radiator with expansion tank questions

[Ferret]

Hi,
A few questions regarding radiators:

1. Are the all radiators with expansion tank the same or are the ones from the 4 cylinder E30, E36 (6 and 4 cylinders) E34 different?

2. What parts/mods are required to fit one to a pre-facelift (1985) E30?

3. Do they cool better or worse than regular E30 radiators and 36 without a tank? I saw some conflicting posts on the subject.

Thanks,
Avner.

[Ryan Stewart]

It seems they will cool enough. My S50 system (even with the old rad) stayed cool without an engine fan and took longer to heat up than the m20. The downside of those radiators is all the BMW ones were crap that would leak eventually so you'd want new if you didnt want to deal with some plastic peice cracking and leaking. Personally I went with the late model E30 expansion tank and a radiator for the S50, but you could just use an E30 rad too.

As for fitament, I had to fashion a top mount but it wasnt much of a deal. Here is a pic of it holding a not-stock radiator but it can hold a stock one the same too. I havent tried the E30 late model one yet because this one works fine.

http://photos.imageevent.com/rstewart/s50swap/rad1.jpg

[325Projectz]

I did the same thing, late model e30 expansion tank with a stock e36 radiator. No engine fan, I just used the a/c and hollowed out the condenser.

http://photos.imageevent.com/rstewart/s50swap/rad1.jpg

You radiator is such a beast, I need one for my self as well.

Did you mount your expansion tank, or just let it sit in there? Anyone else do anything different?

[SchnellerVert]

PWR radiator, Ryan what did you pay $320-360 for it? Summit has one's similar to it for 170.

[Ryan Stewart]

I made mounts for the expansion tank like the stock late model ones. Its secured.

I think I paid $150 for the radiator, I dont remember. I have this rich friend who buys shit and then changes his mind before he can install them. If you are there at the right moment you can get shit stupid cheap for cash. I'm still miffed I wasnt there when he wanted to get rid of his 2 new Recaro Speeds (still in the plastic) for $400. Whomever got them did what I would have, RUN to an ATM. HE sold them because he found some Sparco's he preferred.

Im trying to get him to sell me this AA stage 2 turbo kit for less than $4000, eventually he will get tired of storing it. I dont think I will install it on the E30 though, I couldnt do shit this in this chassis with 400whp.

[bmws50b30]

I did the same thing, late model e30 expansion tank with a stock e36 radiator. No engine fan, I just used the a/c and hollowed out the condenser.

You radiator is such a beast, I need one for my self as well.

Did you mount your expansion tank, or just let it sit in there? Anyone else do anything different?

my car is a 91 318is so i took the mounting hardware from my 325i parts cars and welded it to the 318is. my tank is now mounted like it came fromt he factory

[325Projectz]

No welding to the body panels for me. My last expansion tank just sat there, never moved, it was one of those thing you always wanted to fix but never got around to it. I could use the stock e30 m3 one, but I don't really want to run that coolant line to the opposite side of the car.

Who knows, I really don't like the late model expansion tank, ugly. I might just use the stocker.

[86325e]

I wanted to retain the A/C and I live in Dallas. My car is an 85. I bought a new later style E30 radiator and adapted the later style coolant expansion tank. I talked to some guys that used the radiator with the built in expansion tank but they didn't retain A/C and they lived in area's where the weather didn't spend much time over 90.