How are things there in Baghdad? Hope you're seeing improvements in all respects.
I can't really give you any advise on handling the sand there, I supose a new radiator would be appropriate (depending on milage and what all might be embeded in the darn thing), and making sure you don't have plastic impellers on your M50 water pump (if you end up with one of those models). Also, BMW coolant is the best I undserstand because of appropriate additives they use specific to their cars. Hope all goes well, and maybe post a pic of an E34 in front of something cool and recognizable there in Baghdad!