Heater core removal - does the heater box have to come off???

[cyclingches]

I just spent almost 2 hours removing the heater core out of a friend's parts car. It is the same style as mine and it's known good. As easy as it looks, held on only by 3 torx screws, we thought it was a piece of cake. We removed the water valve and upper outlet pipe, then when it comes to sliding the heater core out, it hits the steering column with only about a quarter to a third of the heater core out!! There was absolutely no way it could slide out without either removing the steering column or the heater box!! Well, since he is parting out the car, we ended up taking out the dash and the heater box. It wasn't all that bad, since it was a parts car. But I don't feel like taking everything out to replace my own car. Can someone please advice how or if the heater core can come out with minimal disassembly????

[SWISS]

I just spent almost 2 hours removing the heater core out of a friend's parts car. It is the same style as mine and it's known good. As easy as it looks, held on only by 3 torx screws, we thought it was a piece of cake. We removed the water valve and upper outlet pipe, then when it comes to sliding the heater core out, it hits the steering column with only about a quarter to a third of the heater core out!! There was absolutely no way it could slide out without either removing the steering column or the heater box!! Well, since he is parting out the car, we ended up taking out the dash and the heater box. It wasn't all that bad, since it was a parts car. But I don't feel like taking everything out to replace my own car. Can someone please advice how or if the heater core can come out with minimal disassembly????

I didn't have to remove the heater box or the column to do mine. YOu are gonna scuff it a little wiggling it in there but you will likely not hurt it. Mine is still going fine after more than a year later.
Also, these things are like little radiators, part plastic. You should really cough up the $80 and go new.

[cyclingches]

I didn't have to remove the heater box or the column to do mine. YOu are gonna scuff it a little wiggling it in there but you will likely not hurt it. Mine is still going fine after more than a year later.
Also, these things are like little radiators, part plastic. You should really cough up the $80 and go new.

Can you show me where you can get one for $80 new? I would go new if I can find out for sure what the problem is. No one seems to be able to help me with my other threads. I am not sure if it is the water valve, the heater core or what it is. The water valve itself isn't cheap either. I actually bought a new one but it was stolen out of my storage locker last week. If the heater can be taken out without removing the heater box like you said, it is an easy job. So if the heater ever fails again, it's not too hard to replace. For now, I need know how you can wiggle the thing out and in there!! The heater core protrudes maybe 1/3 at best before it hits the steering column, do you try to force it downwards?

[cyclingches]

I just spent an hour trying to remove mine without taking the heater box out. You must be a genius or your heater core did yoga.

I took some photos to show how much the heater core sticks out and in comparison how much has to come out:

[DwardF]

From BMW factory manual:
heater core.jpg
Do you have the rear outlet?

[cyclingches]

Can you see the first picture? It is as far as it can come out.

[cyclingches]

You know none of these manuals (Bently, Haynes) describe the process of removing heater cores with plastic inlet pipes. I am beginning to think the ones with plastic pipes are positioned different and are wider and longer!!! See the two different pictures on realoem.com They use completely different style heater boxes too:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...21&hg=64&fg=15

Mine has the kind at the bottom. There is absolutely no way to take the heater core out without dropping the heater box or removing the steering column.

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...%3Den%26sa%3DN

How can you remove the steering column?? The bolts that hold the steering column can not be removed. Or is there an easier way to get my heater core out???

[cyclingches]

Definitely different sizes:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Heater-Core-Behr-E30-318-325-M3-3621_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33548QQihZ019QQite mZ290025826569QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V#ebayphotohos ting

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-Heater-Core-Behr-E30-318-325-M3-3631_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33548QQihZ019QQite mZ290025823308QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWD1V

[SWISS]

LOL

Mine is an 89 and looks like the second one. May as well replace the dash if it's cracked since that will be coming out.
Isn't there two bolt holding the column to the metal support ? If so swing the column down maybe and get the clearance needed.

