E30 M40 Mysterious Pipes

[Vinu Chandrakumar 7]

Hi all, 

Have found myself another E30 after a few years of not owning one, my first 4 cylinder.

Can anyone help me out and tell me what these pipes are: 

   

Also seems like my cooling system is from an M20, Does anyone have an M40 radiator lying around. 

Great to be back on the forums, thanks in advance.

Vinu

Edited March 9, 2022 by Vinu Chandrakumar

[Palazzo 477]

Aren’t they the heater pipes from memory?

[Vinu Chandrakumar 7]

1 hour ago, Palazzo said:

Aren’t they the heater pipes from memory?

Yep, just checked if my heater works. It doesn't.

Edited March 9, 2022 by Vinu Chandrakumar

[aja540i 1906]

There's a good chance your heater has a leak and a previous owner couldn't be bothered taking the dash out!

[Eagle 1662]

Hard to see where the hose goes as its covered, but it looks to have been bypassed probably due to heater core leak

[BM WORLD 1283]

have heater core and valve if needed

[Vinu Chandrakumar 7]

16 hours ago, aja540i said:

There's a good chance your heater has a leak and a previous owner couldn't be bothered taking the dash out!

Does it require taking the whole dash out? That's gonna be fun. 

[Vinu Chandrakumar 7]

 

11 hours ago, BM WORLD said:

have heater core and valve if needed

Good to know, how much will it run me? 

[325iRod 135]

Here's a pretty good diy video for heater core

 

[Olaf 3317]

9 hours ago, Vinu Chandrakumar said:

Does it require taking the whole dash out? That's gonna be fun. 

No.  It's a somewhat shitty job.  Remove glovebox, remove centre console, unbolt brake booster etc.  Install a new heater core, you don't want to do that again if a used part fails!

I got new OEM M40 radiator from Abel Smith Radiators in Wellington.  It's been in 3 years and 4 months, trouble-free.  Be sure to get Genuine BMW Coolant and some deionised water.

 

PS - you'll want to check out (and perhaps replace) your thermostat, clear the bleed bolt etc, perhaps new bolts.  Disconnected rotted heater may indicate some cooling system neglect.

Edited March 10, 2022 by Olaf
added postscript

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

Unless you’re going to replace all of it.. core pipe, matrix, hoses, etc. I would plumb it back in to find exactly what is leaking, and where from.

I thought I was staring down the barrel of pulling it all out when at the last minute I found the leak was from one of the pipes coming through the firewall (those ends sticking out corrode and don’t seal against the rubber hose). Cleaned it up with sand paper a bit of sealant for good measure and was all good.

It helps that coolant is bright green so you can see it easier!

[nick496 268]

Yeah, I'd go with Jon's advise on testing where the leak is coming from.

I'd add to his notes, that it's worth removing the center console, and glovebox, and putting down some towels to try catch whatever comes out

 

Hopefully it's just a dribble, and you don't end up with something like so

[KwS 2425]

Even better is to borrow/buy a pressure tester and pressure test the heater core with just plain water in it. 

[Vinu Chandrakumar 7]

On 3/10/2022 at 9:20 PM, 325iRod said:

Here's a pretty good diy video for heater core

 

 

16 hours ago, Olaf said:

No.  It's a somewhat shitty job.  Remove glovebox, remove centre console, unbolt brake booster etc.  Install a new heater core, you don't want to do that again if a used part fails!

I got new OEM M40 radiator from Abel Smith Radiators in Wellington.  It's been in 3 years and 4 months, trouble-free.  Be sure to get Genuine BMW Coolant and some deionised water.

 

PS - you'll want to check out (and perhaps replace) your thermostat, clear the bleed bolt etc, perhaps new bolts.  Disconnected rotted heater may indicate some cooling system neglect.

 

13 hours ago, E30 325i Rag-Top said:

Unless you’re going to replace all of it.. core pipe, matrix, hoses, etc. I would plumb it back in to find exactly what is leaking, and where from.

I thought I was staring down the barrel of pulling it all out when at the last minute I found the leak was from one of the pipes coming through the firewall (those ends sticking out corrode and don’t seal against the rubber hose). Cleaned it up with sand paper a bit of sealant for good measure and was all good.

It helps that coolant is bright green so you can see it easier!

 

4 hours ago, nick496 said:

Yeah, I'd go with Jon's advise on testing where the leak is coming from.

I'd add to his notes, that it's worth removing the center console, and glovebox, and putting down some towels to try catch whatever comes out

 

Hopefully it's just a dribble, and you don't end up with something like so

 

4 hours ago, KwS said:

Even better is to borrow/buy a pressure tester and pressure test the heater core with just plain water in it. 

Thanks for all the tips guys have sorted the correct radiator, new too. Gonna plumb everything back up and find out where my leak is actually coming from, then get to either replacing or fixing the necessary parts.