E30, shoehorn, m30. i knew it wasnt dead.

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johnl320
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Post Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:37 pm

Where is it blowing water out of? If its out of the overflow are you sure you haven't overfilled it? Maybe the filler cap is duff or the seal on it

just a thought

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ric325i
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Post Fri Sep 14, 2007 4:53 pm

well i have discovered the little pipe on top of the rad that runs to the header tank is damaged :cry:

i hoped it would be ok but i think that may be my problem?

so i have some Arildite (spelling?) as thats the most intense glue i have ever found in my life and i think i can stick the pipe on there and set it like concrete so no air can get in.

it has to be that!

also this time i am getting a better gasket for the water thermo housing. a tube of stuff wil do it i think.

and then some K-seal and pray i never have to touch the water system again!

looking forward to that and when i have placed my spacer under the engine mount it should mean i can corner harder :twisted: but driving round manchester is slow driving anyway :cry:


when i lived in teesside as soon as i got out my mums house i could hit a country road :D it was hard not to boot it until it was warm :)


i am planning a trip to the welsh next month if it gets through the mot :?
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Andy335Touring
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Post Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:16 pm

No one should have any need for cooling fans above about 40mph, 20-40mph the fan might click on occasionally.

I include my self in this statement but folks should look for escaping air by-passing the rad, either from the cooling fan not fitted tight to the rad or air comming in through the grill and escaping down the sides of the rad rather than passing through it.

Using the orginal 325 cowling isn't the answer though unfortunately as it obscures to much of the bigger 535 rad.

I was thinking of using a method the ICE boys use to make custom speaker pods, stretch some fleece type material over the shape you need then smother it expoxy resin, you end up with a sort of low grade glass fiber type material once set.

Should be an easy/cheap way to make a fairly complex shape rad cowling ?
Andy335Touring
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Post Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:21 pm

gareth wrote:
it's almost like the thermostat is the wrong rating :?
You can get different opening 'stats from the states but the stock 80o one should be fine, if you feel the bottom hose on warm up it should start getting warm just after the 1/4 mark to show that the 'stat has opened.
johnl320
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Post Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:25 pm

I've opened up my front grill, to let more air in ( i don't know if it will have any effect cos mine is still not on the road). The kidney grill can also be opened up at the top. here are before and after shots of one side.


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Post Fri Sep 14, 2007 7:37 pm

How many of those that have done this conversion have actually tried the 325i rad ? only ask as i know Charle30
is using one and has had no problems with it. Apologies for slightly hijacking this and not having any thing positive to add ric.
Maybe when i finally do the swap that might change.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:49 am

Sounds like the cooling system isn't pressurising properly. If it doesn't build up pressure, then local boiling will occur in the head, and it will blow out water.
A blockage in the small pipe from the top of the rad to the coolant bottle will also cause problems.
oze30
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Post Sat Sep 15, 2007 12:57 am

When I did my conversion.. it sat constantly the lower side of half when stationary, occasionally creeping up. Thats with an e28 rad, and a/c. the a/c fan was enough to cool it. (btw.. I went through 3 rads till I got a new e28 one.. makes a difference!)
ric325i
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Post Mon Sep 17, 2007 10:02 am

Brianmoooore wrote:Sounds like the cooling system isn't pressurising properly. If it doesn't build up pressure, then local boiling will occur in the head, and it will blow out water.
A blockage in the small pipe from the top of the rad to the coolant bottle will also cause problems.

brain that sounds like the problem.

it cant be the small pipe as i can see water entering through into the header tank.

but i am getting some circulation with pressure but i can hear a hissing from the header cap. it should be fine a the rubbers look good?

i may buy a new cap and see if it makes a difference?

i get hot air out the blowers so it should be done but it just doesnt hold. guess its a pressure problem.

K-seal has been added - how small is the bottle! on the web it looks massive but it actually looks like its been shot with a shrink ray :eek:

pressure problem
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gareth
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Post Mon Sep 17, 2007 6:32 pm

just a thought, when it's up to temperature, do the hoses harden up at all?
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Brianmoooore
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Post Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:41 pm

There was a safety recall (R/1997/068) issued on 16/02/98 for all E30 cooling system pressure caps. No E30 should be running on its original cap, but there are plenty out there that are, and I'm sure this is responsible for the demise of many E30s.
ric325i
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Post Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:59 pm

gareth wrote:just a thought, when it's up to temperature, do the hoses harden up at all?
you can feel them firm up with water inside them.

