Radiator questions

[LuvMyBimrz]

In my 96 BMW 328is...The upper plastic hose connection just broke under pressure while driving.

I need to replace my radiator, and I'm not too fond of the idea of replacing the radiator with the same faulty plastic design (Stock BMW from dealership is $345.00).

Does anybody have any experience with all aluminum after-market "high performance" radiators (Avg. cost is around $180.00)? Any brand that is well known, and would recommend over others? Are there any installation problems with these aftermarket units? Any information will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

M. David Stewart

[michaelgvh]

They are poorly designed but yet they do last around 80-100k miles. Are you really planning on owning the car that long?

It's $154 in the link provided.

When you order your parts, make sure you order two new radiator clips. They are easy to break when you remove them because they work exactly the opposite of the way you would expect. They are cheap and you don't want that to be your DIY show stopper in the event that you break one or both on removal.

Also, it is entirely possible to do the swap without removing the fan. Fan removal is a huge pain the azz. Take a big piece of cardboard (from the box the new one comes in) and slide it between the radiator and the fan shroud when you detach it. That will keep the hoses and such from getting in the way. It will make removal and installation a snap.

With that said... if you do remove the fan and the radiator, you won't ever have that much room to work again in your life. So you might as well do anything else you were thinking about while you are in there. Belts, hoses, water pump, thermostat housing, etc.

Good luck. It's a fun job to do because it's such a big part and looks impressive to the chicks walking by your driveway.

[19redwings]

Do it all while you are in there. Bimmerparts has a kit for $250.

http://www.[Oops!]/item.wws?itempk=21781

COOLING PACKAGE FOR E36 325, 328 AND M3
OEM RADIATOR
WATER PUMP METAL IMPELER
UPPER AND LOWER RAD HOSES
ALUMINUM THERMOSTAT HOUSING
THERMOSTAT SEAL AND HOSUING SEAL
80 DEGREE THERMOSTAT
BOTH DRIVE BELTS




Hey, you guys ready to let the dogs out?

[michaelgvh]

Unless you have done the other stuff recently.

They are all relatively small jobs. I'm not very handy and managed to do them all in an afternoon.======================================== =================

Michael G. vH

1999 528it
1994 325i (sold)

[LuvMyBimrz]

Thanks for the tips...

I was planning on doing all of it at the same time, so the [Oops!] tip is the best.

I was wondering where to get the metal impeller & metal housing...I've read so many times that these can be the main cause of failures...I wanted to replace all the "Junk" with better stuff.

Thanx again!

Drive On!!!

[michaelgvh]

The guys at the place I linked are really good and know their stuff as far as I can tell. Call them if you have any questions and place your order by phone instead of online. Same prices, but free advice. I'm sure the water pumps they sell have metal impellers. I don't think you can find the old ones.
Any BMW parts shop sells the aluminum thermostat housing.

A final tip. When reinstalling the fan shroud - do it well. Make sure there's no movement. Vibration in your fan is a bad thing. Any fan blade touching something else can cause the 'spontaneous fan delete mod' that will strand you on the highway offramp with your boss in the car (Well, in my case it did anyway) and will probably result in having to replace the radiator a second time as the fan blades like to shoot around the engine bay at high speed.

For that matter - if you don't live in a very hot area, you may want to consider researching and doing the 'fan delete mod.' I did it to my car and loved it.

Final note - properly dispose of your old radiator fluid. Pets and other animals like it because it's sweet, but it's also poisonous. ================================================== =======

Michael G. vH

1999 528it
1994 325i (sold)

[19redwings]

If you do it all you will need to remove the fan. Don't buy some high priced special BMW fan removal tool.

Just make sure you have a crescent or other big enough to fit the fan nut.

Next, the fan nut is reverse threaded -> righty loosey. I went hard lefty, then pulled back righty and the nut came loose. I have heard o using a piece of wood to hold the fan still, but I didn't want to risk a nicked or broken fan blade.

Good luck!




Hey, you guys ready to let the dogs out?