320i radiator upgrade - doesn't fit - need help

[sonoma]

just bought a 320i radiator off of a fellow FAQ'er, then bought the lower hose from Bav Auto (from their 320i rad kit) , after pulling the old one, I slid in the 320i one, and the fan is very close to it and it hit the radiator at the bottom where the metal is crimped to the plastic part, then the lower hose seems too long,

has anyone else ran into this? any ideas?

can i get a shallower fan?

thx

[Timmer]

Dave,

try www.bayarea02.com

hit tech tips, should be able to help you out.

Tim.

[c.d.iesel]

1. you need a new fan anyway - yours be chewed by plastic

eating rats

2. you need new motor and trans mounts to hold

the motor back - and possibly the right motor mount limiting

stop bracket to prevent motor dive during sudden load/braking

this wont do at all :

[nbristow01]

Yep CD is right, that looks like bad motor/trans mounts

[KFunk]

just bought a 320i radiator off of a fellow FAQ'er, then bought the lower hose from Bav Auto (from their 320i rad kit) , after pulling the old one, I slid in the 320i one, and the fan is very close to it and it hit the radiator at the bottom where the metal is crimped to the plastic part, then the lower hose seems too long,

has anyone else ran into this? any ideas?

can i get a shallower fan?

thx

There's very little room there either way... many guys like myself switch to electric pusher fans in front of the radiator (Yep, let's add more hassle and planning to this supposedly bolt-in swap).

Also, the bottom radiator hose needs a section cut out of the middle, and a piece of pipe of some sort to make a union... not quite a bolt-in, huh?

[Lee]

The e21 rad is no thicker than the stock 2002 unit. How did the fan fit with the stock rad?

Lee

[M3M3]

definitely ditch that fan. either get a new one or preferably switch to electric in front of rad.

that old one you have will throw a blade chunk at some point and trash your new rad. btdt.

and I echo the check your motor and trans mounts comments.

[nbristow01]

And don't just check the motor and tranny mount for the radiators sake. If those mounts are worn out then you are also causing misalignment in the drive shaft which means destroying guibos. That fan is a symtom of another issue, replacing it with an electric fan may cure the fan in radiator issue but won't cure the actual problem

[sonoma]

wow the motor/tranny mounts.......would have never suspected that, other than it did seem that the engine is sitting too far forward,

i get the mounts and a new fan

thank you all

[c.d.iesel]

look at the right(passenger side)motor mount.

You should see a bracket that bends up at the front to limit

the travel of the right mount rubber during high loading.

You should be able to have the red plastic fan blade (you do need a new one because you have many chunks missing) install with the 320 radiator

[sonoma]

Wow, super thanks CD