Meatballs82 for PM!

[daimlerman]

I've been having cooling system problems with the touring this summer.It's always lost a little coolant,but it became more like a torrent in recent weeks.
The main culprit was the fitting that I made up several years ago when the M50 was installed to mount the switch for the electric fan...



There was a pinhole in my weld,that rusted bigger,I removed the fitting,re-welded,examined my weld,checked the welder settings,ground back and re-welded again with the gas turned on
This cured,or at least improved the leak,but the thing was still running too hot at sustained engine speeds above 3000rpm,so I came to the conclusion that I had a circulation problem.Both waterpump and 'stat were new not long after the engine went in,so I started to suspect the radiator.
I fitted an ex-M40 rad that I had 'in stock',mainly because this offered the correct fitting for the fan switch,this completely cured the leak,but still gave me the high speed issues,so I concluded that the elderly ex-M40 rad was probably silted up like the original.
Emailed meatballs82 at ECP and asked for a quote on an air/con type E34 radiator,had a reply within 10 minutes with a link to a high res photo to check suitability,confirmed that this was OK and received a very competitive quote,I'd already phoned my local GSF to discover that they would need two or three days to obtain the same rad,for same day dispatch.
Radiator arrived before midday the next day(Friday,yesterday)in perfect condition.


From L to R above,M40,E34(from my engine donor)new radiator.
As you can see,the new rad is significantly taller,but the extra hieght is all below the lower mounting points,so it fits into the void just above the front undertray.




Matt's service from ECP included a follow-up email om Friday to confirm safe arrival,in all,the service received was way beyond first class,this guy will obtain more business from me...quality is remembered long after cost is forgotton...

Meatballs for PM!

[magpie]

how much was the rad all inc ?

[daimlerman]

how much was the rad all inc ?

£112.80,delivered. It's a decent brand as well...Nissens...Matt also offered a budget brand at about £70.

I now discover that ECP have opened a branch here in Lincoln,I know where I'll be off to in the future for bits for the Fix It Again Tomorrow!

[pacerpete]

Luckily you did not buy the 'budget' option, as you often need to Tigerseal the cap to the tank to stop it leaking as the threads are so poorly cut

[daimlerman]

Luckily you did not buy the 'budget' option, as you often need to Tigerseal the cap to the tank to stop it leaking as the threads are so poorly cut

After a lifetime of playing with s/h cars,I have reached the conclusion that buying a sound shell,stripping and re-building to my chosen spec with a view to running the turd for at least ten years is pretty much the answer to cheap(ish) motoring.
Both of my E30's have had this treatment,this is the first non-service item that the touring has needed in getting on for four years...it will need new rear brakes long before it's next MoT,but I consider that to be fair wear and tear!

I've tried to apply a similar approach to 'er indoors Fix It Again Tomorrow,bought unseen of fleabay for £320,spent as much again to get it right over it's first twelve months and was rewarded with a second year's ticket,now in my eyes,less than £700 for at least two year's motoring is Tesco value!

[Jimbob]

What's the part number for that? Exactly what I'm after

[daimlerman]

What's the part number for that? Exactly what I'm after

Talk to Matt!

ECP number:203110555
BMW 17111728907

[Kedge]

He's a bellend , still waiting for my oil pressure switch

I now discover that ECP have opened a branch here in Lincoln,I know where I'll be off to in the future for bits for the Fix It Again Tomorrow!

I'd still use Matt, I gave up using the Leicester Branch much for the same reason most people give up on ECP, poor poor service. I've only started using them again thanks to Matt and proper customer service

[daimlerman]

He's a bellend , still waiting for my oil pressure switch

I now discover that ECP have opened a branch here in Lincoln,I know where I'll be off to in the future for bits for the Fix It Again Tomorrow!

I'd still use Matt, I gave up using the Leicester Branch much for the same reason most people give up on ECP, poor poor service. I've only started using them again thanks to Matt and proper customer service

Until proved differently,Matt at ECP is the dog's dangly's for all things E30,the guy was so interested that he followed up via email to confirm safe arrival,the only other place that may,just possibly do that is the maternity wing....

