CSF Aluminum Performance Radiator - S54 Swap (in an E36 / E46)

Drop-in radiator solution for E36 S54 swap conversion! This aluminum radiator is built specifically for an S54 swap on earlier BMW chassis (E36 or E46 non-M) and comes with a 2-row 42mm core, CNC hose fittings, oil cooler brackets, puller fan brackets, and a drop-in fit.

For S54 swapped models ONLY. This radiator is NOT for stock E36, or E46, as it designed to be used on cars that have the later E46 M3 engine retrofitted into an earlier chassis. This is a very common swap in the E36 community, one BimmerWorld is very pleased to support. 

No hose modifications are required! Unlike other radiators there is no custom hose or cutting hoses or connectors. You can either use any E36 6-cyl factory radiator hose with this radiator. A vent/overflow fitting is also included.  

At first glance this oil cooler looks very similar to CSF’s E36 M3 Radiator (#3054). The overall shape is very similar but there are several key features that make this swap radiator special. The first being that the S54 engine requires much more oil cooling than either the E36’s S52/S50. As a result CSF has made special provisions to fit one of two different race-spec oil coolers (sold separately). This radiator and oil cooler combination can be used for M50/M52/S50/S52 swaps as well, which to make happen required a slight reduction in the radiator height to fit a race spec cooler in a factory style location. This radiator also includes a custom designed oil cooler mounting bracket with provisions to fit either oil coolers (CSF #8032 or #8240). The custom designed radiator cover plate has a coolant overflow line placement, which is concealed for a better-than-OEM appearance.

Electric Puller Fan brackets designed for the SPAL 16" low profile fan (sold separately, see below). No shroud is planned for use with this radiator. The SPAL brackets can be removed if using something else. The CSF radiator also includes a coolant temp/fan sensor port in the factory location (passenger side).

Oil Cooler brackets for original S54 or CSF upgraded oil coolers (either part # 8240 or part # 8032). The CSF oil cooler is designed to accept the factory S54 oil cooler hoses. Note that some bending/tweaking may be needed when using the stock S54 oil cooler lines. Or, for the BEST fitment (and avoid having to bend your oil cooler lines) we and CSF recommend using the E36 Euro Oil Cooler hard lines, which make for a better fit (see related items below). For a more custom install, you can also use our -10 AN fitting adapter kit and use stand AN style lines.

S54 Swap Radiator Features: 
+ 100% Aluminum Construction - Eliminates plastic related failures down the road 
+ Thick 42mm core
+ CSF B-tube core and fin design
+ Oil cooler hangers
+ Factory core support mounting for drop-in fit

Fitment Considerations / Air Conditioning
If you plan on using this radiator on a car with retained stock air conditioning components, you will want to use CSF's oil cooler, part # 8240, which allows install of the factory AC lines, without interference. If you are using this on a track-only car or car WITHOUT factory air conditioning, you can also (optionally) use the larger CSF Oil Cooler, part # 8032, for maximum oil cooling and performance. Please note that when using this radiator with the larger 8032 oil cooler, it will interfere with the stock air conditioning condenser and hoses found on the E36/E46. For this reason we recommend the 8032 as a track/racer oil cooler solution, where A/C is not necessary. It's possible to modify the A/C condenser and line setup, such as using a smaller / different unit, or relocating it, to retain the A/C on street-driven cars, but for the easiest AC-friendly install, we recommend using the 8240 oil cooler instead. . 

For use with E36/E46 chassis when fitting an S54 engine swap. The E36 chassis was used in model years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, and 1999. Any model E36 being swapped to S54 can use this all aluminum upgraded radiator solution. This radiator can also be used for E46 non-M models being swapped to S54.