I'm about to do my cooling system overhaul. I think this is the kit that I've seen the most references to:
http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-16...0-mz3-s52.aspx
However, is it an issue that, except for the radiator and pump, none of the other parts are OEM?
Seems like to go all OEM, I would have to buy everything separately. OEM is not a necessity, per se, but I don't want to use poor inferior quality parts.
Don't believe that kit is cheaper than just buying all the parts from Bimmerzone. Additionally, the BMW radiator is a Behr radiator, so no reason to buy a BMW rad. A nice upgrade is to put the s54 radiator in your car. Requires modifying the fan shroud a little iirc.
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I recently did an overhaul after a front ender.
I did the s54 rad with Zionsville Shroud/resevoir/spal fan kit. The fitment requires a mechanical fan delete,however.
Worth a look!
There are seven (at least) coolant hoses in a Z3. Why do all these "complete" kits come with only two? Also, does anyone have any empirical evidence that the smaller S54 radiator is an upgrade? Obviously it is necessary to fit an oil cooler, but is it an upgrade without a cooler?
/.randy
Inquiring minds want to know! Here's an S-54 radiator with the end tanks removed; I was curious to see if there were baffles in the tank(s) to initiate "passes"" versus complete side to side flow. No baffles. Three (3) rows of cores; someday I'll disect an S-52 radiator to compare.
Here's a parts list I use for myself, to insure that I get each and every piece of the cooling system ordered. I know how all you copycats are out there, so I'm just going to leave it on the corner of my desk while I go see what's in the refrigerator...
S-52 cooling system upgrade/maintenance components
March 24, 2013
Stewart waterpump
Waterpump gskt (O-ring) 11 51 1 711 484
Behr S-54 radiator
Upper radiator hose 11 53 1 708 499
Lower radiator hose 11 53 1 436 988
Reservoir hose (large to pipe) 11 53 1 740 649
Reservoir hose (small to tank) 17 11 1 723 521
Throttle body hose in 13 54 1 703 945
Throttle body hose out 13 54 1 703 865
Cylinder head to valve 64 21 8 401 809
Valve to core 64 21 8 362 777 (verified)
Core to cylinder head 64 21 8 401 808
Thermostat 88*C 11 53 7 511 580
Thermostat O-ring (gskt) 11 53 1 265 084
Thermostat housing (alum) (sourced through BMP)
Thermostat hsng gskt (profile) 11 53 1 740 437
Radiator upper mount grommet 17 11 1 712 911 (2 rqd)
DO NOT ORDER THE FOLLOWING HEATER HOSES W/QUICK-CONNECT FITTINGS:
11 63 7 830 994
64 21 8 376 608
Last edited by Randy Forbes; 08-17-2013 at 03:51 PM.
Empirical, or statistical? I have no technical stats on flow or cooling efficiency or anything like that, just my observation that after installing the S54 radiator, my *OIL* temps dropped about 5-10* (indicated) in just about every driving condition (remember, my car's had an aftermarket oil cooler setup for four years now).
Oh, and for the OP and everyone else - the S54 radiator is cheaper than the S52 unit.
Last edited by BMWBergy; 08-17-2013 at 06:48 PM.
DIY/Project Links:_TC Kline D/A & Suspension Refresh_|_Oil/Engine Cooling Options / Install_|_
Dinan/Fikse FM-5 Build_|_Stereo Install_|_HID Retrofit_|_
I was really hoping more would chime in. I really don't know the answer to this. The S54 gives up a chunk of surface area and replaces it with a third tube row. Any dissertation on cooling systems will tell you surface area trumps thickness. Is the S54's added row of tubes in the least effective location enough to make up with the much smaller loss of surface area?
We'll likely never know for sure.
David -- two questions. Where is your oil cooler mounted? And if it's not in the S54 location, did you put a blanking plate in the S54 oil cooler area to keep air from totally bypassing the radiator?
And just a side note, the places I would consider purchasing a radiator, for a car I intended to keep anyway, want considerably more for a S54 than a normal Z3.
/.randy
s54 behr rad is the way to go
my favorite site to order parts from: http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...=2172@Radiator
And the proof is???
my favorite site to order parts from: http://www.autohausaz.com/search/pro...=2172@Radiator
I've seen the differences between Behr OE and Behr aftermarket. No thanks. All aluminum or failing that dealer are my two choices.
/.randy
Not sure if i'm the David you asking.
I put the s54 rad in my s52 with the Zionsville set-up. I plan to add an oil cooler later when i add a supercharger ( hopefully ).
