Shroud ... or not to Shroud ?
Shroud ... or not to Shroud ?
Basic question .... is shroud absolutely required ? ( Have a new custom aluminum radiator ... easier fit without ) I know in principle they help direct air over cooling surface, just curious as to opinions ... experiences, etc. Thanks for excellent forum.
1980 528i / Alpine white ( red leather ) 5 spd /SOLD !!!
1973 2002 Inka orange ( frame off in progress )
1971 2002 Inka orange / 14" steelies ( winter )Ronals ( summer ),5 spd
1973 2002 Inka orange ( frame off in progress )
1971 2002 Inka orange / 14" steelies ( winter )Ronals ( summer ),5 spd
No, they're not really necessary. They fit so loosely, and are probably pretty warped by now, they don't really make any noticable difference. On some cars they're critical, but E12s have the fan about half an inch from the radiator so it's going to give airflow over it even without the shroud.
Mike W.
02 525ita. Wife's, aka grocery getter
02 530i. New to the fleet, 3 pedals.
03 QX4, AKA the Datsun. Finally got the 4WD vacationmoble to stop smoking.
07 Xterra. Still on the DL, a purchase from hell.
02 525ita. Wife's, aka grocery getter
02 530i. New to the fleet, 3 pedals.
03 QX4, AKA the Datsun. Finally got the 4WD vacationmoble to stop smoking.
07 Xterra. Still on the DL, a purchase from hell.
Absolutely needed IF....
Heavy stop and go traffic... (long commutes with long waits) will result in a slow, disconcerting rise in temperature during the stops.
The purpose of the shroud is to make the fan more effective by pulling air in over the total surface of the radiator. Granted they get warped and if so... they should be replaced or fixed. The fan being close to the radiator actually contributes to the problem if the shroud is not closing the area between the blades of the fan AND the corners of the radiator.
If they weren't there for a reason:
BMW (and other MFRs looking for ways to reduce costs, would dispense with them) wouldn't have put them on
Radiators would be round and the same diameter as the fan.
The manual would tell you never to drive below 50 MPH and only on open highways to avoid idling in traffic at long stops.
BMW Would not have sold these cars in Africa or Sahara Desert type countries, or in Florida, Arizona and Southern California.
Put the shroud back on, or slowly cook your engine over time.
Pay some composite guy a few hundred dollars to make you a pretty Kevlar or Carbon Fiber shroud if you think the cardboard one is too ugly for your ride, but use the shroud.
I'm imagining the engineers at BMW, having a meeting, discussing final details on the car. One of the engineers says, "Gee, you know, I think we should put a useless PAPER shroud in the engine compartment for just a few dollars more. Let's put it around the fan and make it square like the radiator." Imaginary light bulbs go on over every engineers heads, they all cheer and crowd around the guy and slap him resoundingly and repeatedly on the back for this wondrous but useless idea... Thus the shroud was born...... and installed on every BMW hence forth.
The purpose of the shroud is to make the fan more effective by pulling air in over the total surface of the radiator. Granted they get warped and if so... they should be replaced or fixed. The fan being close to the radiator actually contributes to the problem if the shroud is not closing the area between the blades of the fan AND the corners of the radiator.
If they weren't there for a reason:
BMW (and other MFRs looking for ways to reduce costs, would dispense with them) wouldn't have put them on
Radiators would be round and the same diameter as the fan.
The manual would tell you never to drive below 50 MPH and only on open highways to avoid idling in traffic at long stops.
BMW Would not have sold these cars in Africa or Sahara Desert type countries, or in Florida, Arizona and Southern California.
Put the shroud back on, or slowly cook your engine over time.
Pay some composite guy a few hundred dollars to make you a pretty Kevlar or Carbon Fiber shroud if you think the cardboard one is too ugly for your ride, but use the shroud.
I'm imagining the engineers at BMW, having a meeting, discussing final details on the car. One of the engineers says, "Gee, you know, I think we should put a useless PAPER shroud in the engine compartment for just a few dollars more. Let's put it around the fan and make it square like the radiator." Imaginary light bulbs go on over every engineers heads, they all cheer and crowd around the guy and slap him resoundingly and repeatedly on the back for this wondrous but useless idea... Thus the shroud was born...... and installed on every BMW hence forth.
kevlar / titanium
noted ...
shroud will find it's rightful place next to it's new next-door neighbor ( a custom all aluminum radiator from Ron Davis )
Love the idea of carbon fiber or kevlar ... not for weight, but structural
integrity ....
cheers !!
shroud will find it's rightful place next to it's new next-door neighbor ( a custom all aluminum radiator from Ron Davis )
Love the idea of carbon fiber or kevlar ... not for weight, but structural
integrity ....
cheers !!
1980 528i / Alpine white ( red leather ) 5 spd /SOLD !!!
1973 2002 Inka orange ( frame off in progress )
1971 2002 Inka orange / 14" steelies ( winter )Ronals ( summer ),5 spd
1973 2002 Inka orange ( frame off in progress )
1971 2002 Inka orange / 14" steelies ( winter )Ronals ( summer ),5 spd