Anyone know if its the s52 or s54 z3m radiator that fits?

[JGood]

Actually, those are unmodified, E36 M3 radiator hoses that I, ahem, forced onto the M60 water pump nipples.

Garey

Holy crap, that's a hell of a stretch.

I think I'm going to try to find room to run the remote oil filter just so I can use this radiator.

Thanks for the writeup and pics.

[bmwmech1]

Quick update... here is the only modification necessary to install this radiator...







2 small slits cut into the inverted round part of the plastic mount for the edge of the core to slide into... that's it...

Garey

[bmwmech1]

That thing's a monster! I'm starting to consider picking one up as well.

What are you going to do about the rad hose? Looks like it's kinked a little, and you can't easily shorten it due to the flared ends.

Actually, those are unmodified, E36 M3 radiator hoses that I, ahem, forced onto the M60 water pump nipples. If you know those hoses, you know they do not have a molded flare at the WP nipples, they're straight. I will cut the top one down about 3/4"at the pump nipple and the little kink should disappear... no problema. I will say that this radiator looks pretty badass in person. As thick as it looks in the pictures, it looks twice as beefy up close. I am not disappointed with this thing, in the least.

Now, for all of you that decide to go this route, hit up Corey at Track One. I think I ordered this thing from him on Tuesday night and I had it in my hands today! Not that everyone's shipping will be that quick, but I was impressed. The price is well worth it, IMO... I mean, look at this thing, lol.

Thanks again to Corey...

Garey

[Jean]

Very nice! Now if we can get a side by side photo of the mishimoto vs s54 z3m rad.

Look at all the room VS inline 6 ....NOM NOM NOM

[CoreyZ]

Holy fucking beefcake batman

[JGood]

That thing's a monster! I'm starting to consider picking one up as well.

What are you going to do about the rad hose? Looks like it's kinked a little, and you can't easily shorten it due to the flared ends.

[bmwmech1]

Thanks Jonsku... well, the verdict is in on the Mishimoto radiator... It is a 3 row radiator. Corey has been alerted and I'm sure he will be speaking to Mishimoto again. I told him the salesrep needs to go out onto the assembly line and watch how they manufacture it, because it's definitely a 3 row core. You can clearly see the 3 individual rows if you look through the fins with a flashlight. So, with that being said, here are some pics...











Dimensionally, it is the same width and height as the E36 M3 radiator I have been using for mockup. The core is obviously far thicker, as evidenced in the 3rd pic. It drops into the E30 with no mods, except for the plastic upper mount, which needs a slit cut into it to clear the thicker core.

So that's it... IMO, this is a great option... the price is reasonable, the fit is perfect and the extra capacity is what we need for the M6x swaps...

That is all...

Garey

[Jonsku]

Jonsku, I assume you're using a front mounted pusher electric fan and no engine driven fan as you said the engine is too close the radiator. Can you confirm this? Do you have the fan set up on a thermal control or the original variable speed control? Any pics?

Garey

Yea, there's no space for fan between engine and rad. Last summer I had 14" pusher fan with temp. sensor in rad + additional "must run" switch in the cabin.
For next summer I plan on putting SPAL 14" high-performance fan with SPAL control unit so I'll have variable speed and can set the temp-limits myself. I'm swapping the SPAL-things to the car because I found the "fixed temp" sensor is more or less never right (it starts or stops too early / too late), so now when I can adjust the temps and revs without limits I should get the result I want.

Long explanation, hope you understand what I mean :)


I'm on a business trip at the moment so can't upload good pictures to my site. Anyway, as attachment there are couple of pictures from the project-phase. As you can see, there's not too much space between the engine and rad. I remember someone in Germany using "engine-driven fan", though I guess it was from some other model as it has to be very slim. Also, I think you could fit some kind of "super slim pulling fan" between the engine and rad., but where's the sense in that when you can fit full-size pusher fan to the front-side.

[noid]

Thanks for the info wanganstyle!

Do you know anyone running a stock OEM Z3M radiator, the version you can order now that is smaller then the original OEM z3m rad (17112227281) in a m60/2 swap?

[Wanganstyle]

Well to be fair mishimoto will replace your radiator:
"Accident Protection

Mishimoto, under its no questions asked warranty policy, will provide a warranty for all claims including vehicles involved in accidents. Warranty claims must include pictures of the accident and an official police report, and must be within three months of the accident. "

But I get what your saying, you pay for what you get.

Do we know anyone running the smaller updated z3m OEM radiator in an m60/m62 without overheating problems?

I do yes know someone yes. mishimoto e36m rad+4.4L m62. works ok with oem style engine driven fan+aux fan. if a proper CFM electric fan is installed then it will be perfect. M62 is also very hardy when it come to heat.

[bmwmech1]

My rad. is 65mm thick and fits with the V8 (position ~2) very well.

That Mishimoto rad. with 2 fans looks very good, though I suppose the other fan won't fit as there's a "bulge" in upper LHS corner of the "rad. opening"..

Jonsku, I assume you're using a front mounted pusher electric fan and no engine driven fan as you said the engine is too close the radiator. Can you confirm this? Do you have the fan set up on a thermal control or the original variable speed control? Any pics?

Garey

[Jonsku]

I just thought about this.... 2.4" thick is 61mm that's HUGE. The PWR monster is only 57mm.

I am quite excited to see if it fits without modification.

My rad. is 65mm thick and fits with the V8 (position ~2) very well.

That Mishimoto rad. with 2 fans looks very good, though I suppose the other fan won't fit as there's a "bulge" in upper LHS corner of the "rad. opening"..

[noid]

Pwr has billet end tanks and can take a front end impact and still go on. USA item is USA quality. Fits good also in a e30.


Oem z3m rad is probably the best bang for the buck. Also lighter than one with billet end tanks.

Plastic end tanks are lightweight.

Mish-motor rad isnt bad but the finish on internals is not up to Oem or PWR type finish.

Well to be fair mishimoto will replace your radiator:
"Accident Protection

Mishimoto, under its no questions asked warranty policy, will provide a warranty for all claims including vehicles involved in accidents. Warranty claims must include pictures of the accident and an official police report, and must be within three months of the accident. "

But I get what your saying, you pay for what you get.

Do we know anyone running the smaller updated z3m OEM radiator in an m60/m62 without overheating problems?

[Wanganstyle]

I just thought about this.... 2.4" thick is 61mm that's HUGE. The PWR monster is only 57mm.

I am quite excited to see if it fits without modification.

Pwr has billet end tanks and can take a front end impact and still go on. USA item is USA quality. Fits good also in a e30.


Oem z3m rad is probably the best bang for the buck. Also lighter than one with billet end tanks.

Plastic end tanks are lightweight.

Mish-motor rad isnt bad but the finish on internals is not up to Oem or PWR type finish.

[bmwmech1]

The issue is that BMW redesigned the radiator under the same part number, and supposedly now it is smaller then the original, the question is, if it is now to small to be able to cool an m60 / m62


Garey are you still getting the X-line now that you know its a 2 row?

I have no intentions of backing out of it. Even if it is only a 2 row, it's a much thicker core, which of course, translates into more surface area to exchange the heat. It's also all aluminum, which will exchange more heat, including the tanks and it's a lifetime warranty, all welded. I won't know definitely, until the car is driveable, so we'll cross that bridge in a few months. I'll get pics up as soon as it arrives tomorrow...

Garey