E36 radiator woes

[Jim Bassett <jimbassett@xxxxxxxxx>]

>I know somebody on the list just recently ran into this, but I didn't keep
>the post. '93 325is, about 170K - top radiator hose fitting snapped on its
>own. (Yeah, I caught it before I overheated.)
>I'm told from a respected source that it's a common deal,

Yep, common failure on E36s.

>and the best thing
>to do is replace the radiator, since the material gets brittle after this
>many years of heat cycling. Makes sense to me.
>Figured I'd throw it out to the list anyway. Any way to fix this w/o
>replacing the radiator, or is replacement the most wise move?

Replacing the radiator is the only way I know of to fix this.

I've had the radiator replaced on both of my E36s; the one in the M3 due to 
a small leak ~50K, and the one in the race car, prior to purchasing it, as 
a preventative measure at ~86K. The PO of the race car said that the 
replacement radiator had a metal sleeve in the neck, but I can't confirm that.

Hope that helps,
Jim Bassett
1998 M3/4
1993 325is #44 KP

------------------------------