BMW E46 Complete Coolant System Flush

How to perform a complete coolant flush on the BMW E46.
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[@GeorgeAusters]

Febi Coolant / Antifreeze: amzn.to/3r3pv58 Deionised Water: amzn.to/3nvQP9f

[@MegaDavie10]

Hi george is that the same coolant for 2007 520d. Thanks.

[@SupremeDroneTV]

Hey man, I just got a e46 330 coupe 2D and want to do the same, I went to Amazon and tried buying the Grey Antifreeze Coolant from BMW but amazon states it doesn’t support my car? What you suggest? I am in LA

[@edwardmadry4299]

G11? strange...

[@slippe_69]

Hi my friend, just wanted to say that I am so glad I found your video. Will follow your exact steps this week!

[@bobhill5227]

Thanks George, very helpful learning how to top up & bleed the system yesterday 👍

[@agghell224]

Best video ever. Thank you for this !!!

[@saidahmed1028]

Thank you boss . I lost my engine over this was blocked . Now i know what to do . Thank you again

[@TheClassifiedMan]

Finally someone doing vids on an e46 320d touring, sub’d mate👍

[@GeorgeAusters]

Cheers mate

[@gregorytolson4621]

Im doing my e85 m54 coolant change soon. Did you know there is a coolant drain plug on the engine block itself? Should help get all of that coolant out (or in your case the distilled water sitting in the block after you drained and filled it multiple times). Though i suppose if you get the system to the point of pure distilled water you can measure how much comes out in your last drain and figure out how many parts of concentrate and water to add based on the capacity

[@gjloew9781]

Why didn't you open the block drain plug and drain the block as well? It's on the right front about mid block.

[@ukaszukasz9769]

I would make the last rinse with demilitarized water, before pouring directly dedicated coolant. Very good video. I admire patience. Greetings from Polish 🤍❤️

[@flippy9133]

I recommend using some chemical flush, like from BG. Mine just needed one flush with this stuff

[@kjschrauber2126]

Great as always mate

[@GeorgeAusters]

Thanks as always mate

[@rowanskull]

Might be quicker to jack up the back as well as the front, so any coolant doesn’t get stuck at the back of the engine. Good video George!

[@markwilliamson811]

Great vid George, can I mention a little tip I've found when decanting liquid from a 5l containers, just turn it on its side, it then wont glug...

[@GeorgeAusters]

Cheers mate👍🏻

[@projectskii7557]

Thanks for showing me this , s/o to link this from the bmw chat

[@Gandobilis]

thanks😍

[@pirasathstephen5349]

Nice One Bro Well Done ;)

[@GeorgeAusters]

Thanks mate!

[@BoujemaaGourzane]

شكرا جزيلا تحياتي لك من الدار البيضاء المغرب

[@bunabuna9287]

Great job 👏 I'm debating weather i should give this a go on my 330d n57. Scared I'll mess it up. I've heard horror stories of things going wrong big time if you don't bleed it proper

[@GeorgeAusters]

You’ll be fine!

[@bunabuna9287]

@@GeorgeAusters hope so mate 🙏 I've watched your video on the n47 flush great video. I'm sure I'll be ok if follow your lead on it.

[@stunicholson3921]

I think on the n57 you need to pull the rad hose off, they have done away with the high vis petcock. Also, the correct procedure on the n57 is to use a vacuum pump system to pull the air to then refill.

[@bunabuna9287]

@@stunicholson3921 thanks for the info. I was hoping it would be similar to the n47 procedure. Think I'll get it done at a shop just to be safe. Thanks

[@gprice6047]

Just done this on my 330ci. Thanks for the advice. I used de-ionised water for the last two flushes so that this would be present in the engiine. I then emptied the rad and re-filled with antifreeze concentrate, then ran the engine to mix the water in the engine and the antifreeze this getting approx 50/50. I followed your method after being unable to open the drain cock on the side of the engine- impossible! I assume that there is only one bleeed screw on these engines (M54) as I've seen more on other videos

[@hadeswhitediamond7162]

Very helpful

[@GeorgeAusters]

Thanks bud

[@DoubleD91]

Nice one man, finished the exhaust manifold on my m57n but unfortunately it didnt "mate up" correctly (awful noise).. so doing again tomorrow with BMW gaskets wish me luck!

[@GeorgeAusters]

Good luck lol

[@DoubleD91]

@@GeorgeAusters Just so much stuff to remove just to get where you want haha

[@chrisismail]

Can you stick a hose in the radiator cap hole and just leave the hose running while the car idles with the heater on flat stick?

