Interesting heater core issue

[chilone]

My heater hose was leaking and upon removing it, I found this:



The top nipple is corroded and I can't get the hose securely clamped on. I REALLY don't want to change the heater core so I thought I could possibly glue maybe a female PVC (or other type) extender over the nipple where the hose is supposed to go and connect the hose to that. I don't know what kind of plastic it is, so I don't know if PVC adhesive would work or if I should use another type. What's left of the nipple seems structurally sound and I think there's enough of it left, to slide said extender over it. At this point, I really have nothing to lose by trying to repair it.

Has anyone else tried something like this?

Thoughts?

[Mike W.]

Arrg, not good. Never seen the heater core do that, but I lost 2 heater valves on my E28 like that. And E39s have the dreaded heater pipes which break off on the ends. I believe it's like the rest of the plastics in the cooling system, they start off black and as they age and deteriorate turn brown. And since the stubs you can see are also brown, my guess is they too are near failure. You could try one of the solvent cements for PVC or ABS, I think PVC cement is more cross compatible, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

Now, it might work for a while, but given the prospect of it failing, typically at an inopportune time, I would just go ahead and replace the heater core. Apparently not easy to source one these days, but if you don't I think you're just asking for trouble. Yes it's a PITA to replace the heater core, yes I've done it, but if it fails and you overheat it you still have to do it along with getting the head surfaced and R and R'ing it.

I'll give you points for creativity, but I personally don't see it as a real solution, just a band aid at best.

[Shawn D.]

Agreed with Mike on this. You're gonna have to bite the bullet.

[1st 5er]

Soldering another nipple on should work.

In the mean time bypass it and Drive Dat Bish.

[chilone]

Arrg, not good.

I'll give you points for creativity, but I personally don't see it as a real solution, just a band aid at best.

Thanks for your input. I know that a new heater core is the way to go, but here's my quandary. As we know, there's Berh/Bosch and Sofica cores. The Sofica ones are readily available but the Behr cores are like condors. I don't know which one I have and from what I can tell, it has to be removed to find out. Do you or anyone else know if they can be interchanged? There's literally no info on this. ONE guy said he replaced a Sofica with a Behr. He said the Behr was slightly longer but he was able to install it. Also, due to my e46 having a gremlin in it (possible bad DME) my e28 is my daily temporarily and having no defrost is a monumental bummer here in the mountains. It has no heater valve currently and the way its plumbed I can plug in or bypass the heater core in 5 minutes on the road if need be. I keep my eye on the temp gauge and am confident I would be able to shut it down if it starts to get hot so I'm thinking the band aid might get me through until I have my e46 going and can spend the time on the heater core.

[Aldo525]

A small idea that could work better than gluing some PVC pipe: A while ago I broke a plastic water pipe from a BMW M62 V8 engine that goes to an automatic transmission oil cooler in the part where it joins the hose (working temp in that engine is 105°C !!!!), leaving a very small piece to place and secure the hose, the same case that is seen in that heater core. What I did that worked very well for a long time while I got the new pipe was to place a metal tube inside the broken plastic tube to extend the area where the hose fits. In this way you can place the clamp on the remaining piece of plastic and tighten it without the risk of it breaking due to the internal metal reinforcement... I took inspiration from the metal tube that is used in the expansion tanks of the cooling system.

The idea:

[chilone]

A small idea that could work better than gluing some PVC pipe: A while ago I broke a plastic water pipe from a BMW M62 V8 engine that goes to an automatic transmission oil cooler in the part where it joins the hose (working temp in that engine is 105°C !!!!), leaving a very small piece to place and secure the hose, the same case that is seen in that heater core. What I did that worked very well for a long time while I got the new pipe was to place a metal tube inside the broken plastic tube to extend the area where the hose fits. In this way you can place the clamp on the remaining piece of plastic and tighten it without the risk of it breaking due to the internal metal reinforcement... I took inspiration from the metal tube that is used in the expansion tanks of the cooling system.

The idea:

Thanks you! Definitely a good idea that I may incorporate as well for strength. The problem I have though, is the nipple for the hose isn't long enough to get enough hose on securely. The nipple needs to be extended, as it pulls off pretty easily.

[Mike W.]

If you're going to go the route of a repair, rather than a replacement, and I strongly advise against it, you might want to sleeve the inside of the pipe with metal tubing and glue it in place both on the inside and where it exits.

[chilone]

If you're going to go the route of a repair, rather than a replacement, and I strongly advise against it, you might want to sleeve the inside of the pipe with metal tubing and glue it in place both on the inside and where it exits.

I'm still weighing my options. Do you happen to know about the interchangeability of the Behr and Sofica heater cores?

[Mike W.]

If you're going to go the route of a repair, rather than a replacement, and I strongly advise against it, you might want to sleeve the inside of the pipe with metal tubing and glue it in place both on the inside and where it exits.

I'm still weighing my options. Do you happen to know about the interchangeability of the Behr and Sofica heater cores?

No idea unfortunately.

[chilone]

I'm still weighing my options. Do you happen to know about the interchangeability of the Behr and Sofica heater cores?

No idea unfortunately.

Well, if I find out, I'll let everyone know.

[Mike W.]

There's been a couple of threads recently about trying to find one, you might want to search to see what they came up with.

[benloveless1]

No idea unfortunately.

Well, if I find out, I'll let everyone know.

did you ever find out? I’m in the same boat. I need a behr unit with none available.

[funkycharms]

Well, if I find out, I'll let everyone know.

did you ever find out? I’m in the same boat. I need a behr unit with none available.

 

 

viewtopic.php?p=1535527 There may be a few Thermotec units out there still

[Aldo525]

eBay from Germany Thermotec unit. Replace Behr core 64111366680

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156488103329?_ ... BM9raDuo5l

 

[benloveless1]

eBay from Germany Thermotec unit. Replace Behr core 64111366680

https://www.ebay.com/itm/156488103329?_ ... BM9raDuo5l


 

I did end up ordering one last night.

[gadget73]

the proper fix is a heater core.  If its corroded enough externally that part of it went away, I would not expect the rest of the core to be far from failure. I'd be concerned about the rest of the system too though.  At an absolute minimum I'd flush any old coolant out, and do a voltage check in the coolant to make sure you don't have electrical problems that are going to eat your radiator and new core.  Meter to -, positive just dunked in the coolant.  Under half a volt should be fine, but the lower the better. 

 

[milarsky]

The other avenue is a cheaper and probably better 3-series heater core.  There is a simple bracket fix for this to mount in the correct orientation for the hoses.  The mount is sold on this board.  I will post it shortly.  

best, jeff

[milarsky]

viewtopic.php?t=130485

I have this kit.  Easy peasy.