Automatic Vs Manual Radiators. e85 / e86 17117551635

[Mike Le'mans]

Hi all,

I'm nearly finished in rebuilding a Cat-C front-end damaged Coupe, but I've been scratching my head for a couple of days on this one..

When I bought the car, it came with a selection of replacement front-end parts, which have mostly ending up being the wrong ones for the car... But I think I now have all the right bits, except possibly the radiator.



My car's an automatic, and 3.0 N52 engine (being a non-M coupe). Where does the third end of hose 12 go to? (its the three-way hose that only comes on automatic 2.5 and 3.0 models). One end connects to the water pump, another connects to the oil cooler. My assumption is that the 3rd pipe plugs in to the radiator on the right hand side of the car (as viewed from the drivers seat), and that I probably have a radiator for a manual car. Nothing online actually shows a picture of a radiator with a 3rd outlet here though.

Can someone with the right car take a look for me?

 

[Mike Le'mans]

Someone else must have an automatic surely!? Will be posting up the complete rebuild gallery when I get the car rolling & running in the next week or so (If I can work this out!).

 

[fixit man]

Your assumption seems right to me...goes to the radiator, is there a hose missing on the radiator ??

Unless.... item 11 should be used instead of item 12 , as I understand the diagram it's an alternate part !

 

[Mike Le'mans]

Thanks for your confirmation fixit man. On realoem, part 11 is labled as 'for manual transmissions', 12 is for automatics.

I've got the radiator out in my living room at the moment (this weather is crap for drive-way mechanics), and there's definitely a missing port on the rad. What's confused me though, is that many of the aftermarket rads are described as suitable for both manuals and autos...e46, e85,e86 etc. But the oem parts do have different numbers, and they're not the same as the e46 rads either.. I just want to triple check before I fork out for a new radiator.

If someone can post a photo of the bottom corner of their automatics radiator, that'd be awsome!

 

[Mike Le'mans]

Think I've confirmed it now, I found this picture that shows an additional port (top left in the image). Why don't any of the aftermarket rads have this? £300 for a rad from the main stealers is a bit steep compared to £35 for aftermarket rads.

 

[speed12]

I guess you could try looking for a breakers/ salvaged rad but likely to be scarce in the UK and are probably the first component to break after a crash.

 

[srhutch]

Think I've confirmed it now, I found this picture that shows an additional port (top left in the image). Why don't any of the aftermarket rads have this? £300 for a rad from the main stealers is a bit steep compared to £35 for aftermarket rads.

Isn't that extra port in the wrong place though. :?

 

[Mike Le'mans]

I guess you could try looking for a breakers/ salvaged rad but likely to be scarce in the UK and are probably the first component to break after a crash.

Been trying that for the last 6 months! z4 breakers seem to be exclusively front-end damaged cars, and I've found that all front-end parts are incredibly hard to find. (I've had to buy bonnet, wings, front subframe, arch trims, undertrays, new headlights, new fog lights, new grilles... almost all from different sources).

Now that everything else is done and it's the last part to re-fit to the car, I had no choice but to part with £320 and have one ordered in to the main dealer (shipped from Germany).

I can now confirm that the aftermarket radiators DO NOT FIT and are not the same as for manual cars (I'm speaking for the n52 3.0 engine / automatic combo). The radiator from the main dealer arrived yesterday and does have the extra hose fitting on the bottom right. I think all the aftermarket rads made a big assumption about the Z4s all being the same as the e46s (where the only difference is the adjuster screw and the mounting plate for the ATF cooler).

 

[MrPT]

Don't need a replacement radiator fan unit, by any chance? Got a new, unused one for sale.

 

[Mike Le'mans]

Don't need a replacement radiator fan unit, by any chance? Got a new, unused one for sale.

thanks, but all sorted now. The only part I needs now (fingers crossed) is a number plate surround. Will be hoping to start it up tomorrow - may need more parts if that goes wrong.

Just to complete the thread, here's a picture of both radiators, the old manual version on the left, automatic version on the right. (17117551635)