The only thing i notice is the fan runs pretty often. I don't think i have the high/low set-up correctly.
My temps are just fine, even in traffic on hot days, so i'll leave it alone for now.
Randy,
1) The oil cooler is mounted directly in front of the radiator, at the level of the kidney grills - so it actually A) takes away from direct airflow to the radiator, and B) heats the volume of air that passes through it before the radiator. Totally not the most efficient way to go. However, the oil needed to be cooled. The aftermarket mounting options are few. I think after Laguna I'm going to move it DOWN on the bracket so it is actually behind the bumper and not taking away from direct airflow to the rad. I also have a set of the factory lines, and have considered moving to the factory oil cooler.
2) I did fashion a blanking plate for the lower void.
Last edited by BMWBergy; 08-19-2013 at 04:13 PM.
DIY/Project Links:_TC Kline D/A & Suspension Refresh_|_Oil/Engine Cooling Options / Install_|_
Dinan/Fikse FM-5 Build_|_Stereo Install_|_HID Retrofit_|_
Interesting. I have noted that my oil temps are higher if I leave the belly pan off. I suspect it has more to do with that lower reverse scoop piece than the actual belly pan, but again consistent testing is neigh impossible here in Va weather and traffic. You say the cooler is at the radiator... do you still have the A/C condenser? Aux fan?
/.randy
DIY/Project Links:_TC Kline D/A & Suspension Refresh_|_Oil/Engine Cooling Options / Install_|_
Dinan/Fikse FM-5 Build_|_Stereo Install_|_HID Retrofit_|_
I don't mean to hijack or derail this thread but can anyone chime in about what parts are needed if you're doing the same thing on an S54?
I know the water pumps generally don't go bad, so I'm not too worried about that. I have the radiator, the upper and lower radiator hoses, new hose clamps for these two hoses, the coolant expansion tank. Should I get new mounting hardware for the radiator? Any other hoses that are known to go bad often?
Should I replace the cap for the expansion tank or the plastic "hose" that goes from the expansion tank to the radiator?
DIY/Project Links:_TC Kline D/A & Suspension Refresh_|_Oil/Engine Cooling Options / Install_|_
Dinan/Fikse FM-5 Build_|_Stereo Install_|_HID Retrofit_|_
Bump.
I thought I had done a fairly thorough refresh on my cooling system based on what's included in all of the "complete" kits I saw everywhere, but it seems clear that those kits are definitely not complete. I have an M54/2001 3.0i.
I replaced:
-Radiator
-Upper and Lower Radiator Hose
-Expansion Tank
-Expansion Tank Cap
-Water Pump
-Thermostat
I think I still need to replace (I put what I think are the correct part numbers in parentheses):
-Hose between radiator and expansion tank (CHR0025P)
-Hose between expansion tank and heater valve (64218376608)
-Hose between heater valve and heater core (64218362777)
-Hose between heater core and engine (64218377673)
-Hose between expansion tank and water pipe; I don't know what this is exactly, but it's the hose at the bottom front of the expansion tank (11537505831)
-Plastic Water Pipe (11537502525)
-Plastic Heater Pipe (11531705210)
Can anyone think of anything else I might be missing? I attached images of each hose and pipe that I have in a shopping cart, in case it helps people recognize something else that needs to be added.
Thanks in advance.
Last edited by kornfeld; 04-09-2015 at 08:06 PM.
2001 Z3 3.0 Coupe--Sterling Gray/Sunroof Delete/5MT
Your list looks good for an M54. There are more hoses on other motors.
S52 does not use quick-connect hoses.
- - - Updated - - -
I must add, though, that to change those two plastic water pipes, I pull the intake. And do the CCV at the same time. There are rumors you can remove the oil filter housing and gain enough access, but I have not tried this.
/.randy
I've never seen those pipes just fail. But they have broken up when worked on. They are part of my 200k service plan. Once every dozen years.... The plastic gets the job done.
/.randy
Hmm. So if one of your cars was still on the original pipes, I'm guessing you'd swap them?
Last edited by kornfeld; 04-09-2015 at 07:58 PM.
2001 Z3 3.0 Coupe--Sterling Gray/Sunroof Delete/5MT
I swapped out the pipes on the wife's car at 207k, along with the rest of the cooling system. It was mostly original, BTW. I swapped the pipes on the kids car at 225k the week I bought it.
/.randy
Ah well....decisions, decisions...
2001 Z3 3.0 Coupe--Sterling Gray/Sunroof Delete/5MT
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