E36 Blues...... - BMW Forum

johnnyBgood · 02-15-2009, 02:12 PM

Just reached 96,000 miles on o.d. & just walked out to my car in the driveway, to see a small puddle of coolant under the upper radiator neck...

We all know this is a common problem in the e36.

Question ??? Opinions???

Stock plastic radiator or all Aluminum ???

witeshark · 02-15-2009, 02:58 PM

I would think aluminum.

RoadsterMadness · 02-15-2009, 03:37 PM

Sorry Johnny!

Damned Northeast weather and time is all I would think. I lost the cheapo clamps on my rear exhaust a few months back and needed them welded - and mine wasn't even from rot, just cheap parts. Strange how they make such great cars, then skimp on certain parts.

All about the $$ I suppose...

Go with the aluminum upgrade for your baby - you've put so much heart and soul into her, go with quality. Hope all is well my friend. Ciao.

martyyyn · 02-15-2009, 04:25 PM

Aluminum everytime! if you have the cash,

Good luck!

Martin

SHAHAB323IS · 02-15-2009, 05:54 PM

stock will last another 96k miles, aluminum if you want bling factor. I went aluminum when I changed mine for the bling factor, but then I just ended up trading it in, so it was a waste of money.

johnnyBgood · 02-15-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHAHAB323IS

stock will last another 96k miles, aluminum if you want bling factor. I went aluminum when I changed mine for the bling factor, but then I just ended up trading it in, so it was a waste of money.

Quote:

I went aluminum

Hey.....SHAHAB323IS....Do you remember what Brand it was? I am most likely going to go stock OEM....I do have other upgrades planned this spring, but if the price is right, I may go with the all aluminum radiator....

johnny,

SHAHAB323IS · 02-15-2009, 09:13 PM

I got one from carr industries on a group buy

johnnyBgood · 02-15-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHAHAB323IS

I got one from carr industries on a group buy

Carr industries, ok,thanks!

johnny,

Montizzle · 02-15-2009, 11:29 PM

DEF upgrade to an all aluminum radiator. You have to get a new one anyway...might as well upgrade. I have a mishimoto aluminum radiator and I love it. It really does make the car run noticeably cooler.

The stock plastic radiator is one of the culprits of the terrible e36 cooling system. If you go plastic again, they are just time bombs and they WILL go off on you at some point....dont take the chance. Its either $300 now or $1500 later for a head gasket.

martyyyn · 02-16-2009, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHAHAB323IS

stock will last another 96k miles, aluminum if you want bling factor. I went aluminum when I changed mine for the bling factor, but then I just ended up trading it in, so it was a waste of money.

An aluminum rad is not just blink factor, a good quality aluminum rad will be 20/30% more efficient than stock, also lighter & will last longer, certainly to be seriously considered when modding & upping BHP, IMHO

Cheerts Martin

SHAHAB323IS · 02-16-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montizzle

DEF upgrade to an all aluminum radiator. You have to get a new one anyway...might as well upgrade. I have a mishimoto aluminum radiator and I love it. It really does make the car run noticeably cooler.

The stock plastic radiator is one of the culprits of the terrible e36 cooling system. If you go plastic again, they are just time bombs and they WILL go off on you at some point....dont take the chance. Its either $300 now or $1500 later for a head gasket.

Do you have an aftermarket water temp gauge? If not then I'm going to doubt it ran cooler, unless you used water wetter or something or the core was significantly larger.

They are time bombs, but ones that go off every 100k miles. If you plan on still having your car in 100k miles, and don't mind spending extra money then go for it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by martyyyn

An aluminum rad is not just blink factor, a good quality aluminum rad will be 20/30% more efficient than stock, also lighter & will last longer, certainly to be seriously considered when modding & upping BHP, IMHO

Cheerts Martin

The only way it will be more efficient is if the core is noticeably larger. Running a lower temp thermostat, lower temp fan switch, and water wetter will probably do about the same. How is it lighter? The stock one has an aluminum core, could be wrong on that though. I forget when I replaced mine. The only reason to get an aftermarket one would be to get a larger core with all aluminum ends, vs the stock plastic ones, all of which would add weight.

I'm just saying if you don't mind spending the extra money, go for it. However you could replace 2 or 3 oem ones to equal the price of one all aluminum one.

Montizzle · 02-16-2009, 09:48 AM

Larger core. Water wetter. OEM BMW coolant. Yes, it ran cooler.

Montizzle · 02-16-2009, 09:49 AM

BTW, do you have an AP1 or AP2 S2k? Im looking at picking one up as a daily in the near future. Its garage queen time for the M3

jmo69 · 02-16-2009, 06:17 PM

I guess I'm good for a few years, the sticker on the top of mine has an inspected date from like 2002 on a Behr radiator. Still has the plastic t-stat housing.

garbone · 02-17-2009, 12:33 AM

Go aluminum. I've hadmy Ebay radiator for about 7 years on my M3 and havent had a single temp problem. every 5-6 months i drive from El Paso, Tx. to San Diego, CA. and my temp never raises past 3/4 of the gauge. about 90 percent of the time its in middle.

I got my ebay radiator for 289 or something around there shipped. went threw the OEM replacements three times. even had to ghetto rig an Automatic's radiator on my standard just to get er home. never doin OEM again.