Which lower radiator hose?

[CorvallisBMW]

OK this is really pissing me off.... I cannot for the life of me find a lower rad hose that fits. I've tried the e28 535i hose, p/n 11 53 1 289 859. It nearly fits, but needs about 2" more length on the top end to reach the thermostat housing. I also tried the e34 535i (11 53 1 713 221) but it's not even close, way different shape. The e24 is listed with both p/n's for the 635csi depending on build date.

So....what am I doing wrong? Is there some magical hose that was only used for 1 month that I can't find??

[e30s52]

You could try going to napa and checking that out. That what I did for my car.

But other then this I don't know.

[wildstoats]

Who's mounts did you use? I used Funk's mounts with my b34 swap and my stock e28 hose reached just fine. You could use the custom radiator hose that the hot-rodders use. Check Jegs or Summit.

[drift]

You can bring the old OEM hose, and compare it to any radiator hose they have in stock.
I don't remember the part number of that "other" radiator hose for domestic car, but found it at Vatozone, and it works just right without any kink or twist. It was only twelve dollars.
This will take extra minutes, make sure the store clerk is ok with that.

[E30 Beast]

i had this same problem went to autozone and they let me compare hoses, i believe my hose is either from a ford or chevy hope this helps

[Jean]

odd. the e32/e34 535i/735i lower rad hose is about 1/2" or so shorter than the e28 535i hose..... not 2". I've been using the e28 hose for months now and fit snug.

[CorvallisBMW]

I ended up splicing on about 2" of extra hose to the end of the e28 535i hose to make it long enough. I hope it holds, I used an actual coolant hose splicing coupler with barbed fittings and glued it together with marine epoxy.