E30 Zone

I have an E30 M52 track car with a good condition cooling system running a relatively new E36 328i radiator from a A/C equipped car and a cooling fan from a 1995 840 bmw mounted with e30 m3 brackets.

On track the system works perfectly and I've never had any overheating issues.

When drifting I've never had any specific overheating issues, however it appears to put more strain on the cooling system and I prefer to run with the fan switched on continuously. I want to reduce where possible the heat build up and was wondering if there are any proven ways that people use to get better airflow/improved cooling?

Bigger radiator is the first move

Bigger rad?

I was assuming that you can only go so big with the rad before it makes no difference due to the amount of air flow you can get on the rad and that it reaches a size where no matter if you go bigger or not it makes no difference. But from what you're saying I can go bigger.

My reasoning was that the difference is only when going sideways (on a trackday i have no issues) and that I assumed was due to restricted airflow and therefore even with a bigger rad the airflow is still the same.

Im sure a S50 rad can be used and maybe a stronger fan (if there is one)

I have an S50 rad on my track car and its much better than the rad with side tank, although its more work to fit, airflow obviously has an impact on cooling but if you only have a small amount of coolant in the radiator it takes less time to empty the cold and fill with the warm

Thanks, looks like an S50 rad it is then.

Hi Mate

Hope you are well

Have the same issue with mine! Got the bigger rad in there, but still gets a little warm on track day drifting......

I may be modding the Front bumper and grill to get more air through.

What I have found to help is to remove the rubber at the back of the engine bay and adjust the bonnet catches at the back to create an air gap to allow negative pressure and let some more air flow through the engine bay which helped a little

Mark, good to see you're still alive

My bonnet is on pins so not so easy to do, but I'll have to consider something similar, cheers.

I wasn't aware of a rubber bung at the rear of the engine bay - still learning these E30's!

If you're about it would be good to pop over and see how your rad etc is routed?

But a decent fan, mine sits around 90-100deg max on a hot day. It's done 2 5min sessions at drift land with a 5min gap in the middle.

I was advised to drop my bonnet back down as it causes more problems, I found it made a difference having it in the standard position.

I tried mine without that stat in and it never got up to temp, even drilling it kept temps too low. Mates e36 runs no stat and it keeps temps ok but does creep up after a while. He has a shit fan tho

I run a pacet 14" fan on the sender and can be overided with a switch, 88deg stat and 328 ac rad. I only get cooling issues if something has broken or I forget to switch the fan on

When you say 'that stat' do you mean the thermostat i.e. running without one?

And when you said 'drilling it' do you mean drilling extra vents in the bumper to get cool air through?

Do you run your fan on constant when you are drifting? I find no need to run it when track driving but drifting it needs it on to keep temps stable.

Yeah mean the thermostat, I've tried without and drilled holes in it but it ran too cold

I always drift with the fan on, everyone I know does. I'll leave it off when queuing at times or during battles if temps are low

Ive been telling Mark for about 3 years his fan is shit

DanThe wrote:Ive been telling Mark for about 3 years his fan is shit

why does that not surprise me!

Whats wrong with my fan!