316i Auto replacement radiator

[greg124]

I'm looking for a replacement radiator for my 316i Auto which was built late '90.
Nissens list part number 60613A as being for this model built 09/87 to 06/94, and this has a core size of 440mm wide x 439mm high.
The radiator currently in my car has a core size of approx 390mm wide x 360mm high.
It looks as though the Nissens part would physically fit, but the lower left mounting (as viewed from the drivers seat) would need changing, as would the fan shroud to account for the greater core area.
Can anyone advise whether this part would be suitable, given I have to change the aforementioned parts, or is there a more suitable radiator available? I want to use a decent quality brand.

[Partridge]

Last time I changed an auto rad, cheapo versions were all that was available. The wider aircon rad needs a different N/S mount, longer hose and wider shroud, about £70 OE I recall, the part numbers were listed on here recently.

[greg124]

Thanks Partridge.
Would it be detrimental to the cooling to have an AC rad on a car without AC?
Guess I'll have to keep hunting. Either for a 'cheapo' rad (not-preferred option) or the parts you list

[Brianmoooore]

No problem at all running the AC rad. in place of an ordinary one. AutoDoc and Mister-Auto both list a variety of makes of M40 auto rads., including Nissens, although they both have no stock at the moment.

[greg124]

Thanks Brian
I'll report back on how we get on

[TurtleDesignTech]

8MK 376 717-464 HELLA on eBay is what I chose in the end when I did this a few months ago on my manual M40 E30, to replace the little standard radiator as it was leaking.

I picked one up on eBay for about £60-70.

This is essentially an M42/M40AC radiator, so I had to upgrade to new radiator mount on one side, new top radiator hose and new fan shroud. Probably cost me close to £150 in parts in the end.

[TurtleDesignTech]

Radiator Hose: 11531709050
Fan Shroud: 17111712623
Bracket: 17 11 1 712 347 (EDIT 95% certain was this part)

[greg124]

Thanks Turtle,

do you happen to have a record of the part numbers for the mount, hose & shroud?

[TurtleDesignTech]

If you go this route(M42/M40AC radiator), I recommend getting everything new from Cotswolds and a radiator of your choice from eBay/AutoDoc etc.

[greg124]

Thanks again Turtle,

I've now got a Nissens rad on order.

It looks like you were typing out the list of parts numbers mere seconds before I asked for them. Psychic

[TurtleDesignTech]

No problem, glad I could help.

[greg124]

All the parts have now arrived. One had to be ordered from Germany so there was a bit of a delay.
The fan shroud does not go all the way to the bottom of the radiator core; would I be correct in thinking that part of the air con system would normally sit behind the lower 100mm-ish of the core?

[TurtleDesignTech]

I never noticed this. So long as the bottom of the shroud fins slot into the plastic arms on the radiator, that was all I thought was important.

You are probably right though, it would make sense.

[greg124]

With the fins slotted into the arms the holes at the top line up, so it looks like we're good to go.

There are two more plastic hooks almost level with the bottom of the core, which suggests that something else is supposed to attach there

[greg124]

All fitted now. I changed all 3 radiator hoses for reliability, and the long narrow one to the bottom of the expansion chamber is slightly shorter than the original. Part no. 1153 1709 052
The only difficulty I has was getting the bottom hose to seal. On inspection there was narrow strip of plastic sticking out on the underside of the rad outlet where the two mouldings are welded together. Once this was carefully scraped off with a Stanley blade a good seal was achieved and the system topped up and burped prior to a test run.
I can report that the temperature now seems to be back under control.
Thanks guys for advice

[TurtleDesignTech]

Will make a note of that bottom hose part no. for later.