I did that thing that people ask about pretty often, running an aftermarket "OEM style" full-aluminum radiator.
Basically, if you ask, every person responds "don't even bother, get OEM." But I don't listen. Frankly, it's because BMW forums are a little too cautious.
I mean, google "bmw suspension diy" and you'll find threads of people arguing about how much weight to ballast while tightening something as banal as ball joints(just load it up with a jack to your usual ride height, it's not that serious, guys)
Well I did it, It's been like 3,000 KM since I did it. I have heat, A/C and no leaks(?)
I was slightly careful and got a "trust me bro I promise it fits" made by SPAWNON(0/5 customer service) and it looked pretty damn close when I unboxed it. I was even a bit chuffed if I'm honest, having had good luck with aftermarket rads in past builds. The o-ring fittings for the coolant tank and hose even worked perfectly. Mint! right?
Unfortunately they said its for a manual but it's plumed for an automatic(holy crap did I have to argue with them about this, I must have sent them 5 different part numbers and 10 images). So I had a giant gaping hole in the rad, which I "solved*" with a plumbing pipe expanding plug. Nothing lined up, the end tanks were too big to fit in the original location without hitting the accessory pulleys and even the crank pulley.
The rad core is also thicker and the fan was scraping the core because those dimensions were wrong too. (self clearanced now)
It DOES NOT FIT. Don't do it. I made it fit, because I'm a monster who doesn't belong here.
The damn thing is currently held in with 3, 150# yield zip ties and I had to force it against the condenser with a C clamp. If even 1 of those zip ties goes bang, the fan motor is crashing right into my crank pulley and the whole front of the car is gonna be donezo. The mounting holes were not even close and they even made the holes too small that even were threaded completely wrong.. Did I mention the mounting point(bottom of picture 1) pushed the fan shroud out and I had to knock it off with a hammer, risking damaging the end tank?
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Yes, those are zip-ties on the coolant tank keeping it from hitting the alt pulley because the tank mount doesn't quite fit either.
That said... if you have removed your A/C condenser, *you can weld aluminum and would eat someone else's slice of pie left in the hallway for room service to dispose of.
Well, fire away.
Buy an OEM rad.
This is what it will look like if a ziptie goes pop.
![Image]()
Basically, if you ask, every person responds "don't even bother, get OEM." But I don't listen. Frankly, it's because BMW forums are a little too cautious.
I mean, google "bmw suspension diy" and you'll find threads of people arguing about how much weight to ballast while tightening something as banal as ball joints(just load it up with a jack to your usual ride height, it's not that serious, guys)
Well I did it, It's been like 3,000 KM since I did it. I have heat, A/C and no leaks(?)
I was slightly careful and got a "trust me bro I promise it fits" made by SPAWNON(0/5 customer service) and it looked pretty damn close when I unboxed it. I was even a bit chuffed if I'm honest, having had good luck with aftermarket rads in past builds. The o-ring fittings for the coolant tank and hose even worked perfectly. Mint! right?
Unfortunately they said its for a manual but it's plumed for an automatic(holy crap did I have to argue with them about this, I must have sent them 5 different part numbers and 10 images). So I had a giant gaping hole in the rad, which I "solved*" with a plumbing pipe expanding plug. Nothing lined up, the end tanks were too big to fit in the original location without hitting the accessory pulleys and even the crank pulley.
The rad core is also thicker and the fan was scraping the core because those dimensions were wrong too. (self clearanced now)
It DOES NOT FIT. Don't do it. I made it fit, because I'm a monster who doesn't belong here.
The damn thing is currently held in with 3, 150# yield zip ties and I had to force it against the condenser with a C clamp. If even 1 of those zip ties goes bang, the fan motor is crashing right into my crank pulley and the whole front of the car is gonna be donezo. The mounting holes were not even close and they even made the holes too small that even were threaded completely wrong.. Did I mention the mounting point(bottom of picture 1) pushed the fan shroud out and I had to knock it off with a hammer, risking damaging the end tank?
Yes, those are zip-ties on the coolant tank keeping it from hitting the alt pulley because the tank mount doesn't quite fit either.
That said... if you have removed your A/C condenser, *you can weld aluminum and would eat someone else's slice of pie left in the hallway for room service to dispose of.
Well, fire away.
Buy an OEM rad.
This is what it will look like if a ziptie goes pop.
