Radiator loose?

[chris719]

Hey guys,

I just replaced my radiator and it seems very loose especially at the bottom as there is nothing really holding it in. Is this normal? The top is secured by the two screws and obviously the shroud pushes down on it but I'm not sure if the amount of movement toward the engine should be possible. The whole assembly including the condenser and fan move a good amount without hoses connected. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

[cbpip]

Should have 2 rubber rectangular grommets at the bottom
Corners of the radiator holding it in position on each side of the frame rail tabs.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by cbpip

Should have 2 rubber rectangular grommets at the bottom
Corners of the radiator holding it in position on each side of the frame rail tabs.

Do you mean 7 in the following diagram?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...45#17111436264

I actually can’t find that part on the Z4M.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0302

[pungo]

Originally Posted by chris719

Do you mean 7 in the following diagram?

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...45#17111436264

I actually can’t find that part on the Z4M.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=17_0302

Check for part #6.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by pungo

Check for part #6.

Yep I’ve got that, not sure I have 7 and 12 but those wouldn’t hold it to anything anyway I think.

[Reborn_]

I've got my splash guard off because I'm in the middle of a coolant flush. I'll snap some pics for you in a few days (waiting for a part to come in) from the bottom to show you how my stock radiator is mounted in my z4m.

[chris719]

Much appreciated, I think it's in correctly and came to terms with it, it just seems less secure than I thought it should be at the bottom.

[Reborn_]

Here are some (not so great) pics. All taken from the bottom of the car, looking up. It doesn't look like anything is securing the bottom of the radiator, though there is some black plastic piece (#11 in the diagram; I'm grabbing it in the last pic) attached to it, which seemingly rests against a protrusion on the splash guard once it is installed. In this state, with the splash guard removed, everything is very secure. I grabbed the bottom of the radiator and gave it some tugging and it didn't move at all, so something may be off with your install. It's hard to see in the pics, but it looks like there are only the side attachments which have been posted already in the diagrams. I will say that radiator hoses can add quite a bit of rigidity - is yours still very 'floppy' with all the hoses reinstalled?

[Reborn_]

Originally Posted by chris719

Yep I’ve got that, not sure I have 7 and 12 but those wouldn’t hold it to anything anyway I think.

I think 7 and 12 are the main interfaces holding the sides to the chassis. It's been a while since I had to loosen this up, so I can't recall for sure. My recollection is that the bottom corners go into the 'hole grommets' as pungo and cbpip highlighted; the sides are attached via 7 and 12, and the top attaches as you highlighted.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by Reborn_

I think 7 and 12 are the main interfaces holding the sides to the chassis. It's been a while since I had to loosen this up, so I can't recall for sure. My recollection is that the bottom corners go into the 'hole grommets' as pungo and cbpip highlighted; the sides are attached via 7 and 12, and the top attaches as you highlighted.

Thank you so much for the pictures. I’ll need to get 7 and 12; they were missing from the car when I bought it.

[Reborn_]

You're welcome. Good luck!