Anyone ever replaced the main engine radiator ?

[jagus]

Hello All,

I just introduced my recently bought M3 in the forum, it is a DCT from 2016 with quite many miles on it yet (~115K).

I bought it 2 months ago and noticed that it was leaking coolant, and I easily detected that the main expansion tank was leaking, thus, I replaced it (easy fix).

But to my surprise, the coolant level (high temp) was still going down... Thus, after further inspection, I detected that it is the main radiator engine that leaks

I would like to know if anyone ever did it before and could give me some instructions/recommendations to do the job... It is "doable at home" ?

I really appreciate your inputs and wish you all a very nice day!

[hlm2c]

I'm guessing you're talking about the heat exchanger.. If so, I'd recommend upgrading to a Mishimoto heat exchanger or a Wagner, depending on your budget. Or if you want to stick with OEM, buy from FCPEuro for free lifetime replacements. DIY vid below.

Heat Exchanger DIY-

If you're referring to the top mount intercooler, vid below as well.

TMIC DIY -

[jagus]

Originally Posted by hlm2c

I'm guessing you're talking about the heat exchanger.. If so, I'd recommend upgrading to a Mishimoto heat exchanger or a Wagner, depending on your budget. Or if you want to stick with OEM, buy from FCPEuro for free lifetime replacements. DIY vid below.

Heat Exchanger DIY-

If you're referring to the top mount intercooler, vid below as well.

TMIC DIY -

Thank you very much for your help and recommendation!!

But that is not the radiator that I need to replace. The one that it is leaking is the biggest one placed before the fan (#1 in next picture)



I don't know if I should try to remove it from the top, the bottom, or if I need to remove first all the others heat exchangers and radiators from the front of the car...

Thanks again for you help!!

[jagus]

Someone else knows the right way to remove it??

Thanks!

[Dabeamerking]

Pretty easy. Pretty much all the heat exchangers have to removed. You can pull out the fan first. Just be careful not ripping any hoses or bending any steel lines. Goanna have to remove the 2 radiator brackets that attach to frames rail as those hold all the heat exchangers together

[jagus]

Originally Posted by Dabeamerking

Pretty easy. Pretty much all the heat exchangers have to removed. You can pull out the fan first. Just be careful not ripping any hoses or bending any steel lines. Goanna have to remove the 2 radiator brackets that attach to frames rail as those hold all the heat exchangers together

Ohhh, I had the hope that I could replace it just removing the fan first without touching the heat exchangers that are ahead.

I still did no receive the new radiator, but I hope to do a DIY when I get it replaced.

Thanks!

[Dabeamerking]

Not goanna happen. There is a plastic bracket that is held on by silver Torx that holds all the heat exchangers together. While your at it you might as well do the serpentine belts and secondary belt and crank capture bolt

[Dabeamerking]

You are going to be draining the entire coolant system also and your Goanna have to refill your ac refrigerant

[jagus]

Originally Posted by Dabeamerking

You are going to be draining the entire coolant system also and your Goanna have to refill your ac refrigerant

Oh shit, what a nightmare

[Dabeamerking]

You have too because both the low and high refirdgerant are connected to that main radiator so you can’t take it out unless you remove those both stainless steel lines which are bolted on by a Torx 25 or 30. Second you should just do everything if you worked that hard to get there. So do your belts and cbc while your there. It’s a bit of fun

[jagus]

I really appreciate your help! Thank you very much!

I have my CBC at home already, I received it last week. I will also follow your advice to replace the belts, as the car already has a high mileage (120K miles).

Will update with the result!

Thanks!

[jagus]

Hello, I finally had time to work on the car and replace the main engine radiator.

I was able to do it without having to remove the other radiators. In fact, I could pull it out without removing the fan from the car.

I pushed downwards the fan around 15 cm, and that was enough to let me remove the radiator.

Once the radiator was out, I removed the fan and profited to replace the belts, pulleys, tensioner and install the CBC.

In total, it took me 7 hours doing it alone.

I hope that it info helps other people !

[hC1001]

Did you have to extract the AC refrigerant and refill as someone else said? I could probably look this up on the TIS but you have first hand experience and BMW sometimes adds procedures that arent necessary.

[jagus]

Originally Posted by hC1001

Did you have to extract the AC refrigerant and refill as someone else said? I could probably look this up on the TIS but you have first hand experience and BMW sometimes adds procedures that arent necessary.

No, I did not.

Also, I did not touch the low temperature coolant circuit. I just had to release the electric water pump from the fan and move it a little bit.

I only had to drain the high temperature coolant circuit.

Regards,