So my dad has had his '95 525i sitting in the driveway for a few weeks and notices there is a big puddle of antifreeze under the car. About a month ago I was driving the car on the highway and a clamp came loose and all the coolant driained out. I had it fixed right away and the car was fine but has not been driven very much since that incident.

The mechanic is only about 1.5 miles away, and its winter here, so I figure I would just drive the car to him and stop if it began overheating. I start her up and a few seconds later the engine dies. Whats up with that? Should I try to fill up radiator before attempting another start? Should I just try to start the car again? Should I have it towed to the mechanic?

Thanks for the suggestions!

You should have at least filled it with water.

side note - im beginning to think my coolent level sensor needs replacing. yours probably too.

I just came home from a weekend trip to LA, and found my car bathing in a puddle of its own coolant as well. The car never had any leaks before this, slow or fast. My mechanic is about 7 miles away. There is still a small amount of fluid in there. Should I fill it up with water and try to make it there, or would it be safer just to have it towed?

Just filling it up will not work. The system need to bleed off the air. It is time consuming to fill the coolant. you have to run the car to operation temperature keep the car running and keep filling the water.

also loosen the air bleeder screw.

just to follow up incase anyone was curious, it turned out to be a small hole in the auxillary pump. i had the car towed to the dealership to find out if the head was warped, but it was just the hole in the pump, and the engine was flooded which is why it would not start. they wanted $2200 to change the plugs, oil, and the pump. i took it to my mechanic and he charged me $351 total, but no oil change or plugs.

granted, the dealership was going to do an oil change and new plugs for the price they quoted me, but shit, a difference of more than $1800 is f**king ridiculous. i gave my mechanic $360 and told him to keep the change. how is such a difference in price possible??