-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 C0/6TO5mit7eyxQHpRP/3wuTh30oMMjZr6xwMuHZ/DDhnrRJ+8Dkvm7oSynthtHe
 TA/KF0qhhyYLNMWfvYHtbg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-08-006697.txt : 20080908
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-08-006697.hdr.sgml : 20080908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080908190440
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-08-006697
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080908
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080908

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BECKMAN COULTER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000840467
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				951040600
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 N HARBOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 3100
		CITY:			FULLERTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92834-3100
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7147736907

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 N HARBOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 3100
		CITY:			FULLERTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92834-3100

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BECKMAN INSTRUMENTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Creager Richard S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001444596

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10109
		FILM NUMBER:		081061838

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		714-773-6907

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 N. HARBOR BLVD
		CITY:			FULLERTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92835
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form3.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-10</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000840467</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BECKMAN COULTER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001444596</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Creager Richard S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4300 N. HARBOR BLVD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FULLERTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92835</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>GVP, High Sensitivity Testing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1757.6068</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15100</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>50.60</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-12-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-12-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>481.4186</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>65.70</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-01-06</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>18000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>56.91</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-01-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-01-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7200</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>60.82</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-01-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>43.08</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>72.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-01-03</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock converts into common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of phantom stock become payable upon reporting person's termination of service as an employee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jack E. Sorokin by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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