Looking for radiator-maybe E12 528i -Cannot find

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jjs2800cs

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In my other current post we are replacing our water pump. While out of the car the 72 auto tranny radiator we have in our 1970 manual 2800CS looks a little tired as some of the water passages are smashed, but not leaking yet. I have gone through all the old posts and some suggest that a 1979-81 E12 528i radiator will fit and are suppose to be cheaper, but the old links come up dry. Also they are suppose to be made of plastic and Aluminum.

Has anyone installed one of these? Is it a bolt in? Does it have additional cooling capacity? If so where did you get it and how long ago. There is also info about Behr radiators for the 528i E12 that appear to be all copper. But sources are dry.

New CS radiators appear to be available for over $500. I can have my radiator locally re-cored for about the same amount. I am looking to spend only about half of that.

Also years ago there was AL radiator run, but that seems to have dried up.

Thanks

jjs2800cs
 
E24 radiator

Looks like E24 radiators can be had for around $150 or so, but the photos show different mounting. Anyone put one of these in an E9?

Also looks like the top left hose connector is at different angle as is the bottom right?

Not sure will fit especially the bottom right where our AC compressor sits.


http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pn...oogleSKU_BMW&gclid=CPP57MGGlMoCFckWHwodZmsJCg

Still looking

jjs2800cs
 
I'm using a copper E12 radiator, it fits just right, good cooling but no AC. Got it online, don't have the source handy, but a common euro parts source.

HOWEVER, the first one that came (all the way to Hawaii) was damaged. The second one that came was damaged more. I sent #2 back and kept #1. Proper packing prior to shipping these is critical. In my case the hose neck was dented in but I massaged it out with a BFH and few other things.

Suggest get the P/N from a fiche, use the P/N at various sites to search for the part. Thus: 1981 528i manual USA P/N=17111150564
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=3995-USA-03-1981-E12-BMW-528i&diagId=11_0659

fcpeuro has a Mishimoto "universal" all aluminum radiator that's 25x16x3, it might work.
getbmwparts shows P/N 17111150564 for $394
IIRC I paid around $200, thought that was pretty good, +/- 2 years ago.
 
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E12 radiators no longer availalble

Thanks for the replies thus far. It appears that the E12 radiator (17111150564) is no longer being made and the supply has dried up. I have contacted several web sites (google searches) who claim they have it in stock, prices from $290-$600. But when I call, they are out of stock. A BMW dealer told me they stopped making these in 2012 or so. Thus supply for new ones is dry, at least for what I have found. Original radiator is over $600 and have not tried that as I can have mine re-cored for just under $500.

I also talked to a well known BMW CS expert in SO CA and he confirmed the above. His recommendation is to re-core with 2 row high efficiency. He said no other options currently exist other than a new OEM if indeed they do exist in Germany. So unless we can find someone who has an E12 that is tucked away somewhere, it's re-core at $500-OUCH!

An option as sfdon pointed out is from Walloth and Nesch for $260+ but who knows about shipping to US and if even a available as their web site says. So far all the web sites I have been to are not accurate as to the actual availability.

Good luck to others who need a radiator in their future.

Thanks
jjs2800cs
 
jjs2800cs said:
So unless we can find someone who has an E12 that is tucked away somewhere, it's re-core at $500-OUCH!
Click to expand...

$500 for a re-core seems a bit high. You might want to shop around. I had an Alfa Romeo radiator re-cored a few months ago, using heavy-duty core material, and the cost was $350 . Yes, an Alfa radiator is slightly smaller than an e9, but the labor would be about the same. And the work was done here in Orange County (Tom's Radiator on Chapman Ave. in Orange) where nothing comes cheap.
 
Re-Core Cost

The almost $500 was for a 3 row. As I posted I was advised not to get the three row but stay with a two row high efficiency due to fan clearances issues. Tomorrow I will talk to the only rad shop locally and see if they can do a two row. Stay tuned.

I am still skeptical that W&N really has these based on my experiences today. Webs sites are one thing, reality another. But I will contact them to verify.

jjs2800cs
 
Erik at coupeking and I bought a shipment of aluminum radiators that were custom made last year.
Try contacting Erik for availability. He may still have a few left.
 
The first link suggested by teahead would take a lot of fitting, look at the top and bottom hose connections, are at the wrong orientation. Also the mounting would have to be totally modified. Not ruling out but?

The AL one has possibilities, but wonder if it is really available. From the photos it appears to have 40+ horizontal water channels, whereas the OEM standard has 30 and the auto tranny has 32. At least the ones I have that are dead and are considering re-coring one of them. Anyone have experience with an Aluminum radiator?

Thanks and I hope this info helps other in need of a radiator.

I will try to contact Coupe King, but some of the past threads said they were all gone.

jjs2800cs
 
jjs2800cs
I purchased a 2 row hi efficiency radiator for my 74 3.0cs from santa monica radiator for $450 this past summer. This is a good alternative to the 3 row. I live in los angeles area and used the car extensively during the hot summer months and temp needle didn't flicker past 9 o'clock in stop and go traffic with outside temp in the 90s and 100s with a/c on. Previously, the needle was 3/4 high in similar conditions. Hope this helps

w. chen
74cs
 
I think I paid $250 Cdn for a triple core high efficiency rebuild of my radiator. (unfortunately the fan no longer fits and I went with a SPAl pusher fan. ) .
 
Decided to go with AL radiator

All,

Made the decision to go with an AL radiator from Ireland Engineering (have no affiliation) over getting mine re-cored. It ended up being almost $100 cheaper and not being "original" is not as important to me as functionality. The rad has over 40 horizontal pairs of passages as it is a two row.

Here is a picture of the radiator as received, which appears to be very well made and does look great. It is sitting next to the original manual shift radiator. Note the position of the lower right hose attachment. The AL rad attachment is welded at a higher angle than the original which did present an interference with the AC compressor. But by adjusting the AC compressor mount and using shorter belt moved the compressor enough to clear. Other than that it fit perfectly with some minor trimming to the bottom tangs evident in the photo.

Also note how many more rows the AL has over the manual rad which has 30. The auto rad that was in the car has 32 rows of 2.

For info I did contact W&N and the do have OEM type replacements rads available for around $260 plus over $60 to ship to FL. So it would have been a little cheaper, but I was concerned about import duties and taxes etc. which would have driven up the cost.

One bit of info on the W&N rad. Their correspondence with me verified that their rad has 37 horizontal pairs of passages which is exactly what all the internet photos show that the E12 rads had that nobody can get any more. W&N told me that the rad is made by the same company that made them for BMW but it does not have any BMW identification on it. So perhaps this rad is indeed also an E12 replacement.

So for those of you looking to get a stock rad this could be a good choice. I have no affiliation with W&N either.

Will post later after road test and see how it cools.

Thanks

jjs2800cs
 

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More info

Forgot to mention that Eric of Coupe King also has a few AL radiators left for about the same price. Again no affiliation but want to let others know that he still has them.

Everyone I interfaced with were very helpful.

Thanks

jjs2800cs
 
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