1979 e12 Radiator

Post your E12 technical questions and comments here. Please, no off-topic posts.

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Andy Antipas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:10 am
Location: Carbondale, CO

1979 e12 Radiator

Post 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
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Mike W.
Posts: 2782
Joined: Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:12 am
Location: Sonoma County

Re: 1979 e12 Radiator

Post 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.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
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528i-1981
Posts: 557
Joined: Wed Feb 07, 2018 5:50 am
Location: Franklin, TN

Re: 1979 e12 Radiator

Post 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.
(oo=00=oo) Eric
1981 528i Manual
Andy Antipas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:10 am
Location: Carbondale, CO

Re: 1979 e12 Radiator

Post 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
Andy's e12.jpg (142.89 KiB) Viewed 5145 times
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Mike W.
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Location: Sonoma County

Re: 1979 e12 Radiator

Post 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.
Mike W.



1980 528i, 3.5 euro, 5 speed conversion
1981 528i, 3.6, Recaros and more. Project
1998 328is, quick and efficient, but not satisfying
2000 528iit, Vacation mobile/wife's grocery getter
Andy Antipas
Posts: 13
Joined: Sat Feb 27, 2010 9:10 am
Location: Carbondale, CO

Re: 1979 e12 Radiator

Post 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.
garyinwestoz
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Joined: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:05 pm
Location: perth, australia
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Re: 1979 e12 Radiator

Post 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
74 525 auto
76 525 - 4 speed, LPG and holley carb- restoring
77 528i- 4 speed manual
77 528i -4 speed manual getting rusty
79 528i auto - a SA car?
80 528i auto - ready to relicense
81 528i +3.5ltr - auto - restoring
86 525e 5 speed manual- dd
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