Radiator upgrade on e30 M3

[DasChin]

can anyone recommend an upgrade part?

or just go to C3 for a standard replacement of OEM.

thanks, DC

[M3Jim]

http://compare.ebay.co.uk/like/23098399 ... =65&ff19=0

This seems to be the most popular upgrade that fits well. I will be getting one when mine dies.

[M3Jim]

..

[harry_p]

Tbh, the standard behr ones work fine, but i do quite like all alloy rads as on a few cars ive had plastic endcap seals fail.

for me it would come down to whatever I could get for a decent price, but I don't think there's a need to upgrade for the sake of it.

[Demlotcrew]

My vote goes for a stock OEM rad.

[DasChin]

Harry I have had an issue with my one.

its a Behr OEM one and the plastic has sheared in the middle of the top end bit where you attach the top water hose to the rad. not sure how old it is but I need a new one.

have wondered if an alloy one would be better to prevent this in the future as the heat clearly makes this area fragile.

[bigbird76]

Also you have to be carefull when tightening the hose clamp on the plastic end rads, My brother broke one on a rover years ago doing this.

Bought my rad from C3 oem one.

Leigh

[Theo]

Looking at the pic in your other thread the (aftermarket ) hose clamp was really over tightened and no doubt the reason it's failed.

[Demlotcrew]

Is it the actual upper end cap thats gone?

[DasChin]

yes. where the top hose goes over.

theo it ran fine for a while then failed. you would have thought it would have cracked straight away if over tightened?

it was the original rad and known to be a weak spot as spoke to a few other m3 owners.

am going for a decent alloy rad instead which comes with a lifetime guarantee.

[Demlotcrew]

If you ask E46 and E39 owners most of them will tell you their expansion tanks and rads fail.

Personally, I don't like the Ali rads for a road car (purely aesthetics), if it was me I would be looking at an original Behr, if its a track only then yes the Ali one is a good contender.

I run a stock rad on my track turd....no issues what so ever.

[harry_p]

my expansion tank bottom outlet cracked and broke off, but i haven't had a problem with radiators.

plastic does get brittle with age, so an overtightened connection could fail some time after the clip was tightened. Looked after, a new standard one could easily last another 15+ years.

saying that, i fitted an all alloy rad to my road e36 m3 as the standard ones are prone to bowing at the bottom before total failure. i managed to catch it just in time.

[DasChin]

OEM BEHR special order from Germany from dealer = £400!!

so Mishimoto alloy rad it was. £189 delivered. result.

packaging was a work of art. very nice rad too. fitting new week.








comes with Lifetime warrantee which is handy too.

[Fastroad]

I like that. Put some pics of it installed, better looking them OEM

[Demlotcrew]

Noooooooooo

[Fastroad]

Noooooooooo

Why not????

[DanThe]

You could paint the ends if you wanted to make it look a bit more oem like

[Fastroad]

This is what the OEM one should look like

[Demlotcrew]

Painting it is not a bad idea actually, as it is it will be a massive eye sore in the bay.

[Fastroad]

Ok not bad idea about painting the ends

[DasChin]

Yep can paint the ends. But not the main rad as agent advised it could hinder cooling.

[Fastroad]

Leave the main rad looks better and cleaner that way and plus the cooling issue, so it a Win Win

[harry_p]

Could hinder cooling, but ok for them to paint their name on it

Painting it wouldn't hurt, most oem rads and aircon condensers will be painted.