Mishimoto rads

[SpecM]

aaaaaaand I just called the dealer and they're $280

owch

[nando]

wut? lol :p

[FredK]

drop-in for a late m20 car?

Yes. Nando is running one.

[SpecM]

I'm using an S54 Z3 Behr. It has a thicker core and no fitment problems.

drop-in for a late m20 car?

[kingston]

The reason that I am looking for an aftermarket radiator has to do with the thickness of it. I plan to do an S50 swap, and want to be able to run a fan on the radiator, and keep A/C. I have not yet looked at the Mishimoto ones, and am waiting to see what their response to wh33lhop is anxiously...

[FredK]

Does the Mishimoto have a thicker core?

I'm using an S54 Z3 Behr. It has a thicker core and no fitment problems.

[nando]

because it's not neccesary. I know you live in hotlanta, but I've never had an issue with the cooling capacity of the stock radiator. any "upgraded" cooling capacity is totally useless.

[dinanm3atl]

Like I said, I have replaced a ton of e36 and e39 cooling systems in my time. They are horrible. I have never seen an e30 radiator give out before 150k. On a properly maintanied car... never. Did you have an mishimoto in your e30 when justin put it in? I know he wasn't running one in his white e30 when I saw it.

It has a working factory radiator from an 88 325iS. My opinion is if you are going to swap an engine. Put in a better trans. Change the driveline. Put on coilovers. Make it all nice and restore it... why install a radiator with plastic end tanks? The same reason why if I am going to be doing my brakes I get new set screws. I have NEVER needed a new one on any of my cars but I feel though it is worth it.

In my mind you look at my 88 325iS which I don't want to sound holier than thou but it was a damn nice car. All that time and money spent and it has a radiator with plastic end tanks. It just comes off incomplete to me. It can be upgraded for 100 dollars more than the factory piece and give you peace of mind and more efficient cooling. Why not?

Now if you have an M20 I would say the debate is a little different. However if I got to the point that mine was leaking I would replace it with a mishimoto. Again it works better and is a better radiator. Peace of mind. I like having it.

[e30 335i]

Quote from Wikipedia:

A lifetime warranty is usually a guarantee on the lifetime of the product on the market rather than the lifetime of the consumer

People dont seem to ask the vendor what they define as a lifetime warranty

[delatlanta1281]

Like I said, I have replaced a ton of e36 and e39 cooling systems in my time. They are horrible. I have never seen an e30 radiator give out before 150k. On a properly maintanied car... never. Did you have an mishimoto in your e30 when justin put it in? I know he wasn't running one in his white e30 when I saw it.

[dinanm3atl]

That is the only E36 version of the Mishimotor I have seen with any sort of issue. I have had 3 or 4 in my own cars. It might not work for you and I know many people get plenty of miles on their E30/E36 radiators but I have seen them in fail after a couple years of use. YMMV.

[delatlanta1281]

Doesn't seem like a no brainer to me. I don't expect to put another 170k on my car. I don't see the purpose of using a Mishimoto when my Behr stands up just fine to the coolant in my m20. I also don't plan on swapping to a 24v motor. Therefore, in my book it's a waste of a hundred clams. I think I'm going to save that hundred and go buy myself something nice like a couple of tanks of gas.
Also, doesn't seem like a "lifetime part" in wheelhop's case. ;)

[dinanm3atl]

Jesus... I get it. I have worked on a TON of m50's.... The cooling systems fail at or around 70k. That still doesn't answer my question of why you would put one in an e30 with an m20... or better yet, why not just use an m20 radiator when you do your swap?

1 - Remove plastic components. I know yours lasted 170K buy why not get a lifetime part? Plastic in the cooling system is dumb.

2 - Larger Capacity.


These 2 make it worth it for me. No worries and better cooling. Run the higher temp thermostat which runs more efficiently with no issues. It honestly is a no brainer.

[flyboyx]

Me too. Can't see any reason to put that thing in an e30 when you can pretty much run them fanless with stock components. IMO all that radiator does is "look" cooler than the stock e30 radiator. What could it possibly improve?

better heat transfer(than stock rad) due to a more efficient fin and core design for one thing. as mentioned before, the fact that his has no plastic is another reason. you can have the hose nipples cut off, welded up, and relocated if you wish.

So wait, you're saying that people started replacing their stock radiators with mishimotos in the 90s? Ahhh, well that totally makes sense then. So why swap them now? Especially into an e30 with a perfectly good radiator? e30 radiators don't break down like e36 ones do. Why spend alll that money on a mishimoto when you get the same effect and cooling with a $120 Behr for an m20 motor?

late style e30 and e36 radiators are the same thing.

you guys can rip on mishimoto rads all you want, but the reality is that they are the best thing on the market right now and well worth the money.

also mentioned above, running an 80c thermostat in a 24v engine is not a smart idea. it doesn't do a thing for you other than make the computer think: hey, this engine is running way too cold. it is apparently in perpetual warm up so lets throw a ton of fuel at it and make it run rich as hell. changing the 2 speed fan temp sensor to the lower temp is a good idea so the fan will come on earlier, but running the colder thermostat does nothing but make your engine run wrong. the thermostat has nothing to do with overheating assuming it works properly. this is based on the capacity of your cooling system(size and efficiency of your radiator), the amount of air passing though it(ie: a nice big spal fan or one from a 750i or 850i.) and the ambient temp. this also brings us back to the purpose of the mishimoto in the first place.

[TurboJake]

Chode. ;)

Gasp! I'm so offended!

Can't say I didn't try!
(And apparently the guy before me)


I really think it would work though. Can't hurt to try on the current rad while you still have it.