Anyone tested Mishimoto, CSF and Zionsville radiators?

[Hyperboost]

I have the coolant gauge buffering fixed and well as a digital gauge to be precise on readings

that's smart. I would choose either Zionsville or OEM.

[Obioban]

The M3 doesn’t have coolant gauge buffering (unlike the non M e46).

[kokgo20]

The M3 doesn’t have coolant gauge buffering (unlike the non M e46).

If I remember correctly there was a thread in the old forums about that, it’s been a number of years
unless I’m mistaken that for the speedometer correction, again it’s been a good number of years since I did it

[Obioban]

If I remember correctly there was a thread in the old forums about that, it’s been a number of years
unless I’m mistaken that for the speedometer correction, again it’s been a good number of years since I did it

It does have speedo “correction” (more like intentionally makes it wrong ).

[pnvhome]

So csf is bad? Because my stock radiators are not good after 237k km, and i ordered CSF radiators oil and water

[T-Rex]

So csf is bad? Because my stock radiators are not good after 237k km, and i ordered CSF radiators oil and water

I put a CSF rad in and my car started overheating within 10mi of leaving the mechanic's. Flatbedded it right back, installed a fresh OEM, and haven't had a problem since. CSF have some serious quality control issues, or the design sucks.

[duracellttu]

I put a CSF rad in and my car started overheating within 10mi of leaving the mechanic's. Flatbedded it right back, installed a fresh OEM, and haven't had a problem since. CSF have some serious quality control issues, or the design sucks.

Are you sure the system was properly bled? Sounds like there was something else going on there.

[TylerBrown]

I’ve ran a csf radiator for around 10k miles with no issues.

[Zekarus]

Are you sure the system was properly bled? Sounds like there was something else going on there.

bleeding procedure is really easy on this car. i don't think you can do anything wrong there.

on the old m3f some had koyorad radiators without any issue.

[Speed Monkey]

On old M3F, I clearly remember reading one Forum Member buying a CSF radiator for his SC’d E46M. That was back when CSF first introduced their E46M radiator and so naturally, some members bought it straight away and by default, became test beds/guinea pigs for the Forum. Well, this dude, his rig overheated, which led to a blown engine; he posted many pictures looking down the CSF’s end tank, and from careless fabrication, aluminum sheet metal not cut to exacting standards protruded into end tank area, thereby restricting free flowing coolant. To keep things short, the CSF representative who was posting on M3F at the time, admitted to the f#ck-up - that being sloppy workmanship.

The Forum Member, who I can’t remember, did not explode into a tirade bashing CSF, so maybe/perhaps CSF compensated that member - this is speculation only; I have absolutely no proof of this.

For me, when it comes to non-stock/non-OEM “performance” parts claiming to be superior, then does the exact opposite and proceeds to destroy a M3, I have only one response: Fuuuuuuuukkkkkk that. I ain’t touchin’ that shiznit with a ten foot pole; this is my view only and I respect different views about what is good or bad. I make no claim that my view is superior to anyone else’s thoughts on the matter.

[T-Rex]

Are you sure the system was properly bled? Sounds like there was something else going on there.

The shop tried to sort it out with the CSF rad in there, but it keep overheating. After a few days of troubleshooting, we swapped back to a fresh OE rad and the problem immediately went away. Not saying every CSF rad sucks, but the one that I got certainly didn't work right (and cost me an extra $300 in labor). I would consider their oil cooler, as I haven't heard of any issues, but that radiator was a POS.

[Obioban]

Zionsville is the best option! They will have a sale during Black Friday if you are patient.
The core is the best quality and American made.
It is expensive but it's nice for a peace of mind and the added bling! I run this on my car now.

my old E46 M3 was supercharged with an old OEM radiator and electric fan ran just fine. I was doing track days with it and the temp was cool. Like Obi said, the issue is the oil temp, it goes up very HIGH!
Our coolant temp gauge is not the most accurate since they have a buffer.

Our coolant gauge is not buffered-- that'a non M "feature"

[Arith2]

Twinline Garage on Youtube has that same ESS 525 kit and he would overheat quickly with his CSF also. You can watch the videos. I honestly think that killed it for him because he seemed quite disappointed. ESS also couldn't tune his car right either but that's a different thing.

[pnvhome]

However i ordered new CSF oil and coolant radiator, also a new A/C radiator and all new staff for it, and would instal them in two weeks, and would see if it would overheat, because now on stock it never overheat (maybe because temp never more than 32 celsius on air) but oil is more than 115

[pnvhome]

So almost 2 weeks and 2.000 km, Temp of cooling water is about 89-96 degrees, when outdoor temp is 29-44 celsius, oil temp is 95-110 max at any temp