BMW K1600GT - Adding coolant the easy way

[@hectorvara750]

Just finished working on topping the coolant on my 2012 K1600GT. Your video really helped guide me. Thank you, Boris! For the model year 2012 I did not have to bother with the pin that you broke as on my bike it was all about removing about 14 screws. It is really a very easy job and I have heard complaints about removing plastic and what a pain it can be. I agree. I have learned that patience really helps with proper fitting and alignment of the plastic parts. In my case it was all 20 mm torx screw heads. (Be careful with the screws at the lockable compartment - those three screws are shorter in length than the rest.) Late September 2021 I was on a trip from So. California to Brooklyn to visit my daughter. I got a warning about overheating at the lowest point of the Holland Tunnel. Not good at all. I had to climb out of the tunnel with the overheating warning light on. Absolutely not a good place to stop. Once out I pulled over and allowed for engine cooling. I had always taken my bike to mostly one dealer, but dealers and had the oil changed midway on my trip. I thought the professionals would check basic things like coolant level, but no, that was my fault for assuming. Later in the trip my conscience got the better of me and once again I referred to a BMW dealer in the Northeast. In 2021 they charged me for a quart of coolant and a very thorough check of my coolant operation. That cost me $165.05. The lesson: check your coolant level yourself and save a lot of money by doing this simple job yourself. All the best and safe riding to everyone.

[@thomasmarshall6109]

Awesome video, I just noticed my reservoir was low as well, and looked like a pain to get to, but your vid explains it well. I too live in a hot climate (Florida) but just happened to be at a bmw shop and picked up a QT. Thanks to all the guys showing us all the tricks to maintenance, it really does save us a lot $. 👍🏻

[@ianhudson1997]

yeh great tip,here in the uk we are getting some hot sunshine ,temp is climbing in traffic,so i am going to add some water wetter.

[@vrdriver4508]

good advice. I only removed screws 1-4. The side panel can then be folded down sufficiently

[@DGride]

Little additional information if you use a syringe and a piece of hose it makes the job a lot easier if you have big hands.

[@tremorflow3614]

Great video, I do the same method as this for access. I just use spare antifreeze pre mixed, same as what's in there. Am in a hot climate also, seems I have to do it yearly, a little top up. At first I thought head gasket hehe...luckily not.

[@محمدالمطلق-ي6ن]

Excellent video and comprehensive explanation. Is there a specific type of cooling fluid, or what type, and if so, what is its name?

[@shoofter]

Thanks. Good video. I live in Mesa. Would like to share ideas/experiences if you're willing.

[@danieldoyle7525]

Wow.. thanks.. very helpful.. mine is low and this is super helpful.. cheers 🍻

[@DGride]

Thank you for the video it was very helpful. Simple job when you know what you’re looking for. Auto zone sales Peak Original equipment technology for European vehicles, blue antifreeze coolant.

[@TheNeilld]

Found this to be very useful, as I'd never done this before. Why should you have to pay a dealer to top the water up FFS? 6 screws and one small plastic push fit lug at the back end of the wind deflector and the whole panel comes away. Didn't fancy bending it out as per video, in case it broke. 15 minute job.

[@thomasmarshall6109]

UPDATE: forgot to mention on my 2018 there's a plastic clip right under the air wing you have to break (at least I broke mine off trying to carefully remove) it's a $4.80 very tiny over priced part, not even thinking about replacing because it does very little, but my OCD will kick in and I'll buy it or find a assortment from Harbor Freight. There are very little scratches on this bike and the scratches by the air wing I wondered how did those get there? Now I know, people or techs trying to remove clip; use blue masking tape when removing, it may save a few scratches.

[@Koko-qq8ji]

The tip for taking out that "plug" is to look very carefully & it has a pin in the center of it. Take a 1/16" drill bit & push that pin down & right thru the black plastic cap. That cap will now be very easy to remove. Before doing that make sure the floor under the bike is very clean because you will have to find that little pin (1/16 x 1/2" long) when you put everything back together. Start the pin in the cap, push the cap to bottom then push the pin flush.

[@jamessim6742]

Good video, pretty much the same on the Grand America - just watch out for a small plastic "bung" which looks like it seats under the wind deflector to hold it closed - it's small and it just lifts out, so don't lose it. BMW at taking the urine not having a small access pipe to top up coolant, a dealer visit is just money grabbing.

[@thomasmarshall6109]

👍🏻mine was actually one of the black push clips, where you have to pull up on the middle very tiny plastic rod which allows you to remove, not sure if it was after market or what, the thing does very little, but it will bug me until I find a replacement.

[@Koko-qq8ji]

Look above. I added a tip for that "bung" push clip.

[@shot5heads]

Great job thanks

[@Gixxer-1100]

distilled water will cause you damage to the water pump after the first change of new antifreeze, be aware that the pump costs about $ 300-400, and a common problem is on k48, I'm telling you from experience because it happened to me ... good luck

[@BorisOnWheels]

Good to know. Luckly, I only needed less than a cup of distilled water (0.11 liters), however since my 20k mile service is coming up, I'll go ahead and flush it all out and put the right coolant back in. Thanks!

[@BorisOnWheels]

Your comment prompted me to do some research on the subject of distilled water in cooling systems. Although several articles I found talk about why distilled water is harmful to water pumps, I also discovered that these articles are often written to promote vendors trying to sell their coolant additives. On the other hand, some articles say purified or softened water should be used instead, but then again, other refute that saying they still leave certain minerals and deposits that can build up in system over time. Finally, I called couple of local motorcycle service shops and they all agreed distilled water is still the best option to mix with coolant. I do agree that distilled water alone without coolant could be harmful, but not when mixed with coolant.

[@juancarlosgianola630]

thank you