Oil Cooler Opinions

[squidmaster]

Post up build quality and everything when you get it

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[Digitalwave]

I was originally going to mount it behind the kidney, but I don't really want to block my radiator at all. I might cut the slat out of the lower valance and mount it there, as if it were an FMIC. I saw a local E36 M3 that had his mounted like that, then he made a sheet metal duct behind the oil cooler that routed the hot air downwards away from the radiator.

[FredK]

I've been using a Setrab 915 for four years now with no issues. I mounted it above a stock cooler that's being used for cooling the power steering fluid. I made a custom bracket using a few pieces of bent sheetmetal and rivet nuts. There are a lot of holes in the radiator support that are already close to or are 10mm in diameter, so it's fairly easy to install some rivet nuts there.

[squidmaster]

which bracket are you using to mount it?

[FredK]

I used a Setrab bracket to support the bottom of the cooler, and some ones that I folded from sheetmetal for the top of the cooler.

The Setrab bracket kit is supplied with some rubber isolation blocks, and I'm using them at all four corners.

[Digitalwave]

Thanks for the pic Fred, that looks like a nice setup.

If I do mount it down behind the valance I will aim for something about as wide as the stock cooler, but 2-2.5x as tall and try and utilize the front valance slats well instead of blocking more of the radiator when mounted behind the kidney.

[FredK]

Yeah, back when I got mine, Setrab didn't have their Slimline coolers. The widest Slimline coolers look great, and are probably just about the same width as a stock cooler.

It'd be a good idea to put some screening in front of the cooler to protect it from track debris like gravel or rubber.

[Digitalwave]

Good idea and good info. I'll keep the thread up to date as I progress with the oil cooler. It'll be a couple weeks until I order everything, as the car is in the shop getting the roll bar built right now.