Which radiator do you prefer?

[BenjaminButtton]

Hey guys, I'm a couple weeks away from completing my M50TU/g250 swap.

I still haven't decided which radiator I should run yet. I happen to have an '88 M20 rad, M42 rad, AND an e36 radiator at my disposal.

The m20 is a little older looking, not sure if I trust it or not - although it didn't leak. The e36 unit (out of my donor car) looks to have been replaced in the last 5 years or so. And the m42 radiator is a 2011 Behr.

So if you had your druthers, which radiator would you go with? I'm leaning towards the m42 rad, since its more compact and the most recent, but it's also the smallest. I'm open to suggestions!

[EThirty318i]

I went with a m42 radiator. I think its plenty, especially with the colder thermostat. I'm adding a 16" spal fan for extra precaution.

[BenjaminButtton]

I went with a m42 radiator. I think its plenty, especially with the colder thermostat. I'm adding a 16" spal fan for extra precaution.

Thanks! I'll run an e-fan if I have to but-depending on how much room is in between the motor and radiator- if it looks like I can safely use a mechanical fan I will.

[Danny]

Z3M three row is what I have on my car. Does very well.

[BenjaminButtton]

Z3M three row is what I have on my car. Does very well.

Very nice, what's your fan setup with that?

[Danny]

16" spal pusher wired up like stock. Keeps the s50 cool even with the a/c on.

[BenjaminButtton]

Shweet. Thanks Danny.

[Deadskittles]

Just move to Wisconsin, no radiator necessary. :grin:

[Jand3rson]

I went with a m42 radiator. I think its plenty, especially with the colder thermostat. I'm adding a 16" spal fan for extra precaution.

That's what I have, with the 16" SPAL, no issues whatsoever, even in the middle of summer.

I used to deny it a little more, but it's true that the M42 radiator *CAN* be a bitch to bleed properly.

[mrcheezle19]

for the price just grab one of these mishimotos

http://www.jscspeed.com/catalog/BMW_Mini/95_99_BMW_E36_M3/Cooling/Mishimoto_Radiator_for_95_99_BMW_E36_M3.html

[dashboardmonkey]

I used a late "i" radiator. Works perfect.

[Danny]

for the price just grab one of these mishimotos
http://www.jscspeed.com/catalog/BMW_...MW_E36_M3.html

Sorry I disagree. Had nothing but issues with my mishimoto. Temp switch didn't work right, inconsistent temp for the engine, etc.

[Regnar75]

wouldnt all this depend on what model you had originally? OP do you have early model or later? not that it REALLY matters, i think if you have early you will need to make a bracket to run any of those radiators anyway right? while late model is just a swap in. that being said (sort of randomly) i myself am going with e36m3 rad just because i havent heard anyone have issues with it

[7pilot]

There are a lot of overheating/head gasket threads on these engines.
Go with the biggest newest radiator, it will save you a lot of aggravation.

I'm using a new M42 radiator but the behavior of the cooling system makes me nervous and will be going larger ASAP.
I'm in Iowa. During the summer, the Aux fan is VERY active.


m

[Wanganstyle]

M42 radiator is physically smaller; the E30 original early or late model water bottle tank setup is actually more robust also - the late model E30 water bottle tank is used in e36 M3 Evo/euro up to 1999. M42 is a 4 cylinder engine; a 6 cylinder engine is physically larger/more powerful and has a larger water capacity/thermal requirement as well.

The overheating / head gasket issues with the M52/M50/s50/S52 engines is from people installing used engines without replacing the head gasket/bolts when swapping and/or waterpumps/cooling systems dying and people not towing the car immediately to repair.

Head Gaskets are wear items; same for cylinder heads- they do wear out and need replacement/rebuild/refresh.

E36M3 (standard USA spec) is good enough to cool a S52 in a e36M tracking all day long if new. Z3M s54 unit would be more water capacity but it would be physically thicker and the clearance between radiator and crank pulley/water pump on 24v+e30 is close as is.

I endurance race a 24v e30; we are running a E36M3 PWR billet radiator (~52-55mm) and its bigger than Z3m by about The PWR unit so wide the original plastic center mount for late model e30 radiator mounting had to be shaved down in the middle to fit the unit.

solid aluminum mounts were required as the distance between engine and radiator is too close and the E28M5 mounts are quite soft compared to the original BMW S52/S54 engine mounts - hard rubber/aluminium.

BMW Original S52 engine mounts can take 15-20 track days in a E36M body on R comps. They are quite advanced compared to the single material E28M5 rubber mounts.

for Street use the smaller I6 radiator (usa 325/e36M) would seem the smarter choice as clearance is also a concern with street rubber mounts potentially failing. Unless a S54 is installed :)