Radiator Replacement and some Suggestions PLEASE

[mygsx90]

Hi,

I was helping my friend replace the water pump in his 1995 M3 to the new metal style water pump, and as we were tapping in the pump, the hammer hit the radiator, bending the some of the fins. After putting it back together it looks like it might be leaking where the fins got bent!! I was soo shocked because on other cars that I've worked on, bending a few fins didn't mean anything as major as a coolant leak!! So I was hoping for some suggestions here guys:

1) How hard is replacing the radiator on an E36 1995 M3? We took out the waterpump no problem (besides that stupid fin) so hopefully the procedure is as simple. Any websites as a walkthrough or do you guys have any suggestions for noobs?

2) Can the radiator be fixed? I still find it hard to believe how fragile your guys' radiators are. But with such nice cars compared to my 2 eclipses, I'm sure they are much more efficient.

Suggestion/help is greatly appreciated.

mygsx90

[Andrewsd1985]

First off you shouldn't have had to hit the water pump with a hammer. A hit to the radiator which I imagine (or hope) would have been pretty soft shouldn't have hurt the radiator. You can have your radiator rebuilt.

[mygsx90]

First off you shouldn't have had to hit the water pump with a hammer

It was actually a tap with a mallet to push the pump in, so there shouldn't be any adverse effect on the mechanics of the pump. And thus, the ding in the radiator wasn't that bad, and that is why I find it hard to believe it caused the leak.

So can anyone answer my question about replacing the radiator and how hard it would be or if there is an online vfaq?

thanks,

mygsx90