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PapayaSF · 11-01-2009, 04:00 AM

I drove my new '96 318ti today, parked it, and later when I walked by I noticed it dripping water from the bottom rear of the front bumper. It was getting dark, so I can't see exactly what's leaking.

And, of course, this has to happen on a Saturday night, and Monday morning I'm moving...!

I know from reading here and elsewhere how important it is to not let the engine overheat, so I guess my question is this: would it be safe to just top it off with distilled water, so that I can drive it to the shop (less than a mile away)? Or does it have to be mixed 50/50 with coolant, even on a short-term/emergency basis? I don't even know what sort of coolant it uses, having just gotten the car and not yet found an owner's manual.

Any advice?

11-01-2009, 04:00 AM	#1
PapayaSF Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: San Francisco Posts: 29 iTrader: (0) Photo Gallery	Help: water leak! I drove my new '96 318ti today, parked it, and later when I walked by I noticed it dripping water from the bottom rear of the front bumper. It was getting dark, so I can't see exactly what's leaking. And, of course, this has to happen on a Saturday night, and Monday morning I'm moving...! I know from reading here and elsewhere how important it is to not let the engine overheat, so I guess my question is this: would it be safe to just top it off with distilled water, so that I can drive it to the shop (less than a mile away)? Or does it have to be mixed 50/50 with coolant, even on a short-term/emergency basis? I don't even know what sort of coolant it uses, having just gotten the car and not yet found an owner's manual. Any advice?