Brianmoooore wrote:There was a safety recall (R/1997/068) issued on 16/02/98 for all E30 cooling system pressure caps. No E30 should be running on its original cap, but there are plenty out there that are, and I'm sure this is responsible for the demise of many E30s.
brain thats amazing information.
i will get down to euro car parts as soon as i can.


thing is when i was trying to bleed the system, water was constantly dripping out the overflow on the header tank.


since im off to germany this weekend i wont be working on the car till next week.

cheers for the help guys
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:45 pm

ric325i wrote:
gareth wrote:brain thats amazing information.
i will get down to euro car parts as soon as i can.
Euro car parts will want paying for it! Get down to your dealer, and if it hasn't already been changed, you'll get one free.
ricey46
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Post Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:02 pm

Brianmoooore wrote:There was a safety recall (R/1997/068) issued on 16/02/98 for all E30 cooling system pressure caps. No E30 should be running on its original cap, but there are plenty out there that are, and I'm sure this is responsible for the demise of many E30s.
Does the revised cap look different or is it just internals?? Just trying to distinguish whether mine's has been done!? 8O
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:37 pm

The ones that my local dealer supplies have a bright yellow disc on the bottom, but, apparently there is another version around that is all black like the original, but has different writing on it.
Dealer can tell you if it was changed, but it may have been changed again of course.
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Post Tue Sep 18, 2007 10:46 pm

was this the change from a 1.4 bar to 1.2 bar cap? (to stop the heater matrix exploding)
if so, i'm sure i've seen the pressure rating marked on some of the ones i've had.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:31 pm

Don't think there was any reduction in pressure. (New ones are marked 140, so I assume they're 1.4 bar.)
The problem with the original valves was that the relief valve stuck and over pressurised the system, way above 1.4 bar.
gareth
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Post Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:37 pm

looks like 1.4 bar is right...
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do ... g=17&fg=05
dammit brian, i'll prove you wrong someday!!! winkeye
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:04 am

gareth wrote: dammit brian, i'll prove you wrong someday!!! winkeye
I wonder if Brian Moooore has a third initial, like Wiliam, Winston or Wayne.

That would make his initials BMW !!! 8O

That would explain alot! :D
Jeremy Clarkson wrote:...but it drives the front wheels. Theee wrooong wheels!
da4x4turbo wrote:I raced a vivaro on the motorway once in a 318is.... and lost!!!
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:11 am

DRIFTBOY wrote:I wonder if Brian Moooore has a third initial, like Wiliam, Winston or Wayne.
I do have a third initial, and it is car related as it happens!
Not BMW though, but BRM. Used to have it on my rocker covers, back in my (proper) Mini days.
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:17 am

I knew it!!!!

It was born into you Brian, like making fish and bread and stuff was to Jesus!
I believe in the supernatural and you've just proved it for me!!! :wink: :cool:
Jeremy Clarkson wrote:...but it drives the front wheels. Theee wrooong wheels!
da4x4turbo wrote:I raced a vivaro on the motorway once in a 318is.... and lost!!!
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:20 am

:lol:
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ric325i
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:40 am

you guys are mental! fish and bread.... :roll:

anyway brain i will go to bmw as soon as i can and i will check what the cap says.

great advice :D

i wish i was going to the pod.......bet you guys are getting excited about that
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Andy335Touring
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:41 pm

ric325i wrote:
i wish i was going to the pod.......bet you guys are getting excited about that
yep :)
ric325i
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 7:46 pm

yeah man. but im off to the beer festival in germany :D

still wish i was going to the pod
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gareth
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Post Wed Sep 19, 2007 8:39 pm

ric325i wrote:bet you guys are getting excited about that
hell yeah! :banana: :rock: :tongue:

you'll be ok though, have one for us :cheers: :beer:
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ric325i
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Post Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:06 am

gareth wrote:
ric325i wrote:bet you guys are getting excited about that
hell yeah! :banana: :rock: :tongue:

you'll be ok though, have one for us :cheers: :beer:


i was preping my body last night :beer: to brace myself for beer madness with 6 lads and 15 girls :cool: :cheers:
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Andy335Touring
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Post Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:12 pm

ric325i wrote: to brace myself for beer madness with 6 lads and 15 girls
Thats a nice ratio winkeye
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Post Tue Sep 25, 2007 1:48 pm

update on the beer festival.

it was good.



no it was really good! :beer:

and i bought another car while i was away :D well i placed a bid on ebay and won the thing while i was away.

so i will let you guys guess away if you want or i will just post a pic later when i have the change. got to pick it up tonight so i will get some picture tomorrow.

here is a clue:

its old, rear drive but not an e30

guesses on a post card
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Post Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:03 pm

mark 1 capri?
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Post Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:38 pm

i thought capri

but there's only a few ended on ebay over the weekend.
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Post Tue Sep 25, 2007 2:38 pm

E28
ric325i
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Post Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:13 pm

a capri would have been nice but its not.
or a e28 but that would be amazing.

ok its not fast but it might be fun oh and i got it for around £200. oldest car i have had.



when i get home (cant see pics at work) i will read about the pod, i hope it was fun :D

i want to know who raced who etc
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Post Tue Sep 25, 2007 5:46 pm

morris minor :mad:
gareth
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Post Tue Sep 25, 2007 7:14 pm

105E anglia - had one of those. brilliant fun!
rover SD1?

mk1 transit :cool:
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