Aluminum Radiator replacement

[Great Shark]

Tired of playing "Russian Roulette" with you plastic radiator? I know many of us are looking for a decent all aluminum replacement. Here is the latest from one potential supplier.

My e-mail inquery to Griffin Radiators:

Hello Bill, I was interested in replacing my current plastic radiator with
one of your aluminum radiators. Do you have one that will fit my (E38)
1997 BMW 740iL?

If you have such a product please let me know. If not would you
consider building some? I know of many other E38 BMW owners who would
be interested in purchasing the same as our plastic radiators are
failing.

Thank you for you time,

Bob

Griffins reply to me:

Bob,

We are in the process of expanding our offering to include certain BMW
radiators. Thank you for your email and I will be calling you within the
next few days.

Thanks again,
Bill Parker
Griffin Thermal Products
Direct Line: (864) 845-1072

Take a look at their website: Griffin radiators
Or contact them directly and express your interest: bparker@griffinrad.com
Who knows, it may help speed up the development of an affordable replacement E38 aluminum radiator.:

[johngoga]

I am very interested. BMW radiators (BEHR) SUCK... Big time. Horrible supplier for BMW. I was just looking at my Audi A8 last night and has an all aluminum radiator.

John

[Great Shark]

Originally posted by johngoga
I am very interested. BMW radiators (BEHR) SUCK... Big time. Horrible supplier for BMW. I was just looking at my Audi A8 last night and has an all aluminum radiator.

John

Hey John..... fire these guys an e-mail stating what you just wrote above. If Griffin knows there are a bunch of us willing to buy from them when they produce the product, they may speed up the development. bparker@griffinrad.com

[FlyingHigh]

Great work, Bob. Let us know if they come through.

[johngoga]

I just E-mailed them. We need to get a bunch of E38 owners to E-mail them.


John

[Diver]

I have emailed as well - Copy below

There are quite a few BMW e38 owners that are very dissatisfied with the plastic OEM radiator. Many have replaced them once and have no option but to sit on a ticking time bomb waiting for the new one to break as well. I understand you are looking at offering an aluminum replacement. I strongly encourage you to do so.

Let's go guys.

[scobee]

I remember a thread where a call to a VAC phone rep,(Randy, perhaps?), could get you an aluminium radiator to fit an M62 block in the E 38 chassis. I can't find this at the moment, but there have also been discussions about other BMW models using aluminium radiators costing around $400-$500. I was under the impression that this was available now.

That's a little pricey, but as someone else has said, peace of mind is worth something. As opposed to plastic-necked radiators which are worth less than nothing...eventually.

[Great Shark]

I too remember something about VAC having one. In fact Simeon has one in his car. My only problem with all this "valuable" information we pass on these boards is pulling it all together when *I* need it. Anyone have a line on the VAC radiator availability and pricing????

[AutoPilot]

I too could not call this up. I called radiator.com about 6 months ago, but they do not have one with an aluminum 'filler neck' as it is called. Both BeCool and Griffin only make 'racing radiators' which require some unspoken mod when I asked about the E38.

My Jeep Grand Cherokee is one year older than my '97 E38 and has 115,000 miles without a problem. It too has a plastic filler neck. My GM cars have aluminum filler necks.

Places like radiator.com give 'lifetime guarantees’ because the odds are in their favor. Odds are you are replacing the component near the end of your ownership anyway. That is to say, most people do not keep their car much beyond 100,000. Worst case for them is to honor the pledge once.

My current project is to get a compass mirror installed.
This is a DIY project.

I cannot believe, out of all of the Bells and Whistles in this car there is no compass.

No one wants to touch that one either.
Since an adapter is not available I thought to install it during a windshield replacement.
That, or I will made one on my milling machine.
Vendors are: Magna Donnelly Corporation, & Vision View Mirror.
There are plenty on ebay and in the Junk Yards but I need to make sure about the electrical hookup. So far, looks like 3 wires, I need to take the OEM mirror off and look at it.

The BMW manual would lead you to believe that the car would blowup if you 'cut the wrong wire'. I’m not scared.

That is my other project. I have resigned myself to the idea that a 7-10 year windshield replacement is routine maintenance. I drive my cars often and they get pitted, chipped and cracked.

And the final loose end is the Service Manual from Bentley. They are still claiming this Spring ['04]. TIS and ETK are doing fine but I would like some better wring diagrams. The ones on the Russian site are schematics, which are very helpful but they are lacking in some respects.

http://www.autolib.diakom.ru:8001/CA...NG%20DIAGRAMS/


God I love this car. I really mean it.

There’s my bla bla bla for the day. Take Care.

[Trnsprtr]

Originally posted by AutoPilot
My current project is to get a compass mirror installed.
This is a DIY project.

Did you see my EBA post? Compass mirror looks awfully easy to install.

[Bimmerhead]

Guys,

The word I'm getting is that VAC is currently working with Griffin on all aluminum radiators for the E38.
Apparently the guys at Griffin were not aware that the other guys at Griffin were already working on the E38 rad w/ Tony.
Rumor has it that finished product for VAC is @ 2 months away...

Stay tuned...


