E21 323i Aluminum Radiator Options?

[Poon]

I'm half way through an M20 swap in my 2002, and I will be using a 323i E21 radiator, which is the most commonly used rad.

Does anyone make an aftermarket aluminum radiator for the E21 323i? So far I have not been able to find anything online. I have a feeling I'm going to have to fork out big $$$ and have a radiator custom made locally.

[lasvegascop]

eBay ..... That's where I got mine for the M20

[hdx]

I bought one from Maximillian Importing for my M20 powered 2002 . I payed
something like 335.00 for it , kind of expensive but It works good and is
light. The speedway aluminum universal for a ford could work 22" x 19" but
you will need to do some more cutting to the car to fit it and it's kind of heavy.

[jimjim69]

A little over the top.

[BruceH]

$600 exact fit custom made from Griffin in NC. They have the pattern on file. My 323 rad was used as the master. Expensive but worth it. Attached pic before polishing. Exact fit.

[midlifebmw]

BruceH,
Do you notice a better cooling capacity with that aluminum rad??
Inquiring minds want to know....

[lasvegascop]

I just ran mine up the hill in a 110 Deg weather and she didnt pass half mark!! Love my alum rad dual core!









Maybe I should've lowered it a bit, but FYI, I had to notch my hood a bit due to the hump....

This rad was basically under $130 shipped, here is the link if ya interested??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/88-91-BMW-E3...2ebff7&vxp=mtr

$600 exact fit custom made from Griffin in NC. They have the pattern on file. My 323 rad was used as the master. Expensive but worth it. Attached pic before polishing. Exact fit.

Ok...I like your temp switch....do you remember wjat it is and where you got it??? Let me know please? Personally I drove my car in some pretty good heat and didnt need the electronic fan yet, but you never know?

Thnx for any info

[BruceH]

BruceH,
Do you notice a better cooling capacity with that aluminum rad??
Inquiring minds want to know....

Absolutely. I wanted a triple core and then engineers at Griffen talked me out of it. They used a single row of very broad but thin elliptical tube. Their argument was that you get better air flow thru the rad this way, no stalling air.

The temp switch is from Hayden. You set the on point, soft start. Nice unit.

[midlifebmw]

I just ran mine up the hill in a 110 Deg weather and she didnt pass half mark!! Love my alum rad dual core!









Maybe I should've lowered it a bit, but FYI, I had to notch my hood a bit due to the hump....


Thnx for any info

Looks like you have to do some hose hijinks to get the lower hose back over to the other side...

[vtbimmer]

Bumping the thread for two reasons:
A: I want to thank Bruce for your post about the Griffin radiator. I remember years ago reading a thread in which you had mentioned a custom built direct fit radiator from what I thought was Griffin but now that I am in the process of a M20 swap I couldnt remember for sure and Griffin does not list it on their sight.
B: Where in the world can I find the radiator hoses??? I would like silicone hoses but right now I would settle for OEM. Is a dealer part from RealOEM and a wait from the fatherland the only option or is there anything stateside?

[dumbclub]

$600 exact fit custom made from Griffin in NC. They have the pattern on file. My 323 rad was used as the master. Expensive but worth it.

Griffin Thermal Products
Piedmont, SC
http://www.griffinrad.com/index.cfm

They are located on the southwest edge of Greenville, SC - very close to the BMW Manufacturing plant.

[BruceH]

Griffin is fairly small, they have the engineering drawings under my name. Still happy with the product. Good people.

[vtbimmer]

Griffin is fairly small, they have the engineering drawings under my name. Still happy with the product. Good people.

So I just recieved a email back from Griffin on my inquiry. He says they dont have anything. Not sure if he even read my email or just looked at the car make and model I put in the email. I didnt drop your name but I did say that someone had one made and the drawings should be on file. :-( Took 4 days to come back with that.

[BruceH]

So I just recieved a email back from Griffin on my inquiry. He says they dont have anything. Not sure if he even read my email or just looked at the car make and model I put in the email. I didnt drop your name but I did say that someone had one made and the drawings should be on file. :-( Took 4 days to come back with that.

Contact Patrick at pdurham@griffinrad.com . He was my contact. Drop my name as the file is under Herstowski.

[vtbimmer]

Contact Patrick at pdurham@griffinrad.com . He was my contact. Drop my name as the file is under Herstowski.

I will try that. Thanks a million!

[vtbimmer]

Well I have had no luck. Patrick says they have nothing on file under your name for that radiator. They keep telling me to send mine in so they can make one. Well thats great and all except I DONT HAVE ONE!!! This is getting frustrating. I really dont want to cut anything on my car to make a universal one fit and I dont see the point of spending $350 on a stock 323 radiator. Any chance you have your old one laying around that I might be able to pay you to send to them or something?

