1994 318i radiator

[DJ1009]

How hard is it to change out the radiator on a 318i? Mine blew a hole in it tonight....and knowing I will be spending $200 for a new one...I would like to save some cash since Christmas is right around the corner. Thanks in advance.

[Larry F.]

DJ:

Piece of cake. If you have done any of your own maintenance; oil change, spark plug change, you have all that it takes. Literally, the radiator pops out with a couple of bolts. Well, and a couple of hoses, and it helps to take the fan off the water pump, etc. I would strongly encourage you to dig in.

And, think about other things you ought to be doing at the same time.

1) Thorougly flush the system, including the heater core.
2) Replace (or at least inspect) the radiator hoses.
3) Replace the thermostat. Cheap. High failure rate. Just do it.
4) Replace the water pump. Kinda cheap. Good insurance.
5) Use BMW coolant and distilled water. Seriously.

The US Dept of Transportation cites cooling system failures as the number 1 reason for breakdowns. (fact)

You didn't mention the mileage on the car, but all BMW's that I have had that have aluminum radiator cores and plastic tanks run afoul of the Dreaded Black Plastic Rot. This means hose connectors that just snap right off, cracks in the middle of the tank for no apparent reason. These make radiators in these a 60K to 100K maintenance replacement item in my book.

If you have any particular questions when looking under your hood, ask away! Wayne may even have a tech article on it already!

Have fun!

[DJ1009]

Thanks for the reply. Are there any special tools that I would need to remove the radiator? Is it a job that would require more than 1 person to do it? I have done some of the other maintenance you listed but when it comes to a car's engine....im about as illiterate as they come.

[Larry F.]

(I guessed at your name, you might pass along what you would like to be called)

If you have the basics in a 3/8" socket set, and a handful of screwdrivers, you are most of the way there. At the least, you will need:

- 10mm socket and ratchet (radiator mounting)
- 12mm and 13mm socket (thermo housing and water pump)
- 6mm nutdriver (hose clamps, although a screwdriver will work in a pinch)
- Large flat screwdriver (drain plug in radiator)
- 19mm socket (block drain plug)
- large cresent wrench, or 32mm wrench for fan clutch

The last item is a reference to the large, left-threaded nut that secures the fan clutch to the tip of the water pump. There has been a lot written about getting that nut off - it can be a little tricky. In the last year I acquired the Special Tools (capital letters!) but for years I just used my old 12" Craftsman crescent wrench, put it on the nut, tapped the end with a hammer, and presto! Loose nut.

Any other suggestions other there? (Wayne?) I don't want to lead this guy down a rosy path . . .

[Wayne 962]

Very easy - I have a tech article coming very soon (this week, probably) on this subject...

-Wayne