Cooling your m30

[nighthawk]

I've actually ran into having to replace the alternator after my swap. Not wanting to remove the radiator and have to re-bleed everything, I just cut the long bottom bolt in half and removed it. Reinstalled a new bolt and nut backwards so that the nut is on the front side of the alternator. In case I need to remove it again later.

[lukeADE335i]

Probably not, at least on the early B6 and 333i, as the radiator is in the nose on the other side of the radiator support + the B32 / B34 has a different oil filter housing too, so that might help.

Pulling the radiator out the change the alternator isn't that big a deal, it's just that dumping the coolant and bleeding the system is one of my pet peeves (on any car, not just the M30).

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Yes - but BMW never intended the M30B35 to be in the e30, so there's no real solution to it.

e32s and e34s have the clearance at the front to remove the bolt without removing the radiator.

I wonder if alpina ran into these issues when they made the b6's and 333i

[lukeADE335i]

Yes - but BMW never intended the M30B35 to be in the e30, so there's no real solution to it.

e32s and e34s have the clearance at the front to remove the bolt without removing the radiator.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Seems like changing changing the alt is one thing people never thought of when doing swap haha.


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[lukeADE335i]

Yep - I had that problem with mine too when the brushes in my alternator died (and I couldn't flip it due to the oil filter). I ended up replacing the brushes with the alternator still in the car.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I ran into that same issue with that lower bolt when I replaced my alt last year. I flipped that bolt around in case I'm ever in a pinch and need to do it again quickly on the side of the road.

I tried that but wouldn't work without removing oil filter so just left it as is

[glnr13]

Yea I can. Only thing i cant do is replace the alternator without lifting rad up to slide lower bolt in and out.

I ran into that same issue with that lower bolt when I replaced my alt last year. I flipped that bolt around in case I'm ever in a pinch and need to do it again quickly on the side of the road.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Can you get your power steering belt on though?

Yea I can. Only thing i cant do is replace the alternator without lifting rad up to slide lower bolt in and out.

[LowR3V'in]

Can you get your power steering belt on though?

[glnr13]

i measured from the front of the radiator that touches the support to the back fins and it measures just about 1 3/4". I'm now considering that mishimoto radiator as my next replacement.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

I'm using Qbang mounts.

[lukeADE335i]

I understand that it's not a switch, but I am still foggy on how a 70C thermo would provide any more cooling capacity than an 80C. Yes it opens earlier, but it doesn't open more.

I think the cooler thermostat just gives the system more headroom - ie. the thermo opens earlier, then you can run a lower temp fan switch so the fan kicks in earlier - this keeps the whole system further away from the tipping point when it goes into an overheating situation. As I mentioned earlier - this was a factory option in hot climates, so BMW thought it was worthwhile.

The e36 radiator looks a good fit there - I'm with you Corvallis, I don't think I could fit one in my car and supposedly I'm in P3 with e30.de mounts, but realistically I'm probably closer to P2.

I'd love an all aluminium mishimoto radiator.

[glnr13]

i've been under the impression that i'm in position #3. Comparing it to other cars it looks more like in between 2 and 3.

thanks for the link, now i need to go measure mine when I get home.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

i know we're talking about mm's here but it sure does look like your build has more breathing room up front there.

the e28 535i radiator is pretty thin as it is and I've got 4-5mm between it and the distro.

Care to measure the depth of your mishimoto rad when you get a chance?

What position do you guys have motors?

This is my radiator

https://www.mishimoto.com/bmw-e36-aluminum-performance-radiator-92-99.html