[cecotto479]

how much was the rad all inc ?

£112.80,delivered. It's a decent brand as well...Nissens...Matt also offered a budget brand at about £70.

I now discover that ECP have opened a branch here in Lincoln,I know where I'll be off to in the future for bits for the Fix It Again Tomorrow!

My experience with ECP suggests that it'll be more like Take The Wrongly Supplied Part Back Tomorrow.

They've opened a new branch nearer me. It's brilliant. It means that they can now deliver the wrong part within the hour.

[daimlerman]

how much was the rad all inc ?

£112.80,delivered. It's a decent brand as well...Nissens...Matt also offered a budget brand at about £70.

I now discover that ECP have opened a branch here in Lincoln,I know where I'll be off to in the future for bits for the Fix It Again Tomorrow!

My experience with ECP suggests that it'll be more like Take The Wrongly Supplied Part Back Tomorrow.

They've opened a new branch nearer me. It's brilliant. It means that they can now deliver the wrong part within the hour.

Next time,try an email to Matt direct,even to far off parts of haggis eatingland you will get overnight delivery...just order before midday(that's when both hands on your wristwatch point upwards)....


It takes a lot to impress me these days,I've worked in the 'same day delivery' business as well as the conventional haulage business,but this guy went the extra mile for me,and that's worth a lot...all I suggest is that others give the guy a go.

[capri_rob]

Matt's a top bloke and knows his stuff.

I spent the best part of £1000 last year at ECP via Matt and every order was 100% - right parts delivered quickly.

If your local branch is cack don't use them - end of.

Email matt and he'll sort you out.

[Meatballs82]

He's a bellend , still waiting for my oil pressure switch


I've only started using them again thanks to Matt and proper customer service

Its in the post Dave, honest!

Appreciate the kind feedback from everyone, I've dealt with loads of zoners in the last 18 months, I've met loads now too. Its been a good laugh and much busier than I expected!

Thanks again and remember, I've got all your addresses now so keep your eyes on your frag!

[Kedge]

Thanks again and remember, I've got all your addresses now so keep your eyes on your frag!

That's why my frag isn't kept at home, too risky with you and Jim about!

[Von_Thrash]

I should have posted this 6 months ago when Matt sorted me with a full cars worth of lemforder bushes and balljoints for my E30. So refreshing to talk to someone who knows what they're doing, called be back to let me know what was available in the tight timescale is was working to, and discounted the lot aswell!

An assett to this forum

[Jimbob]

Matt lied to me, said my stuff would turn up Wednesday...it all turned up today instead
Thanks!

[Meatballs82]

Matt lied to me, said my stuff would turn up Wednesday...it all turned up today instead
Thanks!

Thanks to UK Mail for turning up late on Monday mate!

[daimlerman]

As a footnote to this,I have completed my now 'usual' weekly trip to North Norfolk with no overheating issues and no loss of coolant,the larger radiator is allowing the temp gauge to sit just under the halfway point on the gauge.

Yet another indicator of the wealth of knowledge that young Mr Moore issues,when he comments that a radiator should be regarded as a 100k service item,the original E34 item had racked up almost 175k,so was at the best,overdue replacement.

Thanks again to Matt for an easy,helpful approach to solving my problem.

[Demlotcrew]

That core looks really thin to me, glad its in and working though! Theres a lot to be said about Mr Moores and Pacers experience!

[daimlerman]

That core looks really thin to me, glad its in and working though! Theres a lot to be said about Mr Moores and Pacers experience!

Core thickness is an exact match for the one I first used,robbed from the E34.

If not for zoner's like the youngster Moore and the tubby Pacer,the place would be barely worth visiting...

[pacerpete]

Nissen radiators are fine, I have never had a problem , with the exception that some of the holes and mounting points for the shrouds are usually slightly out. It is the no name no blame 'budget' brand that gets me angry

[Rav335uk]

Matts a To55er

[Andyboy]

gets me angry

How angry?



Thinner cores and bigger gills and surface area are the way to go.