Radiator question

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miks15
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Post Tue Jan 02, 2024 4:08 pm

Hi all,

I am currently fitting an M54 to my e30 touring. I'm about to move on to plumbing the cooling system, so ordered a new radiator.

I got the part number for a 325i with aircon but was surprised that its arrived as a 440mm wide rad and bot a 550mm wide rad as I expected all of the 6 cylinder rads to be?

On realoem, I can see there are a few part numbers, a normal, a hot climate and a air con one. Will the hot climate one be the one I am after? And will it work with aircon? Not sure what the aircon rad is? Are the end tanks shaped to allow clearance for the aircon hoses or something?
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flybynite
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Post Tue Jan 02, 2024 4:57 pm

Are you confusing the E30 Aircon radiator with the E36 Aircon radiator that is normally recommended for the 24v swaps?

IIRC the E30 Aircon radiator was longer, not wider and went lower (hence the aircon cutout in the valance)
miks15
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Post Tue Jan 02, 2024 5:17 pm

Hi flybynite,

I was expecting the rad to be taller and wider than my original 318 rad.

I think it's got confused as the r3vlimited swap guide I have been using a but is American. From what I can tell, the American rads are wider and taller than the euro ones.

I can order one of the bigger ones through autodoc so I think I will just do that... it will just take a couple of weeks to arrive,

I just thought I had heard that the 6pots got a bigger rad here too.
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flybynite
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Post Tue Jan 02, 2024 5:45 pm

Have to admit I never had much to do with 4-pot E30s so not sure the difference but E36 rads tend to be what people use for 24v swaps. That is what I have to go in mine. If it gives me any trouble it will get an E36 M3 Rad.
miks15
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Post Tue Jan 02, 2024 7:20 pm

Thanks for the info.

Are you able to confirm what width your core is? And where did you get it from?

Again looking on realoem I can see that it looks like they should be 550mm but on ECP they are saying 440mm
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flybynite
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Post Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:08 am

Can't get to my cars or parts for a while but will measure when I can. The E36 Aircon rad will not have a full width core as it has the header tank built in on one side with the temperature boss. I think I bought a Hella/Behr one from Autodoc IIRC
miks15
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Post Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:39 am

No problem at all, appreciate the help!