream of coolant spilling is seen, then tighten.
May repeat this procedure once or twice/until no air bubbles are seen with the spilling coolant from the bleeder screw.
Use a thick absorbent cloth near the bleeder screw so you don't spill coolant onto engine bay.

I personally would not run the engine with coolant expansion tank cap open. The bleeder screw is meant to be used for bleeding the coolant system.

Hope this helps!

Thanks! I think that's what I am missing. I was opening the tank reservoir cap instead of bleeder screw. I will try that and report back

[pbonsalb]

Should make no difference for bleeding purposes but may be safer if the engine is hot and the coolant under pressure. With a self bleeding system the air should make it up to the top of the tank. You could release it when the engine is cold by unscrewing the cap a few times. That is probably why the TIS does not refer to a bleed screw. In fact the TIS picture shows a tank with no bleed screw.

[OneSickM]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Should make no difference for bleeding purposes but may be safer if the engine is hot and the coolant under pressure. With a self bleeding system the air should make it up to the top of the tank. You could release it when the engine is cold by unscrewing the cap a few times. That is probably why the TIS does not refer to a bleed screw. In fact the TIS picture shows a tank with no bleed screw.

But I did open resevior tank cap multiple times when cold after driving it sometime but it doesn’t seem I am releasing the air as indicator is same exact position

[pbonsalb]

Your system is probably bled. I don’t think the bleed screw goes to a special air bubble capture compartment in the tank. It’s just a smaller release that is easier to watch and control.

[jdamore]

Can the water pump be activated without the engine running like a non M car?

(Ie: Heat turned to max, ignition on (without motor started), throttle held down for 10 seconds)

[deansbimmer]

Originally Posted by jdamore

Can the water pump be activated without the engine running like a non M car?

No, This is a traditional belt driven water pump not electrical, the engine must be running.

[jvictormp]

Originally Posted by OneSickM

I cannot find anything online that mentions exact procedure on bleeding coolant. I had to disconnect one of coolant pipe and good amount of coolant was spilled. I am trying to bleed the system to get rid of air and fill what is lost but I cannot seem to make it work.

What I have read so far:

1- keep tank reservoir cap open
2- start car and put heater on max and fan settings to lowest
3- fill tank to max level
repeat.

I followed exact procedure however the stick didn't move and stayed same level as before coolant spill

I've read this topic, and now I'd like to know: did you drain the coolant from the block too or just from radiator?