[@madmaz8890]

Decent video, although would be against draining the rad at op temps as well hot hot water and can actually damage the engine if its starved of coolant, probably best to fill it and leave the screw out continously, will speed up the flush process too.....also a tip with those 5L bottles, when pouring, turn it on its side so the handle it 90° instead of straight inline

[@cristianzmara2369]

the best!

[@GeorgeAusters]

Thanks bro!

[@mhdprestigevtc8994]

Hello friend. I've flushed my bmw e46 320d 150hp 2004 model same as yours. My heater is not working, it is only blowing cold air now. After checking every thing i found that the pipe which comes from the engine block to heater electric pump is not hot even when the engine temperature is 90c. I unplugged the pipe from the electric pump (attached at the bottom of the pump) and there is no coolant in that pipe. I started the engine with the pipe unplugged and still there is no coolant flowing through it. Please help.

[@BasitKhan-eo5rn]

hi, does this febi stuff work for n43 engines? great video btw

[@GeorgeAusters]

Yes

[@MrEddieo1]

I did a thermostat and water pump job and didn’t bleed it properly. Fried the head and it cost me $3000 to repair. It pays to do everything right

[@assadsmagicalmysterytour]

What were your symptoms after warping the head?

[@PTibor-mo1tf]

at 12:18 in the videó where i can buy that plastic stick?Because my one was break.......and i dont find it nowhere......

[@Equinoxious342]

You didn’t use the main drain plug?

[@TiaOR123]

Great vid 👍🏼 when I’m following this - the engine gets to 12 position but fan not blowing warm/hot 😰

[@danielpilat123]

That must be your thermostat, have you got to figure the problem out yet?

[@TiaOR123]

@@danielpilat123 I had replaced the thermostat. Realised had a leak on the coolant flange too… process worked fine once I figured it out 🙈😜

[@LettingHellLooseGaming]

May be being dim here, but obviously with the drain plug only draining the expansion tank then surely once you’ve finished flushing you would then need to flush the remaining normal water from the block side of the system. Otherwise it would be pointless using the deionised water to refill it.

[@scott_ferguson]

Great video mate👍Are you going to do you thermostat?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Cheers mate, no need thermostat is perfect sits bang in the middle👍🏻

[@scott_ferguson]

@@GeorgeAusters I had to do mine, the gauge would only go to the quarter mark 😩.

[@emilio3632]

Good job

[@rustynail9516]

What a great video George.

[@GeorgeAusters]

Cheers mate!

[@rustynail9516]

@@GeorgeAusters George what's your opinion on the heater exchangers on the automatic transmissions on the 520d 530d they get overlooked and have a thermostat built into them, have you ever replaced them?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Replace them if they need replacing👍🏻

[@rustynail9516]

@@GeorgeAusters ?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Replace if it needs replacing. Coolant temps are perfect on this car so no need to change any thermostats👍🏻

[@joeyjones6638]

Well explained mate. I have the n47 engine and the drain plug is covered by the intercooler 😡 so could I still warm up the engine in between flushing without the intercooler connected or should i use the bottom hose to drain. Cheers pal

[@MrLorenczo]

Lol forget about running your car without intercooler, its a part of your air intake system dont forget that

[@GeorgeAusters]

Are you sure? Because it isn’t on my 520D as I’ve done a video on it👍🏻

[@joeyjones6638]

@@GeorgeAusters yes George intercooler obstructing the the radiator drain plug 😩😩😩

[@GeorgeAusters]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/iKfbgWt9nqqhqNk That’s when I did it on the 520D

[@ahmetucar2901]

Hi,the video is great,thanx:) I relase egr off, how did you done it?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Video is here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3y8c3uAiZ1of8k

[@halfheartbandit59]

Where you unscrew the blue screw on my bmw I don’t have that???

[@AshG786]

Cheers dude got exactly the same problem in my e91, we’ve spoke about it before on some other video. How much do you think a garage would charge to drain flush and add the coolant, supplied by the garage? Thanks

[@GeorgeAusters]

No prob. I’d say maybe £50-100 but most usually don’t flush it out completely like I did or use the correct coolant👍🏻

[@AshG786]

@@GeorgeAusters you need to move to Nottingham mate. Il even introduce u to Froch

[@GeorgeAusters]

@@AshG786 Haha! Fun fact i've actually been to his house.

