Coolant for Mini Cooper petrol? Red or blue?

[bazking69]

In the absence of my owners handbook, could someone could please clarify what type of coolant is supposed to be in a petrol engined Mini Cooper (2003)...

The car has red/pink coolant in it. Always has done. Our old Mini Cooper had red/pink coolant. Always did do.

However, I am being told by the dealer that the car should have blue antifreeze in it, and all models of petrol engined Mini Coopers use blue coolant?? It is only late diesels that use the reddy/pink stuff according to them?

Is this correct? I was under the impression that longlife red antifreeze has been the industry norm on cars for at least the last 10 years?

[DrainTheSpuds]

bazking69 said:

I am being told by the dealer that the car should have blue antifreeze in it, and all models of petrol engined Mini Coopers use blue coolant?? It is only late diesels that use the reddy/pink stuff according to them?

Is this correct?

Sounds about right to me. My 2004 S had blue antifreeze from new.

[gonzales]

My R53 has had blue in it from new.

[DanGT]

Red or Blue is not important. Most but not all will mix ok. What you require is long life. Cheeper coolants require changing every 2 years. Mini recomend every 3 years (in the service book). Long life is normaly 3+ years. It is important to change all the coolant at the correct intervals as the coolant becomes corrosive. 50/50 mix.

[Tsippy]

Is there a certain brand of coolant that is recommended? Again it's not mentioned in the service book (apart from contact your local dealer for some overpriced coolant!). So will any coolant do?

[Dnet73]

Manual States ( refer to antifreeze manufacturers latest recommendation )

[E-bmw]

Perhaps if you go back in time to 2010 you could tell him?