[RANDY P]

While I'm here- how do eliminate FALSE low coolant lights on dash.

In cold weather, these things also will give you LOW COOLANT lights as you drive, mine would do that as I hit an on ramp in cool weather, with heat on- shut car off immediately and turn back on, and coolant warning would go away, so it was lying. No leaks, and coolant level seems OK, and temp needle was perfect, no outward signs of air pockets.

These cars hold air bubbles pretty easy and during summer it may not be noticable since the heater is not in use.

Start by jacking nose up of car, or parking on incline, or both.

IF YOU REPLACED SOMETHING MAJOR IN COOLING SYSTEM- say, radiator- fill radiator thru upper hose inlet, fill upper hose until it can't take any more liquid, reattach and then fill coolant reservoir.

BMW procedure - set heat at 90 / maximum, fan on low- key on, engine OFF- you will hear aux water pump whistle underhood. Undo bleeder screw, and fill coolant reservoir till it's absolutely maxed out at the very top- you'll notice bubbles appearing in the bleed hole. Keep at it for about 15 minutes or so, it takes a while.

After that, when it seems all air is gone reinstall bleed screw, top of reservoir, put cap on, make sure heat still maxed out, and start car.

Idle for about 5 seconds, then build revs to about 3K, then settle down, do that about 4-5 times, this ensures the heater matrix has coolant. Shut off car immediately.

Open cap, and then refill coolant to tip top, and leave cap off overnight, bleed screw stays closed- nose still jacked up to assist bleeding. When you come back, you'll see car drank more coolant and bled itself. I typically check / top off the car every few hours until I go to bed.

The coolant level will likely be overfull slightly after this, but it's OK- a little over won't destroy anything.. If the level is low, then add coolant.

I had serious problems with this low coolant light, and thought the system was bled since I followed the factory steps until I left it cap off overnight. My coolant level is so stable now, never changes day to day since the air is completely gone, and no more BS light. If your coolant level seems to change daily, bleed it.

rjp