[jmciver]

Sure, but based on the description of your setup, I am not sure if the VF modified hose will help. The difference between the VF hose and the OEM ones is the "kink" in the hose is shifted closer to the thermostat housing (the pic will better explain what I am talking about).

Check the link in my sig as I think I may have a pic of the VF hose installed (I can't verify since I am on my iPhone now and can't see my sig).

[nuc1]

Originally Posted by jmciver

Sure, but based on the description of your setup, I am not sure if the VF modified hose will help. The difference between the VF hose and the OEM ones is the "kink" in the hose is shifted closer to the thermostat housing (the pic will better explain what I am talking about).

Check the link in my sig as I think I may have a pic of the VF hose installed (I can't verify since I am on my iPhone now and can't see my sig).

Didn't see a good shot of the hose....
Would really like to see a better pic whenever you get a chance.
Is it a modified OEM hose or an aftermarket piece?

Mike

[jmciver]

The hose is a modified OEM hose that VF sends with their kit. Here are a few pics....

[normcaldwell]

Originally Posted by jmciver

The hose is a modified OEM hose that VF sends with their kit. Here are a few pics....

James, thanks for the pics.
While the VF hose wouldn't appear to make any difference for the ESS s/c pulley/belt clearance, it looks like it would still provide a bit more clearance around the re-located PS reservoir.
For the VF kit, it clearly provides the necessary clearance around the tensioner pulley.

Question: are you running the BW CR radiator in the pics you posted?

Below are some pics I just took of mine. The clamp to help pull the BW CR radiator forward is ugly, but today at the track it did a pretty good job of keeping enough clearance. I'm going to add a couple of metal tie clips as back-up and additional 'pull' force.


By the way, today was my first day on track with the following changes since I first had the ESS kit installed:
- T-clamps on the s/c output to FMIC pipe. (The worm clamps popped off last time).
- Bimmerworld CR radiator.
- AA/HPF sport fan clutch.
- New water pump, thermostat, temp sensor, and hoses, along with fluid flush. 50/50 BMW coolant and distilled water.

Today's temps at Denver altitude were 95 to 99 degrees on track.
Wow, what a great difference with this setup. Zero coolant temp issues!
I drove the car hard, and at this altitude, my little Vortech V3si is spinning faster than the out-of-box kits at sea level because I have to run a smaller s/c pulley to even get 7psi in the thin air up here.
I ran one session with a passenger, so more weight, plus the hot temps.
Halfway through the 30 minute session I still went ahead and ran full heat through the side vents just to provide more dissipation.

95% of the time the coolant temp gauge stayed on center.
The other 5% of the time, later into the session, the gauge moved a slight bit to right of center.
The gauge never went to the 3/4 dot.

Oil temps never went above 245 degrees, as indicated on the stock gauge.
Stock oil cooler.

My car is a street car, with occasional track. It still has the a/c and electric aux fan in front.
I'm very pleased and encouraged with today's results

[jmciver]

No, my pics are with the stock radiator (I have not done my overhaul yet). I also have a Spal fan installed with temperature switch in place of the OEM fan clutch. Glad to hear things worked out well and as expected with the new hardware. You still might want to consider using some Water Wetter though to help keep things a bit cooler. I plan to use more of a 25/75 coolant/water mix with at least 2 bottles of Water Wetter.

Glad you posted some pics of your setup. I have been scouring the internet trying to find a pic with the BW C&R radiator installed since I had concerns about clearance of the S/C pulleys (I thought the thickness pushed it towards the engine). I figured that in order to meet the claim by BW that you can retain all of the stock pieces (shroud, hoses, etc) that the C&R radiator could not push things towards the engine, at least not by much, since the hoses would not line up correctly and the shroud would touch the engine (on the passenger side).

BTW, is your new thermostat the OEM one or the 55C Motorsport one?

[normcaldwell]

Originally Posted by jmciver

No, my pics are with the stock radiator (I have not done my overhaul yet). I also have a Spal fan installed with temperature switch in place of the OEM fan clutch. Glad to hear things worked out well and as expected with the new hardware. You still might want to consider using some Water Wetter though to help keep things a bit cooler. I plan to use more of a 25/75 coolant/water mix with at least 2 bottles of Water Wetter.

Glad you posted some pics of your setup. I have been scouring the internet trying to find a pic with the BW C&R radiator installed since I had concerns about clearance of the S/C pulleys (I thought the thickness pushed it towards the engine). I figured that in order to meet the claim by BW that you can retain all of the stock pieces (shroud, hoses, etc) that the C&R radiator could not push things towards the engine, at least not by much, since the hoses would not line up correctly and the shroud would touch the engine (on the passenger side).

BTW, is your new thermostat the OEM one or the 55C Motorsport one?

The new thermostat is OE.

[delirium45]

is it just me or is the 'modified OEM upper radiator hose that VF supplies with their kits' nothing more than a OEM upper radiator hose... just flipped over ?

at least that is what it looks like from the pictures posted above.

[normcaldwell]

Originally Posted by delirium45

is it just me or is the 'modified OEM upper radiator hose that VF supplies with their kits' nothing more than a OEM upper radiator hose... just flipped over ?

at least that is what it looks like from the pictures posted above.

You got it.
Member ILLuSioNz X has a build thread where he also came to the same conclusion, post #28: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...=414782&page=3

[jmciver]

Originally Posted by normcaldwell

You got it.
Member ILLuSioNz X has a build thread where he also came to the same conclusion, post #28: http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showt...=414782&page=3

Hmmm.... Interesting....

I ordered all of my overhaul parts from Tischer, including the lower hose, but did not get the upper hose since I figured it was something special from VF (and I planned to get another one from them). I almost went into sticker shock when I found out how much they wanted for a new one, but was ready to get it.

I wonder if I can find my original one since it only had 11k miles on the clock when I took it off....