Just a thought...

[Mr.SWISS]

Since I did a manual swap when I put my engine in and keep my auto radiator, is there any reason I couldn't use that for oil cooling/warming?

any body know of a provision on the engine to hook up the hoses?
M50NV/ 89 E30 auto rad

[Mike B.]

Get an E46 or Euro E36 oil filter housing that has fittings for oil cooler lines.

That being said, I don't think the E30 auto radiator/transmission cooler will be as efficient as a dedicated oil cooler.

[MR 325]

That being said, I don't think the E30 auto radiator/transmission cooler will be as efficient as a dedicated oil cooler.

This is probably true.

A decent aftermarket oil cooler from Summit doesn't really cost too much.

[dougsic]

I've never cut apart a BMW radiator, partly because I've never owned an automatic BMW.

I did cut up a Chevy radiator from one of my company vans though.

I was shocked to see that the input line comes into the expansion tank, goes straight down about 16" and then out of the expansion tank!

I'd always assumed that the transmission cooler line had it own tubes and fins in the core but on this radiator - not so! Maybe Chevy figured the lines themselves disapated enough heat?

Maybe BMW does it better but as mentioned, auxiliary coolers are pretty cheap.

Good thinking though!

[Mr.SWISS]

About 7 years ago I had a 87 944 that had an oil cooler in the block that was about the size as my fist and zee Germans worked it in the design.

I just figured I could use this extra cooler for something..