M42club.com - Home of the BMW E30/E36 318i/iS

DISCUSSION => Engine management => Topic started by: Max55 on January 17, 2010, 11:31:55 PM

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: Max55 on January 17, 2010, 11:31:55 PM

Hey guys, I want to get an all aluminum radiator for my car(93 e36 318is). However the one for the m42 is near 700$. which is a MAJOR RIPOFF. I bought on for my 76 firebird a while back which was about 3 times the size of m42 one and it cost me 150$. Now, I am looking at the all aluminum ones for the six cylinder cars, however would these not let my engine get warm enough?? eg too much cooling? Thoughts?


Thanks!

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: DesktopDave on January 18, 2010, 10:10:27 AM

I'll bet the workmanship on the GM piece was better to boot.  The market for GM parts is so much bigger than BMWs, competition keeps the price low.

Some shops still think that BMW stands for expensive...the stock part goes for $150-$200.  I suspect it's underbuilt, an aftermarket solution would be pretty good.  There is a substantial amount of unused space between the frame rails.

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: superj on January 18, 2010, 09:14:43 PM

and a larger radiator doesn't over cool,  your thermostat not working over cools your car.  to me,  the larger the better when it comes to radiators

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: quinn11m20 on January 18, 2010, 09:27:03 PM

I would stick with the OE. Unless you have some serious tuning, and run it lean and hot you shouldn't need a bigger radiator. I have some performance mods on mine and its a stock radiator. But that choice is yours.

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: visionracingdevelopments on January 19, 2010, 05:49:12 AM

Quote from: superj;85077

your thermostat not working over cools your car.

More over heats if it gets stuck

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: DesktopDave on January 19, 2010, 12:36:04 PM

Yeah, definitely have the system in tip-top shape before considering the radiator.  But we all knew that, right?

Also, keep in mind that the radiator will put the weight right where you don't want it...behind the front bumper is a bad place for ~30# of water.  Making that radiator as small as possible contributes to the wonderful handling of our cars.

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: Max55 on January 19, 2010, 05:58:52 PM

the weight issue is the best point against it. It might, as unfortunate as it is, be best to save up and get that alluminum 318 specific radiator. It was just a 400$ difference. lol  Why do modern cars have this plastic rad crap? my dads pickup had plastic tanks on the side of his, of course it broke. The rad on my 76 firebird, was all brass, it lasted for 34 years of constant use!

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: DesktopDave on January 19, 2010, 06:10:34 PM

I'm with you.  Plastic is cheaper, but it requires replacement as it ages quickly.  Those old brass radiators weighed a ton but repair was just a quick re-flow or re-core and they're better than new.  Aluminum is the best for weight but brass has far better heat transfer.

I always wondered why the radiators weren't mounted in the wheel wells or somewhere else with useful air pressure.  Cheap & easy to repair, I guess.  Remember all the Audi inline-5s with the offset rads?  Great for accidents...using a timing belt case to stop the car isn't great for valves.  If it has a fan you can effectively cool the engine from almost anywhere.

Title: All Aluminum rad questions
Post by: Max55 on January 19, 2010, 06:57:37 PM

Isnt the stock radiator aluminum between the plastic? lol