How to: Radiator Removal/Installation

[ten2doyle102]

Well, I got sick of my car ocerheating all the time so I decided to just get a new sports radiator. I went with Mishimoto because the quality seems to be there and its a fair price plus it seems that they have gotten good reviews as well! If you all want to look into these, you must get the radiators speced out for the e36 model. Its a drop in fit and I didn't have to make a single mod.

So pretty!



What you'll need:

Catch Pan
10mm Socket
Flat head Screw Driver
19mm Socket
13mm Socket
Green Coolant
Radiator (obviously)

Difficulty = 1, anybody can do this.
Time spent = 1 hour, start to finish

Here's what it looks like




Step 1: You have to drain all the coolant out of the radiator (allow the car to cool before doing this....Mean DON'T be stupid and pop the plug right after you've been driving around for 3 hours....)

To do this, locate the little plug at the bottom of the radiator. Mine's blue, but they might be different colors. Also, Mine allowed for a 13mm socket to be used to open it. MAKE SURE YOU PUT THE CATCH PAN UNDERNEATH!!!!!



Pull the plug out and make a mess!!!





Step 2: Remove the Fan shroud. Its got two little "pins" that hold it on up top. Pop them out and it should just pull out.



Step 3: Once all the coolant is out, go ahead and start pulling all the hoses off. There are 3 on the radiator (upper, lower and the overflow) They are held on by steel hose clamps which require a flat head screwdriver or a 6mm socket to loosen. You should be able to pop them off pretty easily. If you plan on reusing the radiator, be careful about squeezing or pushing the hoses of since the inlets are plastic and will crack if put to much pressure on it.





Step 4: Remove the Coolant Sensor. Should be a 19mm.



Step 5: Remove the upper radiator support. Its held inplace by 2 10mm bolts and they should just come right out. You may need to use a screw driver to pry up on the mount, but it'll come off.



Step 6: Remove the Radiator. Take it out!


Installation is the exact opposite. Bleeding the system is pretty easy too. Once everything is all back together, begin by filling it back up until it won't allow anymore. Its gonna take about 2 bottles of coolant to do this so make sure you've got enough. Start the car and keep and eye on the temp gauge. If you've got a standard t-stat, it will open a little after the 2 tick mark on the gauge and when that happens, the level in the resivor will lower so just fill it back up! Not all the way though, just around the middle of tank.

All installed!




So far, the radiator works like a charm! Hope this helps out!

[Yoshi]

Why remove the sensor in the radiator? why not just unplug it?

[ten2doyle102]

Cause you gotta put it in the new one!

[Yoshi]

I don't think I ever got one without it already in there lol.

Why are you awake so early?

[ten2doyle102]

Whelp, if you get a mishmoto, they don't come with!


I am up everyday at this time, I work 7-3:30.

[Yoshi]

true true. work is gay...

[ten2doyle102]

This is true.....I need to hit the Powerball..... *sighes*

[M20_fever]

mine didn't come with a temp sensor installed either.

nice easy write up, sticky.

[ten2doyle102]

Woot!

[Lames]

lol awesome picture, also awesome job on the sticky!

[ten2doyle102]

I know. I like that pic too!

Thanks too

[///ivane30]

GOOD radiator how much money is this radiator ? If u want big radiator u can use original bmw radiators from E30 324 TurboDiesel or E36 320 with Aic , or E46 323 , for me the radiator from e46 is the best for e30