Ive just bought a 88 520i BMW and am having a really hard time sorting out the radiator system, Can anyone help me with this? Im a 1st time BMW owner.

what do you need help with in sorting out? if you can send me a pic of your engine bay i can point out whats there!!


oh and ilir great post!!

K, hope you can get any further with this one:

Draining
2 If the vehicle has just been driven, wait several hours to allow the engine to cool down before beginning this procedure.
3 Once the engine is completely cool, remove the expansion tank cap or radiator cap. If the cap must be removed while the engine is still warm, unscrew it slowly, and take adequate precautions to avoid scalding.
4 Move a large container under the radiator to catch the coolant. Where a drain plug is fitted, unscrew it (a pair of pliers or screwdriver may be required to turn it, depending on the model) (see illustration). Where there is no drain plug, it will be necessary to disconnect the bottom hose from the radiator.
5 While the coolant is draining, check the condition of the radiator hoses, heater hoses and clamps.
6 Renew any damaged clamps or hoses.
Flushing
7 Once the system is completely drained, flush the radiator with fresh water from a garden hose until the water runs clear at the drain or bottom hose. If the radiator is severely corroded, damaged or leaking, it should be removed and taken to a radiator repair specialist.
8 Flushing in this way will remove sediments from the radiator, but will not remove rust and scale from the engine and cooling tube surfaces. These deposits can be removed by using a chemical cleaner. Follow the procedure outlined in the cleaner manufacturer?s instructions. Remove the cylinder block drain plug before flushing the engine.
9 On models so equipped, remove the overflow hose from the coolant recovery reservoir. Drain the reservoir and flush it with clean water, then reconnect the hose.
Refilling
10 Tighten the radiator drain plug, or reconnect the radiator bottom hose. Refit and tighten the cylinder block drain plug.
Four-cylinder engines
11 Slowly add new coolant (a 40%/60% mixture of antifreeze to water) to the radiator until it is full. Add coolant to the reservoir up to the lower mark.
12 Leave the radiator cap off, and run the engine in a well-ventilated area until the thermostat opens (coolant will begin flowing through the radiator, and the upper radiator hose will become hot).
13 Turn the engine off, and let it cool. Add more coolant mixture to bring the coolant level back up to the lip on the radiator filler neck. On the M40 engine, unscrew the bleed screw from the top of the radiator, and add coolant until it comes out of the bleed screw hole. Refit and tighten the bleed screw.
14 Squeeze the upper radiator hose to expel air, then add more coolant mixture if necessary. Refit the radiator cap.
15 Start the engine, allow it to reach normal operating temperature, and check for leaks.
Six-cylinder engines
16 Loosen the bleed screw in the thermostat housing (see illustration)
17 Fill the radiator with a 40%/60% solution of antifreeze and water until it comes out of the bleed screw opening. Tighten the bleed screw.
18 Refit the radiator cap, and run the engine until the thermostat opens (the upper radiator hose will become hot). Slowly loosen the bleed screw until no bubbles emerge, then tighten the screw.
19 Repeat the procedure until the air is bled from the system.

oh snap!!

just remembered you can also jack the front of your car up while refilling the system so that the air bubbles come to the top

also you can pour directly into the upper radiator hose and main waterpump hose so that it will fill you system up with a little less air!