[@AshG786]

@@GeorgeAusters sorted mate. Full drain, flush and new correct coolant added in. Feels like a different car, quietened down a lot seems to drive a lot better too now 🤔

[@AshG786]

@@GeorgeAusters legend 👌

[@vendels4154]

Did it same way, but instead of fill-close-drain cycles, i just plugged a water hose into the tank while the engine was running and the drain open. I let it run until clear water flowed from the drain! Then top up with new coolant, bleed and done

[@AbdulHaq11901]

Wow good idea hah

[@arnesto2571]

George when you flush the system does the water has to be to the maximum or it doesn’t matter?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Ideally but doesn’t really matter

[@grandsoleil56]

I used to take a hose off and literally put the garden hose down it, rough but it got the crud out quick

[@onyxful]

the upper hose? or the lower one? good idea tho lol

[@cjyt6491]

Great video Stupid question are you replacing the expansion tank cap each time

[@GeorgeAusters]

Yes

[@agent_ethan]

according to the manual, there are 2 more bleed valves that need to be open. this for all m47 engines.

[@MrHansSchuman]

Where? 🙂

[@agent_ethan]

@@MrHansSchuman 1) Vent Plug on EGR cooler thermostat 2) Vent Plug on Heating Rerturn pire 3) Vent Plug on Auxiliary Heater 3) Vent Plugi on Heating Feed and there's also a sequence to close them. Some of them will emerge coolant, others don't. Theres a manual that explains this for the M47 engine. Try to search "Draining and adding coolant (M47, M47TU)"

[@kieranbarclay83]

Hi George would this cure a heater which is warm at best and never hot on an e91 318 petrol '07 ?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Possibly yes!

[@peng5480]

I would recommend not filling with that much coolant, higher chance you blow your expansion tank up.

[@BurrNinja]

Will this method work on modern bmws such as the f10?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Yep👍🏻

[@laloortiz7312]

Was the antifreeze boiling hot when u unscrewed the blue screw?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Sometimes yes

[@anthonyhardman9121]

alright George, i know its irrelevant to the video, but i have a problem with my e81, when i put it into 1st gear 2 times out of 5 it comes back out of 1st (only happens in 1st) and my clutch sticks and have to bring it back up with my foot, but this only happens like i said in 1st gear, any help would be appreciated mate!

[@GeorgeAusters]

Could be bad synchros

[@anthonyhardman9121]

@@GeorgeAusters ok george thank you for the reply mate 👍👍

[@JJ-jx9up]

Did on my 2 e46s about a month ago

[@GeorgeAusters]

Good stuff, often something people forget about then wonder why their coolant components are failing!

[@simplelangperorock]

thanks for the tip. previous owner did not use the right coolant? not blue?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Correct!

[@simplelangperorock]

@@GeorgeAusters green fluid should come outta the drain for genuine coolant. blue to green. BTW, I learned a lot from you man. thanks so much for your videos. peace out

[@GeorgeAusters]

Some people use green, some use blue. Pretty sure genuine BMW is blue though👍🏻

[@simon_sjw9973]

Cool 😎 video

[@GeorgeAusters]

Cheers Simon!

[@dhalsim-1]

When putting proper coolant in at the end, the system still had lots of water in it (tap water) So why add even more water to it and then only a small amount of blue coolant? The ratio of actual coolant would be too low. Besides, wouldn't you have to do another flush with deionised water to get rid of all the remaining tap water?

[@mohbounu]

Exactly, this engine has a lot of tap water in it now

[@arnietwo11]

George did this job yesterday on my 2006 e53. Would u believe when i removed the plastic undertray, i found the blue plastic drain screw and touched it with my finger. It fell off !!!! But the threaded part was still in the radiator and keeping it sealed. I can only assume the last person tightened it too hard and sheered it off, then glued on the head. So i had to buy a new screw €4, and then drill out the old one !! Ehh something i wasnt expecting ??

[@GeorgeAusters]

Oh wow lol.. Yes never screw anything into plastic tight

[@mehmetsahin9103]

Cok sikmakla alakasi yok.Bende yenisini takmişdim anlattigin gibi kafa tarafi koptu acarken ama tamir ettim.cünkü sadece kafa kismi kopmusdu cikarttim yerinden ve ortasindan bir yildiz civata taktim ve yapistirdim eskisinden daha saglam oldu cünkü biliyorum ki yeniside yine kopacak acarken.

[@Dannitk]

🙌🏼

[@GeorgeAusters]

👌🏼

[@birdnest10]

just some info, Distilled water is higher quality than de-ionized water. Why use de ionized water when you can use distilled?

[@GeorgeAusters]

Wrong... Deionised water is more pure. Distilled water conducts electricity, deionised does not.

