Early Model heater core 2nd thermo bypass

[nebulous123]

So I have been doing some engine work on my silver car, "Elizabeth" and she is getting every gasket, belt and hose replaced that I can get to. So I took the intake manifold to swap out the gaskets and found that the return line for the heater core was toast. So I started to make a parts list for what I need and starting looking into what other hoses are hooked to the heater core and stumbled upon the 2nd thermo that connects to the block and feeds the inlet for the heater core.

I have never been able to get heat in the car and always assumed that there was something wrong with the valve in the heater core but I am thinking now that this 2nd thermo is the issue. The car has no issues with overheating of any kind and I wanted to convert it to the later early model way which I think is just a T-connector.

Here is the link to what I have, just wanted anyones thoughts on why or why not do it.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...35&hg=64&fg=99

Should I just have a new hose off the block feed into a T-connector that feeds the inlet for the heater core and bypass to the return hose?

[jaysee]

this is the recall that changed the piping for the heater core.

1986 BMW 325 Recall
Item Affected: VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:HEATER CORE
Date Announced: 2/5/1993

Description of Recall:
THE MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE OF A COOLANT SYSTEM COMPONENT RESULTS IN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED COOLANT TEMPERATURE AND A RESULTING INCREASE IN SYSTEM PRESSURE.

Action Needed To Fix It:
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THERMOSTATIC BYPASS VALVE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TO CONTROL COOLANT TEMPERATURE IN THE HEATER CORE. ALSO, A NEW DESIGN RADIATOR CAP WILL BE INSTALLED, TO CONTROL PRESSURE AND PROVIDE GREATER COOLANT OVERFLOW IN THE EVENT OF OVERHEATING.

from my understanding. this recall was to help protect the heater core from excess pressure if the car overheats

i have a 86 and have not done the recall. although i did just change my heater core and there was a pinkynail size chunk missing from the plastic of my old one looked like collant burned through.
based on this i think it would be safe to bypass an long as your cooling system is in good shape. the thermo im thinking was to protect the driver from getting sprayed from to much pressure, so its up to you but i think it would be safe (and cheaper

[nebulous123]

the best I could tell from looking at it was that the thermo stopped the coolant from going into the heater core (which is why I would have no heat), and there is a bypass hose that goes to the return hose back to the main thermo. so coolant could still circulate assuming it wasnt too hot.

i have another 87 that I am going to look at and see if it has the same setup, because I don't have any overheating issues with that car and the heater works like a champ.

thanks for the info

[nebulous123]

nothing? seriously? I figured if this was stupid then I would have gotten flamed. Just want the smarter minds to chime in if its a good idea or not.

Thanks