[BruceH]

Well I have had no luck. Patrick says they have nothing on file under your name for that radiator. They keep telling me to send mine in so they can make one. Well thats great and all except I DONT HAVE ONE!!! This is getting frustrating. I really dont want to cut anything on my car to make a universal one fit and I dont see the point of spending $350 on a stock 323 radiator. Any chance you have your old one laying around that I might be able to pay you to send to them or something?

No, my old radiator was good and given to another member. I'll call Patrick and ask WTF? I'm really disappointed in their handling of this as I know of other owners who plan to use their services. I'll also dig out the invoice for their work as might have some info.

[vtbimmer]

No, my old radiator was good and given to another member. I'll call Patrick and ask WTF? I'm really disappointed in their handling of this as I know of other owners who plan to use their services. I'll also dig out the invoice for their work as might have some info.

Thank you. Yeah, I have had this radiator in the back of my mind for several years. I was always happy to know you went with Griffin and had the rad fabbed up already, paving the way for easier builds for the next guys. This is not what I was expecting :-(

[sully32]

For what it's worth Griffin has a 4 cylinder drop in replacement on file too. I went the same route as Bruce, took them my radiator for a pattern and had a custom unit made. It has worked flawlessly with my 2.2 warmed over motor.



The folks at Griffin are easy to work with.

Cliffs: Griffin Radiator now has both 4 cyl and 6 cyl radiators on file.

-Shawn

[vtbimmer]

For what it's worth Griffin has a 4 cylinder drop in replacement on file too. I went the same route as Bruce, took them my radiator for a pattern and had a custom unit made. It has worked flawlessly with my 2.2 warmed over motor.



The folks at Griffin are easy to work with.

Cliffs: Griffin Radiator now has both 4 cyl and 6 cyl radiators on file.

-Shawn

Hey Shawn! Hope things are well.

Well thats interesting. You say they have a 6cyl on file and so does Bruce, but I have been shot down by two people at Griffin so far. My problem is I dont have a 323 radiator to send them or even access to one to get all of the measurments.

[BruceH]

Hey Shawn! Hope things are well.

Well thats interesting. You say they have a 6cyl on file and so does Bruce, but I have been shot down by two people at Griffin so far. My problem is I dont have a 323 radiator to send them or even access to one to get all of the measurments.

I'm on the East Coast this week w/o access to my receipts but they made manufacturing drawings of the new rad for the build.

[Jester323]

This is the same radiator I used in mine, I had a local TIG welder cut the cups off of the bottom & relocate the outlet to the other side, so I didn't need to make a dent in the underside of my hood and I could use OEM 323i hoses. Even after I paid for the modifications, it's still way less than a $600 radiator and works awesome!

I just ran mine up the hill in a 110 Deg weather and she didnt pass half mark!! Love my alum rad dual core!









Maybe I should've lowered it a bit, but FYI, I had to notch my hood a bit due to the hump....

This rad was basically under $130 shipped, here is the link if ya interested??

http://www.ebay.com/itm/88-91-BMW-E3...2ebff7&vxp=mtr




Ok...I like your temp switch....do you remember wjat it is and where you got it??? Let me know please? Personally I drove my car in some pretty good heat and didnt need the electronic fan yet, but you never know?

Thnx for any info

[JDB]

I have one of these radiators Jesse used, It is nice but it will not fit my car as well as his did.
That sucked cuse when I saw Jesse's car I thought that was the cats meow and very reasonable

I will sell it for $60.00 plus shipping. The bottom mounts are cut off and the top factory mount has been removed.

Brent I have the form with all the dimensions for the 323 radiator filled out to FAX to Griffin as I am trying to get a quote from them.
I will send this in and let you know what happens.
I did get a quote from Ron Davis...$800.00 plus shipping, they have the design but the top vent hose is cheesy as it is just a bent alum. tube without the nice bump in the top tank like the factory and Bruces tanks are.

Jeff

[vtbimmer]

I have one of these radiators Jesse used, It is nice but it will not fit my car as well as his did.
That sucked cuse when I saw Jesse's car I thought that was the cats meow and very reasonable

I will sell it for $60.00 plus shipping. The bottom mounts are cut off and the top factory mount has been removed.

Brent I have the form with all the dimensions for the 323 radiator filled out to FAX to Griffin as I am trying to get a quote from them.
I will send this in and let you know what happens.
I did get a quote from Ron Davis...$800.00 plus shipping, they have the design but the top vent hose is cheesy as it is just a bent alum. tube without the nice bump in the top tank like the factory and Bruces tanks are.

Jeff

Good to know, thank you. I am in less of a hurry as of today since I found out my head is no good. My simple swap just turned into a build....

[Bimmerevsalot]

Ron Davis Radiators has a drawing and builds a great radiator. I bought one in '09 - just before Bimmerfest. No hood notching neccessary...
100_4109.jpg
100_4113.jpg
100_4115.jpg