Replacing the Heater core and pipe work

[Eska]

Hi all,

I’m pretty sure that I have a heater control valve issue on my E30 M3. I don’t use the car a lot and mostly in the summer so the heater is normally set in the cold position and hence receives 12v to keep the valve solenoid closed. After installing a new radiator and after refilling with coolant and with the heater now set to hot to aid bleeding the system, no hot air came out and neither when power was removed to the valve - it think the valve is seized. So my plan (with everything 30 years old) is to replace everything from the firewall back.

Now.....

My car is LHD and non AC and so has the heater core with separate inlet and outlets. Some folk are indicating that the heater core can be removed without dropping the steering column, others say that’s true but only for cars WITH AC, others say regardless either the steering column needs dropping or the dash taken out. Anyone know the facts?

Also any advice on which heater Core to by?

Thank you for any help / advice you may be able to provide.