350i rad hoses top and bottom.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Just wondering...I might have to change my rad as there was a small leak earlier for the first time..Maybe time to fit the alloy rad with twin kenlowes..But first I'm going to see if its the clips that are loose as there is some limescale on the fittings top and bottom and some under them..If it is just a case of loose clips then I'm going to flush and replace the coolant and change the hoses as i want to also fit a temperature faucet switch to control the fan as i only have a manual override switch at the moment....So i was looking at the top and bottom radiator hoses as suggested on the "Wedge parts " page..Obviously they are cut and the joiners/Swan neck put in..But just reiterate are they the right ones?....

Thanks...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks Adam...I did find that part with that number..I take it the steel joiner is cut in about where the label is?..I have a new bit as the old is pretty rusty but will need to also put the thermo faucet in the hot side of the system...I was thinking of matching the top hose with some silicone and HT painting the swan neck...Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Well the leak has magically stopped...Well i say leak it was only about an egg cup after cooling down..Its done it twice now and one was after around a 40 mile trip and the other was after i warmed it up the other day and turned it off..I have used it since and there is no sign of anything...Has anyone else had this...Im a bit worried now about going too far in case the rad does give out..Normally if the rad is going it will go...
Im trying to get all the bits that i need as i might just change it for the alloy one i bought at the fest...Now do the hoses listed on the "Wedge part" page fit minus the splicing for the swan neck and O/S steel joiner?...Cheers..Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

adam quantrill said:

Where do you think it's leaking from - the corner of the rad, or an elbow maybe?

I have had small rad weeps from the corner that took many months to slowly get worse.

But if it's the joining elbow that could snap off without warning. Take some liquid metal and a few large jubilee clips in your boot just in case. I had an elbow snap off, liquid metalled it back on at the roadside, and it lasted another week or two before I could replace the rad.

Hi Adam....Not sure is the honest answer...As i said it was just an egg cup full and its only happened twice and not since....I have checked the outlets and fittings and they are as dry as a bone even though there is some limescale on them, Both corners looked a bit sweaty so it could be in the middle somewhere...
I have this rad and hopefully it will fit...Its the one i bought from the fest that was in the Silver machine...Cheddars old car.

Upside down.


The right way up...


As you can see the O/S outlet is not angled and there is no top overflow which means i will have to blank something off.

I would of felt better getting the old one recored which i might still do and then sell this one....Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Andy....Thanks for the info....
Chris...Its definitely coolant mate, When i warmed it up the other day it was a dry day..I don't wash my car...So the egg cup full was definitely from the rad...Somewhere!..I checked all the clips and felt around the connections and none of that was faulty...It just seems to be a very small amount and a bit sporadic ...There is no over heating and no steam which is really weird..I think i would be better getting the old one recored and selling on the alloy one...

No-one has answered my question as regards to the rad pipes being the right ones yet?.....Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Here is my Wedges cooling system layout...The alloy rad is missing the top O/S outlet that is going to the bottom of the expansion tank via a reducer..So will have to be re-routed but I'm not sure how?..Any ideas please...Thanks...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks Adam...I do have some reducers with the solder ring on but my thinking was to perhaps run the bottom outlet of the expansion tank to the water pump where the right hand outlet on the expansion tank is now and then blank off the left hand expansion tank top inlet?....The swan neck will be the highest pout to relieve any trapped air...Would this work?...

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps...Well i had a measure up of the alloy rad against mine and it looks like its not going to fit!...Mine is 27" long (Core only) and 15.5" high...The side mountings are 5" from the top...The alloy one is 25" long (Core only) and 12" high, The side mounting is 6" from the top...I have tried to find out what the alloy one was from but had no reply so i can't even sell it to offset the cost of having mine recored.
Looks like my Wedge will be not going anywhere soon!.....

[mrzigazaga]

Wow...Thanks Glen...Thats shed some light on it...By the looks of it there would be some major fabbing to make fit...Not something i want to do...I think its a case of trying to sell it and getting mine refurbed..I have been quoted £249 + VAT from the usual guy that i use..Extortionate comes to mind...Berkshire rads quoted me £180 but i would have to take it to them and collect...Its a shame i dont know what car the alloy one is for as it would help me sell it...But at this moment in time its scrap!...I might see if the guy i normally use will take it in part ex...Cheers...Ziga

[mrzigazaga]

gmw9666 said:

Reading chedders thread it looks like a cossy rad......

Bang on mate....

Thing is they are either in the £200 bracket or the £1,000..Mine looks like the latter but i doubt it...But with the fans its got to be worth £150....All day long.

Cheers for the info mate....Ziga