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1979 e12 Radiator
Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 2:12 pm
by Andy Antipas
Hi Folks,
The plastic tanks on my 1979 e12 are leaking and I'm need of a new radiator. Google searches have not produced any good leads. What have members been doing for replacement radiators?
Thank you,
Andy Antipas
Durango, CO
Re: 1979 e12 Radiator
Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 4:32 pm
by Mike W.
Looks like they are getting hard to find, but plastic tanks? I don't think I've seen an E12 radiator with plastic tanks. Might it be an E28 radiator? I, and many have done that conversion and they're not so hard to find. Ebay appears to have some aluminum ones for sale, not cheap but not crazy expensive. Regular E12 radiators have metal tanks and can be recored.
Re: 1979 e12 Radiator
Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 5:39 pm
by 528i-1981
I replaced my original radiator (1981, brass) with an aluminum aftermarket unit from Amazon last November. The only thing to be aware of is that the shroud does not fit on the aftermarket radiator. I had to modify my shroud by cutting the bottom, but it did end up working.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00SIG4RP2/re ... UTF8&psc=1
This is currently unavailable, unfortunately. The build quality is very good if you can track it down elsewhere.
Re: 1979 e12 Radiator
Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 7:58 pm
by Andy Antipas
Thank you for the responses! After closer examination, I was wrong. It is a brass radiator. I will look into having it recored. These are wonderful cars and keeping them on the road requires a network like Firstfives! Here is a pic of my car and son taken about 5 years ago. Again, thank you for everyones responses.
- Andy's e12.jpg (142.89 KiB) Viewed 5175 times
Re: 1979 e12 Radiator
Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2019 11:19 pm
by Mike W.
My limited experience with recored radiators is they are as good, if not better than originals. However, if you're is leaking from the tank or seams it can probably just be soldered up and repaired as long as it's not leaking from the core or running hot.
Re: 1979 e12 Radiator
Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2019 8:12 am
by Andy Antipas
Over the last week, I noticed the temperature gauge running hotter than normal, which lead me to pop the hood and see the radiator leaking. It appears to be on the intersection of the left tank and core, but I cannot be certain. I think there is a radiator shop in Durango that can do the repair. I'm going to check with them today. thank you.
Re: 1979 e12 Radiator
Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:57 pm
by garyinwestoz
I see that walmart are offering an all aluminium radiator for $180
https://www.walmart.com/ip/For-1969-to- ... /799357596
as to CA auto parts
https://caautoparts.com/products/radiat ... w1600-69-2
I got priced $650 to have mine recored! Im having a go at doing it myself - Youtube has a few videos on the soldering process - car SOS have a particularly good one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yy2k7wpqwS4&t=6s