Cheers

[Great Shark]

Originally posted by Bimmerhead
Guys,

The word I'm getting is that VAC is currently working with Griffin on all aluminum radiators for the E38.
Rumor has it that finished product for VAC is @ 2 months away...

Stay tuned...


Cheers

2 months???? Hurry please!

That's 6o days of driving in this Russian Roulette machine....

[johngoga]

I agree......





John

[Reed Hunt]

Interest here, too.

I remember the VAC radiator discussion from RF and sort of recall a price of more like $500-$600...

Let's hope that would drop a couple of bills if we could generate sufficient interest...

-Reed

(I will email Griffin, too)

[johngoga]

They just E-mailed me back and this is what they told me.
"John

Within the next couple months we will be selling radiators thru VAC
Motorsports located in Philadelphia, PA.

Thanks,
Bill Parker
Griffin Thermal Products"


John

[Great Shark]

Originally posted by johngoga
They just E-mailed me back and this is what they told me.
"John

Within the next couple months we will be selling radiators thru VAC
Motorsports located in Philadelphia, PA.

Thanks,
Bill Parker
Griffin Thermal Products"


John

Yeah!!!! :

The key words here are "we will be selling." This sounds like a green light for production. I wonder if they will do an expansion tank too? I forgot to ask.....

[Reed Hunt]

OK, this begs the question.

Is there any DOWNSIDE to aluminum radiators, besides the price?

[johngoga]

I was sitting here and thinking exactly the same thing. Simeon might be able to answer this one for us.


John

[johngoga]

The following E-mail was between myself and Bil Parker from Griffin.

You have to start at the bottom.



Absolutely!

Bill


-----Original Message-----
From: John Goga Photography [mailto:jgoga@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 1:34 PM
To: Bill Parker
Subject: RE: E38, 1997 BMW 740IL Radiator.

Will you build them if we get enough owners to purchase them?

John

-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Parker [mailto:BParker@griffinrad.com]
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 1:23 PM
To: 'John Goga Photography'
Subject: RE: E38, 1997 BMW 740IL Radiator.


John,

It will be a direct bolt-in and we do have the capability to build
expansion tanks.

Bill


-----Original Message-----
From: John Goga Photography [mailto:jgoga@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 1:19 PM
To: Bill Parker
Subject: RE: E38, 1997 BMW 740IL Radiator.

Will it be a direct bolt on? Also will you guys also make a expansion
tank?


John


So there, if we get enough people interested in the expansion tanks they will also make one.

John

[Great Shark]

John....Thank you for following up on the expansion tank. I do not know why anyone would upgrade the radiator and NOT the expansion tank as well?

Lets keep the e-mails going to Griffin supporting the radiator AND expansion tank! E-mail Bill at: bparker@griffinrad.com

[Reed Hunt]

I also asked about pricing, and just heard back from Bill that radiator pricing should be available in about two weeks.

[ELIBEEMER]

Alluminum Radiator would be sweet!

Anyone know if the unit would have an alluminum Shroud?

Any thoughts on installing electric fans for better cooling?

My Radiator has been trouble free since I have owned my E38, but I know it will give out someday.

I have done some prior research and was considering a custom made set up....

This vendor has made radiators for West Coast Choppers and some of the Winston Cup Racers....

http://www.rondavisradiators.com/

A custom unit was priced around 700.00 bucks.

Awaiting info on the Griffin/VAC and hoping that my radiator will
give me a couple more months...

Assuming that the VAC unit will have provision for sensors similar
to our current set up.

Count me in on one!

[johngoga]

Originally posted by ELIBEEMER
Alluminum Radiator would be sweet!

Anyone know if the unit would have an alluminum Shroud?

Any thoughts on installing electric fans for better cooling?

My Radiator has been trouble free since I have owned my E38, but I know it will give out someday.

I have done some prior research and was considering a custom made set up....

This vendor has made radiators for West Coast Choppers and some of the Winston Cup Racers....

http://www.rondavisradiators.com/

A custom unit was priced around 700.00 bucks.

Awaiting info on the Griffin/VAC and hoping that my radiator will
give me a couple more months...

Assuming that the VAC unit will have provision for sensors similar
to our current set up.

Count me in on one!

I E-mailed Griffin/VAC and they assured me it will be a direct bold on. E-mail them so we can show we have a lot of interest. Also tell them you are also interested in the cool expansion tank in alluminum.

bparker@griffinrad.com


John

[Beastmaster]

Originally posted by ELIBEEMER


Any thoughts on installing electric fans for better cooling?

I have seriously thought about putting in a large Spal fan into my 740iL and getting rid of the thermally coupled fan attached to the engine.

I have Spal's installed in my H1 for additional cooling for both my radiator and A/C stack, and love the performance (especially on the A/C side in the Arizona summers!).

In general, I've had good success with Spal and Flex-A-Lite.

I would like to know the CFM rating of the current fan, however. This would help in matching up an equivalent electric.

[Beastmaster]

On another note - I just sent Bill Parker a message. I got a reply back in 5 minutes. Taking into account the lag of sending a message from Phoenix, bouncing it around the internet (however our various ISP's route things), and back to Griffin, 5 minutes is very quick.

I'm very impressed.