Need help, radiator expansion tank install

[Jean]

Could someone please post a couple pictures of how the coolant expansion tank mounts to the chassis under the hood ?

I am installing an 88+ 325i radiator in my car this weekend, and got the mounting brackets ordered but the expansion tank mounting/differences I am not clear on.

Can I use any expansion tank, or do I need a specific one as my car does not have a metal bracket on the passenger side where the 325e tank would normally mount to. That makes me think I need a 325i tank, but how does it mount to the car??

[Jon325i]

With enough creativity and money, you can do just about anything. However, that just makes the project more involved. The late model style of radiator uses different shaped/configured coolant hoses so it would be more logical to go with those to make it more OEM in installation and finish. Here are a few shots I snapped while having lunch - hope they help.

Two views from passenger side to driver's side



View from windshield


Close up of tank mounting


Overflow tube


Just below the overflow tank filling cap, the left side line runs back to the radiator (finger pointing to attachment location)


Hope this helps.

Jon

[Jean]

Jon, thank you! I want it to look oem, so your pictures do help!

So the tank itself just "clips" on the black "bracket" # 10, as simple as that ?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...06&hg=17&fg=05

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/Jon325i/RecoveryTank3.jpg

I purchased the same tank today from one of the recyclers in Rancho and just need to find the last few little pieces to make this work.

It must take an hour to fill up the radiator with coolant through the expansion tank :o

[Jon325i]

Yep - the tank just snaps in. The hardware holding the clip in place is an 8mm or 10mm, can't recall at the moment. I would've provided more detail but lunch is just about over and I can't go tearing my car apart because there's still work I must do! :-P

Jon

[Jean]

Thank you again, bracket ordered.

Jon, is there something attached to tank on the bottom right side of this picture or maybe its just my eyes ?

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b197/Jon325i/RecoveryTank6.jpg

[Ben Carufel]

Thank you again, bracket ordered.

Jon, is there something attached to tank on the bottom right side of this picture or maybe its just my eyes ?

http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...overyTank6.jpg

That would be...the hose.

[FredK]

I believe there is a t-shaped hose that connects to that lower fitting on the expansion tank, and it's set up differently between early and late cooling systems.

Also, the radiator supports are a little different, so it's not a remove and replace operation. You'll need to get crazy with some L brackets and bolts at the very minimum.

[Jean]

Fred/Ben, I did order the 325i radiator mounting brackets (items 6-11) and after speaking to a local bmw service dept. was told they would attach to the radiator support area and shouldn't be an issue with physically mounting the radiator.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...05&hg=17&fg=05
06 BRACKET F.RADIATOR A=10MM 1 09/1987 17111709333 $1.67
07 BRACKET F.RADIATOR A=10MM 1 09/1987 17111178449 $1.67
08 RUBBER BUFFER 2 09/1987 17111178412 $1.24
09 BRACKET 1 09/1987 17111709347 $5.02
10 RUBBER MOUNTING 2 09/1987 17111150984 $1.40
11 HEX HEAD SCREW ST6,3X22-Z2 2 09/1987 17111712142 $2.34


Am I going to run into another issue here ?

The 2nd issue is with the hoses. The current radiator lower and upper hoses are in the close area to the stock 318i radiator (upper hose on the driver side, lower hose on the passenger side).

There is a place on the radiator for the 10mm hose, but where does the bigger hose on the expansion tank need to go ? I looked on realeom and it doesn't show this hose/ connection

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...09&hg=17&fg=05

[Jean]

Ok, I think I see it now. Looks like it's not going to be as easy as I thought it would be. .

325i
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...67&hg=11&fg=35

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...68&hg=11&fg=35

318is
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...72&hg=11&fg=35

Looks like e30m3 style radiator might be the closest thing.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=11&fg=35

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...12&hg=17&fg=05

[Jean]

What do you guys think about putting this in line with the top radiator hose ?



http://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/53044...1/761021|10129[/


Pinepig - is my hero today. :drink:

[StereoInstaller1]

Why?

[Jean]

Why use that part ?

- Provides the ideal way to fill the system and purge the air in applications where no other means are possible.

My stock radiator is leaking bad. I didn't want to buy another m10 radiator, so I bought a used 325i radiator and need to make it work. That seems like an easy way to make it work, since I got nowhere to route the "fill" hose from the expansion tank.

[FredK]

Fred/Ben, I did order the 325i radiator mounting brackets (items 6-11) and after speaking to a local bmw service dept. was told they would attach to the radiator support area and shouldn't be an issue with physically mounting the radiator.

Am I going to run into another issue here ?

Yes.

06 BRACKET F.RADIATOR 17111709333
07 BRACKET F.RADIATOR 17111178449

Will not snap into anything on an early model radiator support. You will have to weld on or bolt on brackets (original pic credit beej 86 325) indicated by the red marks:



beej 86 325 outlines his own solution:

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=89055

I'm not sure where that hose will come from on the M10. Maybe it will come to me later this afternoon.

[Jean]

Lovely. Looks like his m8 bolt, 3/4" rubber stopper solution might work for me too .