RADIATOR REMOVAL

[GRIFFONMARK]

Whilst I have been coaxing my Tasminger back into life, I noticed the next problem to rear its ugly head. A slight water leak from the nearside front corner underneath where I suspect the radiator hides. I can't get to see anything from above, but I think it's probably a leaking radiator. Can anyone give me advice how to gain access and remove it? Luckily, I have a superb rad specialist just down the road who seems able to fix anything cheaply so while I'm messing in that area I might as well have it recored.

Regards

Mark

[grahamw48]

Ooooh dear.

Only taken one out of a S1 280, which takes about 4 minutes.

Yours/ours is a bit more inaccessible I believe. Someone will be along shortly.

Try a search. It's been asked before.

[pwd95]

Did the Rad on my old 350/450..........

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Access aint that bad once you've whipped the spoiler off. Four bolts on mine.

It's basically a Range Rover jobbie with some modified pipes.

[djc1001]

Hi Mark,
Drops out underside - best (only?) access to the 2 bolts per side is by removing pods.
The otter switch in the rad is nearside, towards top - the rubber bung may be leaking?

r's
David

[jmorgan]

350 0r 400?

Either way might be worth having a look under first to see if its a pipe or join, water can travel. Also water picked up and pooling somewhere from a drive letting out. Had the 400 one out a few times and the bonnet off certainly helped (well, I thought so). Rad out the bottom, two bolts holding it in at the top and the bottom has two thick pins that locate into the base of the bracket.

[Jonny weggie]

Mark, worked on my 350i,front spoiler has 1 hole either side with 2 nuts either side holding it on.[unplug fog lights]. Once off you'll be able to see bottom of rad, if taken rad out there are side brackets your better slacken them off first before you lift then angle it out carefully. Check to see if you have copper wire going into the top entry where the rubber hose go's in, be carefull [it might be leeking there].
Good luck.

[GRIFFONMARK]

Thanks for all the advice, I'll have a go next weekend if I can escape her indoors.

[GRIFFONMARK]

Hi, the wife has given me permission so I've dived underneath and I can't see anything holding the front spoiler on. There is a 15cm dia hole cut out of the body directly beloe the headlamp pod and I think there may be a nut in there which could hold the spoiler on but I can't find a bolthead on the spoiler. Unless it's hidden in the channel at the outer extremes of the spoiler, or bonded in? Where are these elusive 4 bolts?

Regards

Mark

[djc1001]

GRIFFONMARK said:

Hi, the wife has given me permission so I've dived underneath and I can't see anything holding the front spoiler on. There is a 15cm dia hole cut out of the body directly beloe the headlamp pod and I think there may be a nut in there which could hold the spoiler on but I can't find a bolthead on the spoiler. Unless it's hidden in the channel at the outer extremes of the spoiler, or bonded in? Where are these elusive 4 bolts?

Regards

Mark

Hi Mark
Mine was held by 4 studs pop riveted to the spoiler so you don't see any bolt heads from underside. 2 at rear near wheel arch and 2 into bottom of pod.

r's
David

[GRIFFONMARK]

Hi david, thanks for the quick response. I see what you mean now. Looks like I have to take the pods off to get at the front nuts. How do you get the pods out? Next problem, with all my messing about underneath I must have messed up something because the nearside pod doesn't lift any more, but it did last weekend! Oh, and the offside headlamp flickers on and off if I stick my hand around the back of the spoiler. Now, where is that gallon of petrol and box of matches......

[pwd95]

Here's a pic of my bolt positions. (click to enlarge)

[pwd95]

No messing about with pods needed.

[Poledriver]

I was just going to say, but now you c an see from the picture, you don't need to remove the pods, all bolts are accesible. It does help if you can turn your wrists through 360 degrees though!

[GRIFFONMARK]

Thanks for that, I've put the matches away and I'll have another go.

[Jonny weggie]

GRIFFONMARK said:

Hi, the wife has given me permission so I've dived underneath and I can't see anything holding the front spoiler on. There is a 15cm dia hole cut out of the body directly beloe the headlamp pod and I think there may be a nut in there which could hold the spoiler on but I can't find a bolthead on the spoiler. Unless it's hidden in the channel at the outer extremes of the spoiler, or bonded in? Where are these elusive 4 bolts?

Regards

Mark

Hi Mark,
Been on holiday,just back,if still have problems drop me your mobi no, sometimes it's easy talking 1 to 1.

[GRIFFONMARK]

Hi Jonny, thanks for your kind offer but I have finally managed to remove the radiator. The bolts were quite easy to get to once I realised you need to raise the headlamp pods by turning the lights on! Getting the rad out was fairly easy after the spoiler was removed. Taking the bonnet off also makes the job much easier. What a shock when the rad finally dropped out! The cooling fins had virtually all disappeared and the coolant pipework was just flopping about. I'm awaiting return of the rad from recoring which will involve additional fins being fitted. Regards, Mark