BMX AUX cooling vs larger radiator

[jturboawd]

Fellow 135 owners,

I live in Houston with a FBO 135i. I am considering upgrading the cooling system just due to Houston's hot summers. I am a fan of a clean engine bay and I dont really like the idea of a auxiliary radiator. Really just do to the additional hoses, leak points, and cost associated with it.

Is there any reason one would not just upgrade the radiator? I would think 25% thickness in a efficient design would net better delta T then the auxiliary kit. I found a few upgrades online, all around 600+ though. Any recommendations on auxiliary kit vs larger radiator? Also, any recommendations on a efficient radiator upgrade?

[BMWX1-35i]

Subscribed... I would like to know this as well. I'm also looking into this oil cooler by B&M.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...productDetails

[lowbudgethero]

you could try the PPK oil cooler and upgraded fan since it's a stock part

evolution racewerks makes a oil cooler in the vent blanks too.

turner also sells an aluminum radiator upgrade too

[Chunner]

Originally Posted by lowbudgethero

you could try the PPK oil cooler and upgraded fan since it's a stock part

evolution racewerks makes a oil cooler in the vent blanks too.

turner also sells an aluminum radiator upgrade too

Not oil cooler. The BMW Performace Power Kit's (PPKv2) cooler is actually an auxillary radiator cooler that re-routes the coolant from the main radiator with cold air ducting that sits in front of the driver side front wheel well.

[highbrowed]

Originally Posted by Chunner

Not oil cooler. The BMW Performace Power Kit's (PPKv2) cooler is actually an auxillary radiator cooler that re-routes the coolant from the main radiator with cold air ducting that sits in front of the driver side front wheel well.

I love realoem

[zx10guy]

I had the PPK2 installed on my car a couple months ago.

In addition to the auxiliary cooler, the kit comes with a larger/beefier radiator fan. There was a definite difference between the upgraded fan and the original stock fan. It also requires a new relay to be installed due to the power draw.

The 135is owners are lucky in that they get the PPK2 installed from the factory.

[BMWX1-35i]

The PPK kit from BMW is WAY to expensive. Much better routes to take for that money with a better outcome.

[jturboawd]

To me it seems a larger more efficient radiator is the way to go. This makes the entire factory system more effective. I just have a hard time paying $600 for a radiator that I know cost the same to manufacture as the $120 accord radiator. I would still opt for this over the PPK kit though.

Anyone had any experience with the radiator options we have?

[BMWX1-35i]

I feel the same way. I've been thinking about a new radiator as well just as a nice upgrade but $600 is a lot to swallow.

[jturboawd]

PWR has a option for 1K. Best deal I can find is here for a Mishimoto (35% increased capacity).

http://www.topgearsolutions.com/mish...135i-335i.html

Also, there is another thread discussing the PWR unit that may be worth looking at:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494680

[135]

You could also consider a 130i radiator - I was told that it's larger and a direct fit, although I don't have any experience with fitting one in a 135i. I haven't done any research on it yet but at least you have another option to consider.

[Miko226]

Originally Posted by jturboawd

PWR has a option for 1K. Best deal I can find is here for a Mishimoto (35% increased capacity).

http://www.topgearsolutions.com/mish...135i-335i.html

Also, there is another thread discussing the PWR unit that may be worth looking at:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=494680

+1 on Mishimoto if i had the extra money i would do the same

[lowbudgethero]

Originally Posted by Chunner

Not oil cooler. The BMW Performace Power Kit's (PPKv2) cooler is actually an auxillary radiator cooler that re-routes the coolant from the main radiator with cold air ducting that sits in front of the driver side front wheel well.

whoops

[GeeRam]

Originally Posted by 135

You could also consider a 130i radiator - I was told that it's larger and a direct fit, although I don't have any experience with fitting one in a 135i. I haven't done any research on it yet but at least you have another option to consider.

Yup, the 130i rad is taller, but I think that because it doesn't have an intercooler in the way below it which there is on the 135.....so I'd be surprised if a 130i rad is a direct fit.....

[135]

Originally Posted by GeeRam

Yup, the 130i rad is taller, but I think that because it doesn't have an intercooler in the way below it which there is on the 135.....so I'd be surprised if a 130i rad is a direct fit.....

Sorry, there were probably a couple other points that I should have noted in my reply.

When the 130i radiator was recommended to me, I was discussing upgrading the radiator, intercooler and oil cooler and also adding an independent remotely located AT cooler.

I have an AT - this is important because there are different radiators for AT/DCT and MT cars. The radiator for a 135i AT/DCT has the bottom portion of it devoted to the heat exchanger, which serves to cool the AT/DCT, while the radiator for a 135i MT, which I presume is the same size as the 135i AT/DCT, is solely devoted to radiator duties. The 130i radiator also comes in AT/DCT, which I presume also has a heat exchanger, and MT varieties. All four radiators are also used on other 1-, 3-, X-, and Z-series BMWs.

Here are the part numbers and realoem links:

17117558480 135i MT
17117547059 135i AT/DCT
17117559273 130i MT
17117562079 130i AT/DCT

Even though I didn't go into the details of the specific 130i radiator that was being recommended, based on the above information, I would think that it would have been the 130i MT radiator. This is because, at the same time that I was discussing radiator options, I was also discussing removing the AT cooling abilities from the heat exchanger and replacing it with an independent remotely located AT cooler - this is because I have found that, while using the steptronic in M or S modes, the water temperature can rise rapidly due to the water that passes through the radiator / heat exchanger is being affected by the use of the steptronic in M or S modes. Therefore, with an "upgraded" 130i MT radiator and separate AT cooler on a 135i AT, not only do you get a dedicated radiator but also additional radiator cooling area!