Radiator is smacking the crankshaft pulley?

[usinjin]

Hello mafia!

Recently, I've been hearing a whining/grating sound on firm braking, and then again accelerating out of it. I pulled my bellypan off and found that the radiator assembly (I have the electric fan) has been pitching backwards against the crankshaft pulley and grinding the bottom plastic of the fan away. Also, it's pressing the coolant tank against a belt and is slowly sawing through the tank. Yikes! (The belt seems unscathed).

I can move the radiator + fan + coolant tank assembly by hand, it's not held very strongly. There's a plastic 50T torx fastener on top, which I attempted to tighten slightly, and promptly broke it :(

I can't for the life of me figure out what is missing on my radiator housing/what is loose and needs to be tightened. Is it worth it to purchase a new radiator, pull everything out of there, and do a fresh install? (I'm very tempted to).

Fun story, this is a radiator with probably 180k on it now, pulled out of a wrecked 325ci like 10 years ago..to replace the brand new one my ex-indy installed. He forgot to install the fan properly, which shredded my new one, and he kindly replaced my once-pristine brand new destroyed Nissens radiator with his old used one. Quite thoughtful of him.

Am I just missing some fasteners somewhere? Or should I just replace the radiator? (I have new expansion tank. I am not taking a chance on that one!!)

-Evan

[BMWCurves]

Is the radiator bracket broken? I can't remember how it slots in there, but there's a lot of plastic in there to hold everything in place, maybe something snapped?

[Oli77]

Something similar happened to me after I had a guy change my radiator (it was middle of winter and I couldn't deal with it). The guy did not clip the bottom of the radiator into the brackets. The whole assembly started moving backwards nearly touching the pulley.
I was pissed when I found out and took it back to him. He fixed it properly and I never returned to him.

[usinjin]

It's so hard to tell, but that seems like a good compromise before shelling out for a whole new radiator. Bought new left, right, and bottom support brackets.

[BMWCurves]

Might be worth just jacking up the front, removing the splash guard, and see what you can see from underneath of the radiator?

[Oli77]

yes, better look from underneath to see if you can lift it into the brackets. Are your brackets broken?

[GeorgeH]

Sounds like something isn't installed right as once its in place its fairly solid.

Got pics?

[usinjin]

Finally had time to pull it apart again.

Looks like it isn't properly connected on the right side. Also, is the bottom part missing?

Next weekend's work will be to replace rad brackets on all sides and attach it properly.

Also, M56 valve cover swap. :hooray:

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[Pilot05]

Next weekend's work will be to replace rad brackets on all sides and attach it properly.

Also, M50 valve cover swap. :hooray:


Do you mean the M56 Valve cover swap?

Also you might consider picking up a good-quality spare radiator...I think you are on borrowed time with the one you have...

[GeorgeH]

You might be able to just refit the radiator in the brackets as it looks like it has popped out of that lower mount.

And yes you are also missing the lower bracket.

[usinjin]

Do you mean the M56 Valve cover swap?

Also you might consider picking up a good-quality spare radiator...I think you are on borrowed time with the one you have...

Yes, whoops! Good catch.

Agreed on the radiator bit as well. I think I might replace this one now and keep it as the spare...

[Oli77]

I agree that there is something wrong, the bottom of the radiator does not dangle like that from the bottom of the car.
I don't remember what it looks like from underneath (where you took your pictures from), but it ain't right. Stuff is missing.

[GeorgeH]

There is a "tab" on the bottom of the radiator (red) and it should sit in a groove on the mount (blue).

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51910606211_4d82173a7d_4k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2n6aqFV)