bmwe21.net forums

Has anyone ever tried to install the early type 323i radiator into a post facelift model car?

It looks that it can be done. The top mountings seem easy enough. I just wonder how to modify the bottom attachments. Anyone?



(Original fan should be deleted of course.)

So basically it is too wide and doesn't feally fit between the front panel cut outs and you have to replace the viscous fan by an electrical. Deleting the viscous fan has its advantages but that can also be done on the stock facelift rad. Why would you not just use the later radiator? Doesn't look too good either.

Bigger (capacity), better, but I can see your point. Just wondering because I have a brand new old stock pre facelift rad on the shelf. And I do like the thought of it being bigger.

Already suspected that, but it doesn't really look good. So instead of increased cooling capacity it will look like someone tried to fix something the el cheapo way even though that is not the case. But with all cooling parts in ok condition the stock rad should be quite ok.

I use a specially fabricated 3-core copper radiator in my 323I. it vastly improves cooling capacity. This is necessary in Malaysia where the average daily temperature can reach 33C. On Friday, I had to sit in a traffic jam for 3 hours. The needle on the temperature gauge sat in the middle all the time with the air conditioning going. I use a Toyota coolant, which works extremely well. The main cooling fan is the standard viscous fan. The air-conditioning fan is also standard. The air-conditioning compressor is Japanese.

The only nuisance is that it takes a while for the old girl to warm up. Tuning the K-Jetronic system to account for this involves a trial and error process.
Yatis

If you can modify the radiator support to make it fit neatly, then they do have excellent cooling capacity. My old e21 was a pre-facelift, and the 3 row radiator was excellent with rock solid engine temps even on really hot days in traffic (eg. 45 degrees or more at times). As pointed out, the viscous fan probably won't be an option.

If you're not experiencing really hot temperatures, or running a modified engine, it might be overkill though.