E30 Zone

hi guys some while back i asked about uprated radiators for my 325 i track car
has any one else put bigger radiators in and if so what did they use
I've heard E34 M3 may be the one to have?

I use PWR.

Others like Zionsville.

I'm more than happy with my choice. Custom made pieces of art that perform beautifully.

how much?

About £480.

Have a look here:

http://www.pwr.com.au/#/view=products/s=rs/p=about/

For Zionsville:

http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/stor ... de/CCS.htm

how about here in the uk?
anyone?

Sorry, Paynts, I don't know of UK distributors for these units. Sorry, I can't help more...

Is this any good to you.

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=84891

Never had cause to consider a larger rad. Are you getting overheating issues with functioning (as in not full of 20 years of crap) standard rads?

Paynts, I still have two PM's for you sitting in my outbox that you haven't picked up yet. Please collect.

if you want more airflow then do what i am about to do, where you have the radiator, in front is some sheet metal with the bumper on. angle grind that bit out the way so the hole is much larger.

i have a tech 2 kit so ill just be circle cutting the bumper and moving the plate, not sure what you would do with a non kitted car though

I had no problems with overheating on my m20 320i on track....

It might be worth flushing your system, also is your viscous fan working ok?

Buy a new standard rad', remove viscous fan and fit electric one to the rad....job done!

I use a new 325i radiator with no problems. Combined with an electric fan I find there is no heating problems, even when racing on +30 degree days.

What electric fan do you use, Michael?

AlpineAde wrote:What electric fan do you use, Michael?

Not sure Ade, it's one my Dad found somewhere. I will find out for you.

We had to mount it in front of the radiator though (would not fit between the radiator and the engine), however it does not seem to effect the cooling in any way. We have set it so the fan turns on at about 1/3 - 1/2 temperature (depending on the time of year).

Hmm..... I've got a Kenlowe on the front of the radiator and an oil cooler in front of that i think the issue may be down to a 20 year old radiator and not having the kenlowe cut in point fine tuned enough

I might just buy an new rad from GSF or Eurocarparts

At the end of the day the engine only makes circa 195 hp so thats only 15 % more than standard

Paynts wrote:
I might just buy an new rad from GSF or Eurocarparts

At the end of the day the engine only makes circa 195 hp so thats only 15 % more than standard

Yep thats the go. Mine makes about 50% more power than a standard M20 and I have no worries. I also run a BMW oil cooler.

She'll be right.

MillRat wrote:

AlpineAde wrote:What electric fan do you use, Michael?

Not sure Ade, it's one my Dad found somewhere. I will find out for you.

Quite likely a Davies-Craig, given that you are in Oz? I use their products imported in SA. Very good. I also use a Davies-Craig electric waterpump on my engine (in place of the mechanical) with great success.

Paynts, I got your PM about the lost messages. You should have one re-sent sitting in your inbox now.

They're the mob I've just been looking at.

They have a very good reputation.

GeoffBob wrote:

MillRat wrote:

AlpineAde wrote:What electric fan do you use, Michael?

Not sure Ade, it's one my Dad found somewhere. I will find out for you.

Quite likely a Davies-Craig, given that you are in Oz? I use their products imported in SA. Very good. I also use a Davies-Craig electric waterpump on my engine (in place of the mechanical) with great success.

Paynts, I got your PM about the lost messages. You should have one re-sent sitting in your inbox now.

I have an electric fan, not water pump.

A Craig Davis water pump is on the cards this year though.

MillRat wrote:I have an electric fan, not water pump.

A Craig Davis water pump is on the cards this year though.

Michael, a few tips if you seriously are considering an electric water pump:

The Davies-Craig water pump (I have an EWP110 on my Toyota 3SGTE engine) works great, but only when installed correctly. I have seen many posts on different forums relating tales of woe when it comes to these electric pumps. Far too many people don't install them properly and wind up worse off than before. One of the biggest mistakes I have seen is to keep the mechanical pump intact. The idea being "well, if the electric pump fails, at least I still have the mechanical as back up". The two pumps fight each other and do not work well in combination.

Another huge mistake is to think that the pump functions as an "on/off" device, much like an electric fan on a radiator that switches on and off from a temperature sensitive switch. This is a recipe for disaster when it comes to an electric water pump. The Davies Craig electric water pump is designed to be operated from either an ECU (I use the Oz made Adaptronic to run mine) or you can buy a nice little standalone pump controller from Davies-Craig to go with the pump. The pump controller controls the speed of the pump as a function of the coolant temperature measured somewhere on or near the cylinder head. If you want to avoid pockets of boiling water in your head you need to do it this way!

Having said all of this, if you install an electric water pump correctly, it offers a distinct advantage over a mechanical pump. Specifically, it pumps water according to the cooling requirements of the engine, and not in direct proportion to engine RPM.

Sorry if I have just dumped a pile of unsolicited info on you, but I thought I would warn you in advance what you might be getting yourself into.

Geoff

Hi Geoff,

Good comments, and ones I have heard from several guys here in Australia who run them.

- Yep, mechanical pump would go, and
- We will get the Craig Davis control unit. I have never heard of someone running them ON/OFF, however I haven't talked to that many people who do run them. It does sound like a recipe for disaster.

Cheer-io,

I've got a air con spec rad in the garage, came of a 320i race car and looks pretty new, if anybody needs a cheaper alternative PM me.