[@gabordeak1993]

@@GeorgeAusters well, to be exact you are wrong too. Both conducts electricity, that is how it's degree of purity measured: you measure it's conductance. Distillation is highly energy intensive, deionization is not that much. Also, you need the proper quartz equipment for distillation or metal ions may remain in the product, even from regular glass. I don't think you will be able to source real distilled water. Deionized is fine.

[@gabordeak1993]

@@GeorgeAusters great vid btw :)

[@bigdaddyv1021]

Why are you just flushing the radiator and not the engine?

[@ecotts]

Do you have the link, your link isn't showing up for me.

[@GeorgeAusters]

Febi Coolant / Antifreeze: amzn.to/3r3pv58 Deionised Water: amzn.to/3nvQP9f

[@ecotts]

@@GeorgeAusters Thank you.

[@deundreaverett3623]

Is that possible that engine last longer.

[@GeorgeAusters]

Haha it will last 300-400k miles easily!

[@AB-C1]

I got the saloon version on 54plate M47 engine full BMW history only 125k miles garret turbo from factory and 6speed manual. Dealer mechanic told me he's seen at least 2 with the M47 engine with a million miles+!! I got an e90 on an 07 I had from new bought the SE for subtlety but uprated everything FROM factory to MSport EVERYTHING including full leather msport seats and electric sunroof mirrors everything about £5k on extras that's same lump 3 months before the N47 was introduced with DPF and dodgy cam chains so got E46 and E90 both Titan Silver both 6speed manual only difference is the E90 had a mitsubishi turbo from factory(cost cutting no doubt) it blew at 55kmiles! So I changed it for an uprated/upgraded version to a Solid bullet hybrid turbo ceramic coated but in original BMW housing so it's better than factory that's my keeper as it's only done 57k now on an 07! Pre DPF and Cam Chain issues they're both only going up in value especially with the new MOT rules for everyone who bypassed their DPFs on all makes and models after they fail between one and five years, any diesel with DPF "tampered with" fails MOT so basically ALL new diesels so you're better having a 15 year old solid reliable lump. Even the E46 with 127k miles only puts out 1/3rd the allowed emissions on MOT so it's actually BETTER than most new diesels with the gizmos still working.. BMW beat engines in world before they cheaped out!!

[@zoebalbaert2136]

@@AB-C1 so glad i own a m47 520d strong engines

[@viscalyske1624]

always flush twice its a long way to cornwall

[@wi1lis]

Is the system not under pressure when it gets hot? I feel like unscrewing the little plug would cause it to shoot out followed by a load of boiling liquid 😂

[@GeorgeAusters]

Can be yes!

[@SuperNickandchris]

Can be? You mean absolutely yes. Boiling hot water

[@YOUR2DADZ]

followed these instructions and now i have a v8 in the engine bay.

[@GeorgeAusters]

😂

[@soringringo9248]

If you want to drain all coolant from engine u have a screw on the engine block .

[@GeorgeAusters]

I’m not sure there is a drain on this engine mate👍🏻

[@elianionel]

hello ... more precisely, what is the capacity of the cooling system for the E46 320D facelift

[@elianionel]

#GeorgeAusters to understand that you don't know

[@elianionel]

hello ... please tell me, ... how many liters of coolant should I put?

[@villeturunen6723]

9.3 litres

[@agent_ethan]

8 liters

[@mehmetsahin9103]

​@@elianionelBmw e46 320d 2001bj vorfacelift 6 litre su aldi.Havasida alindi.

[@danielhoffmann3365]

Please avoid words like “forever” or “immediately” in the titles. Do not become the BMW doctor ;) great content though and keep up the good work

[@iansmall8119]

No

[@JMUDoc]

I'm sure somebody has already said this, but E46 engines have a drain plug screwed into the side for getting the rest of the coolant out :) The Haynes manual says that the radiator and engine should be flushed separately, so you can disconnect the top and bottom hoses at the rad pour/hose water into the top of the rad and let it run out of the bottom to do the rad, then pour/hose water into the top hose and let it run out of the bottom hose to do the engine.

[@GeorgeAusters]

On the M47?

[@JMUDoc]

@@GeorgeAusters Yes - it's on the left hand side, if you are looking at the engine under the bonnet. www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=AL72-EUR-01-2000-E46-BMW-320d&diagId=11_2086 Part # 8 😉

[@mrcabes]

It won't make your engine last forever. Bold comment. Ask a qualified mechanic

[@bystander1489]

Nothing lasts forever

[@GeorgeAusters]

Exactly right, just like echo and the bunnymen said👍🏻

[@dhalsim-1]

@@bystander1489 Even the universe. Unless there's a perpetual expansion and crunch.