Fit and Finish Questions

[SkorcherX]

Ok so I got a late model 325i radiator. Looks like I will have to extend the temp plug in my factory harness to reach the passenger side of the radiator in order to plug into the temp sensor.

Also There is a bracket that holds the radiator in on late model 325i's. I do not have this bracket. Is this something that is easily retrofitted to an 87' 325e? If anyone has a spare I would love to PayPal you some monies for it.

I also picked up the expansion chamber for the radiator as well. How does this mount? Are there tabs on the bottom of it that mount to some factory brackets on the driver side wheel well?

If anyone has converted a 325e to support the 325i cooling solution please post a pic or two. This would greatly help me out.

I have stolen a pic from the engine bay thread to highlight the parts I am referencing.

[Jafxod]

I went with the m42 rad to clean things up.


That a hieroglyphics sticker?

[SkorcherX]

That a hieroglyphics sticker?

No idea... Not my car.

[scottinAZ]

I converted an early I car (87) to the late model cooling system as described.

Yes you will need to move the fan switch to the other side of the radiator.

There are no brackets on the car for the late model reservior, you will need to source/manufacture them and install to mount the reservior, easy money.

The rad bracket is a bolt in affair, you just need one from a late model E30, all the holes needed are there already.

[e46s54dr]

Theres a plastic clip/bracket that mounts to the wheel well that allows the expansion tank to just clip in.

[e46s54dr]

Number 10.

[scottinAZ]

Theres a plastic clip/bracket that mounts to the wheel well that allows the expansion tank to just clip in.

yep, but there is no stud on the early models in place to attach the clip, and there is no lower mount for the tank. easy to add, but need some custom fab

[e46s54dr]

yep, but there is no stud on the early models in place to attach the clip, and there is no lower mount for the tank. easy to add, but need some custom fab

Yeah, I forgot it was an early model. Nothing a spot drill and the junkyard cant handle.;)

[325e10]

On my early model the radiator sat on the bottom supports just fine. Some early models have a rubber strip attached to the bottom of the radiator that you need to transfer over to the late model radiator. The top bracket that holds the radiator on can be bought from pelicanparts.com for pretty cheap and you just have to drill 2 holes as pictured above. For the late model radiator you need #10 in the diagram posted above and you need to drill a hole in the wheel well and place a bolt through it. and for the bottom of the expansion tank put double sided tape to minimize movement.

[SkorcherX]

Parts are ordered.

I was also able to get the 7k tach and coding plug swapped from a 325i cluster to mine. I got lucky having my cluster be the "newer" style to accept the coding plug.

The car was built 11/86 but is an "87". So I was right on the cut off there.