[cyclingches]

I don't feel like ripping everything out. I can't believe I have "the other kind" of heater core. I think the e30s without AC has the kind I have. My friends '90 318i convertible has the same kind, which is where I got the replacement core from. Believe me, I tried everything before we decided to rip out the dash and the heater box.

The 2 bolt you are talking about have been ground off from the factory so there is no way of gripping them. I am thinking about grinding them off and replace them with regular bolts, and if the column swings down like you said I'll be on top of the moon. Can someone confirm??

[cyclingches]

I feel like just cutting out the heater box glue it back together afterwards!!

[cyclingches]

Am I the only one that has ever encountered this problem???

[Greglatta]

Sorry for the jack, butwhen my fan is on 1-3 it makes a squeak noise, its probably the most annoying thing ever. I think its the bearing? any ideas?

Since I hijacked the thread a tad I will take a look at the heater core, and take a few pictures and also look to see if I can move my steering shaft and get back to you!

[cyclingches]

Sounds like it is your blower motor. I don't believe you can replace the bearings unless you can take apart the motor. Maybe you could try to spray some lube on it. Very easy to get to the motor, pop the hood, take off the centre panel and you will see it.

[Greglatta]

Cool thanks, I will take a look at the steering shaft to see if I can move it for ya!

[cyclingches]

Cool thanks, I will take a look at the steering shaft to see if I can move it for ya!

Thanks! I plan to attempt replacing the heater core again this weekend, hopefully by then I'll hear from someone who's done this before.

[cyclingches]

ahhhhhhhhh.....HEAT!!!!

[SWISS]

ahhhhhhhhh.....HEAT!!!!

ok so what did you do? cut bolts, remove dash??

[cyclingches]

C-section!!

Not pretty, but I'll post pictures later. I need to have some lunch now....

[cyclingches]

I wasn't going to rip out the dash and removing the steering column is just iffy. So this is what I did:

Took the console out, removed the duct and connector, undid the hoses, loosened the pipes, removed the 3 screws holding the heater core. I tried to look for a way to get it out once more but it's hopeless.


So I did this:






The plastic is real thin and was very easy to cut with a hacksaw blade. I thought I had got it but there was another layer that guides the core so had to cut it too:


Easy, so out comes the core!




Then I simply put the good core in, and bolted everything down. Started the car, made sure it works and no leaks. Got new O-rings for the pipes to core.


I used seam sealer to seal all the gaps, and used aluminum tape to cover everything.



I put everything back on, she still looks good to me:



Yes, it's a hack job but it's not a show car. I am so glad to have heat in the car!!

[Wolf08]

I wish mine would be as easy as yours was. I have the dash out now.

Mine has AC. So it looks like I will have to discharge my ac to remove that to get to the heater core.

[reelizmpro]

OMG, what a nightmare. i dont blame you for chopping the box to get it out. You may be right about the AC cars because virtually all E30's in the US had AC and the other style core. Changing it is as easy as disconnecting the pipes and just sliding it out.

[84318i]

Lol at cutting the box ! When I read your first post, I automatically looked at your avatar to check location. I've only seen this kind on cars w/o AC.

Can you do me a HUGE favor and verify if your car has a cabin filter?

[cyclingches]

I wish mine would be as easy as yours was. I have the dash out now.

Mine has AC. So it looks like I will have to discharge my ac to remove that to get to the heater core.

If you have AC, you have it easy. The heater core will slide out.

Lol at cutting the box ! When I read your first post, I automatically looked at your avatar to check location. I've only seen this kind on cars w/o AC.

Can you do me a HUGE favor and verify if your car has a cabin filter?

It didn't have a cabin filter, at least I didn't notice one.

[reelizmpro]

This is the first time seeing detailed pictures of the non AC style setup and the reason why it's hard is because it's much farther back (closer to firewall) than the other style. The entire heater box is different. With the other style the box is right behind that dash brace and floor duct so it doesn't hit the steering column.