Radiator replacement instructions?

[Jim540i]

Just got my Behr radiator from radiator.com in today for the 540i. Looks like a simple job but I need good instructions cause I'll take something off and forget to put back or something of the like... Seached extensively thru the archives but found nothing really useful. Does anyone have any links or ?

Thanks a bunch.

Jim
94 540i

[George M]

best advice I can provide is purchase replacement top clips prior to changing the rad.
The old clips break easily upon removal or install.
Good Luck,
George

[tnsguy]

Jim,
Definitely buy new clips. Here is a link to some info on replacing them
http://www.nmia.com/~dgnrg/page_30.htm
When I did mine, it was basically:

1. remove fan shroud (two fasteners at top of shroud)
2. remove hoses
3. remove two clips holding radiator
4. lift radiator out

The radiator sits on two rubber pads that can come out. Make sure they are in place when you put the new radiator in.

Hope that helps.

Just got my Behr radiator from radiator.com in today for the 540i. Looks like a simple job but I need good instructions cause I'll take something off and forget to put back or something of the like... Seached extensively thru the archives but found nothing really useful. Does anyone have any links or ?

Thanks a bunch.

Jim
94 540i

[black_bird_blue]

I'll second the advice to buy new clips, you're bound to break them getting them off (they lose elasticity with age) and cost only pennies. It's remarkably easy, as everyone else has mentioned. The only wrinkle with mine was trying to work out how to get off the small one-use-only clip from the secondary water pump return run.

Some people will tell you you need to take off the engine-mounted fan but mine came out with that in place after some manoeuvring of the fan shroud.

Putting the rad back I had to shove surprisingly hard to get the new clips to engage, but it worked ok once I realised I needed to hold up the upper tab on the clip (it will make sense when you're doing it).

Damian