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 … Continue Reading ››
E36 M3 on dynoFirst 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 … Continue Reading ››
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 … Continue Reading ››
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 … Continue Reading ››
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 … Continue Reading ››
An inside look at the engineering of Mishimoto products.