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1992-1999 (E36)

  1. BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 3: Final Prototype and Test Fit

    BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 3: Final Prototype and Test Fit

    Interested in picking up this aluminum E36 expansion tank? Check out our product page linked below!

    BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank!

    The time has come and the anticipation is over. Our final prototype unit has been constructed, and we are ready to check fitment! On to the pictures!

    Final Expansion Tank Images

    Mishimoto expansion tank prototype
    Mishimoto expansion tank prototype

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  2. BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 2: Initial 3D Model and Prototype

    BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 2: Initial 3D Model and Prototype

    Interested in picking up this aluminum E36 expansion tank? Check out our product page linked below!

    BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank!

    Time to break open the stock tank and see what lies within. If you follow some of our other development projects, you would know that we recently split an E46 3-series expansion tank and found quite a complex system including both internal and external features. Although this added some complexity and difficulty to the project, it seemed like our engineers enjoyed the challenge.

    Stock Expansion Tank Internals

    First, before we slice this guy in half, a look inside the tank from the cap.

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  3. Keeping The E36 Cool, Part 3: Final Prototype

    Keeping The E36 Cool, Part 3: Final Prototype

    Interested in picking up our E36 fan shroud? Check out the full details on this kit on our product page!

    Mishimoto BMW E36 Performance Fan Shroud Kit!

    Our final prototype is complete and looks fantastic. The fan mount is constructed from 1/8" steel that has been cut to a specific shape allowing for additional airflow through the radiator core at speed. Additionally, the mount is powder coated black to provide a durable finish. As noted in our last post, we tested this unit extensively with our 16" fan to ensure that coolant temperatures were properly regulated during both idle and all driving conditions.

    Check out a few shots of the mount!

    Final prototype of fan mount
    Final prototype
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  4. Keeping The E36 Cool, Part 2: Second Prototype

    Keeping The E36 Cool, Part 2: Second Prototype

    Interested in picking up our E36 fan shroud? Check out the full details on this kit on our product page!

    Mishimoto BMW E36 Performance Fan Shroud Kit!

    E36 M3 on dyno
    E36 M3 on dyno

    First Prototype Testing

    When we left off last time we were exploring our first prototype design. This unit is a traditional aluminum fan shroud with air flaps to improve core airflow at speed. Once we had a working prototype, we decided to perform some idle testing to see how well our single electric fan would perform on a mostly stock E36 M3.

    To get started, we began removing the stock setup.

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  5. BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 1: Intro and Factory Tank

    BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank R&D, Part 1: Intro and Factory Tank

    Interested in picking up this aluminum E36 expansion tank? Check out our product page linked below!

    BMW E36 Aluminum Coolant Expansion Tank!

    Historically, BMW vehicles have been plagued with rather frequent cooling system failures. A majority of these failures are a result of the use of plastic components in a high-temperature application. Although failure isn't immediate, over time the frequent heat cycling of these plastic components results in increased fragility, fatigue, and eventual failure.

    A few components we see failing on E36 models include the radiator end tanks, radiator expansion tank, and the mechanical fan. We already offer two aluminum radiator options, and we have an electric-fan conversion kit in the works. An expansion tank is our last stop for product development on the E36 (for now). We have had numerous requests

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  6. Keeping the E36 Cool, Part 1: Initial Fan Shroud Design

    Keeping the E36 Cool, Part 1: Initial Fan Shroud Design

    Interested in picking up our E36 fan shroud? Check out the full details on this kit on our product page!

    Mishimoto BMW E36 Performance Fan Shroud Kit!

    E36 M3 test vehicle
    E36 M3 test vehicle

    Cooling systems on older BMW models have been recognized as a frequent failure point requiring regular replacement to avoid catastrophic failure. This includes anything made of plastic within the system. So far we have a few remedies - an aluminum radiator and a silicone coolant hose kit. The mechanical fan is next on our list to be addressed.

    The stock fan setup is certainly efficient in keeping your straight six cool. That said, a fan failure can get quite ugly with

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  7. Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 4: Cooling Efficiency Results

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 4: Cooling Efficiency Results

    Interested in purchasing this BMW E30/E36 aluminum radiator? Check out the product page for more information!

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Performance Aluminum Radiator

    The testing results are in! First, a quick comparison of the fluid capacity improvements the Mishimoto X-line radiator provides.

    Stock Radiator Capacity: 0.6 gal (2.27L)

    Mishimoto X-Line Radiator Capacity: 1.15 gal (4.35L)

    This is an increase in capacity of 91%! This additional fluid, combined with our highly efficient core design, should easily produce great gains in cooling efficiency. Let's evaluate our charts obtained from the testing data. First up, our raw temperature data from both rounds of testing.

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  8. Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 3: Prototype Test Fit and Performance Testing Process

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 3: Prototype Test Fit and Performance Testing Process

    Interested in purchasing this BMW E30/E36 aluminum radiator? Check out the product page for more information!

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Performance Aluminum Radiator

    Being pleased with our design in comparison to the stock unit, it was time to put this radiator to the test and see how the improvements would impact cooling efficiency. The first true test for this radiator would be fitment. Although this product was designed based off of dimensions from the stock radiator and the engine bay of an E36 M, we still had yet to drop this unit into a vehicle to ensure that all components bolted into position properly. We snagged the keys to our test vehicle from our videographer and easily dropped our prototype into place. Check out a few shots of this radiator installed!

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  9. Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 2: Prototype Radiator Evaluation

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 2: Prototype Radiator Evaluation

    Interested in purchasing this BMW E30/E36 aluminum radiator? Check out the product page for more information!

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Performance Aluminum Radiator

    Alright, the prototype is in and ready for comparison against the stock unit. To show how much different this radiator is compared to our current offering, we would also be bringing in one of these radiators to observe the differences. First, let's take a look at the stock radiator we have. This unit was used to pull critical fitment dimensions.

    Stock E36 radiator
    Stock E36 radiator

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  10. Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 1: Product Introduction

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Radiator, Part 1: Product Introduction

    Interested in purchasing this BMW E30/E36 aluminum radiator? Check out the product page for more information!

    Mishimoto BMW E30/E36 X-Line Performance Aluminum Radiator

    Mishimoto is well known for providing innovative products for vehicles new and old. Our last few months have been dedicated to product development for the new 2015 Subaru WRX, which features a vast amount of changes from the previous generation. Along with these projects, we decided to go back to an older chassis and develop a brand new product for the E30/E36 BMW. We are huge BMW enthusiasts here, myself included, and we have found a gap in the radiator options for the late model E30 and E36 models. We have had great success with our current performance aluminum radiator for the E36. Our current offering is a perfect option for those who need an upgrade in the reliability department. The factory radiator is extremely prone

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