Gauging Interest: Metal Coolant Connectors

[spidertri]

I've emailed back and forth with Paul at Gruvenparts.com a few times about having them create and sell metal versions of the two plastic coolant connectors that are well known to break on the M44.

Gruvenparts is well known for their VW VR6 "crackpipe" which is essentially the same thing we want just for the VR6 engine. It is a metal replacement piece for a crappy plastic coolant connector.


Here is the first response I got from Paul, the prices are a bit scary but in the second email Paul said they need to see the pieces and see how much interest there is and prices could drop.

Yes we can do both of those from 6061-T651 and Tig welded, I suspect the
shorter part would sell for $149 and longer maybe a bit more, $169. All
depends on qty. Think ppl would be interested at those prices? We may
need to make a few mods to the shape, so I will need some help in
determining what liberties can be taken with the geometry. It would help
if nipples were on the center line of the pipe rather than offset, stuff
like that.

If so, pass them along to me, if we get enough demand we can start asap.

Thanks!

Paul
www.GruvenParts.com

maybe cheaper if we can simplify it. can you send us some parts to look at?

At the moment I don't have the parts to send him, if anyone has some old ones laying around and wouldn't mind sending them to these guys to get some measurements from that would be awesome.

If you are remotely interested in this please post up and say so, this is one of the biggest PITA about these cars and having a metal version would be fantastic.

[tiFreak]

I'd be interested, the price is a little more than I'm wanting to spend but since I only need the longer one for an M42 so I might be able to do it

[spidertri]

Yeah, I told him the price might turn people away, but I have a feeling that once he gets the part in his hands the price will drop a bit. If they see a lot of interest in this it should drop as well. It wouldn't just be a custom one off piece.

[projekt EPiK]

question is, how long does a new plastic one last? i just saw i think the rear piece on ebay new for $18.. if nothing else, tell the builder to buy that one for a template. small investment if he stands to profit well from the maunfacturing of the pieces.

[spidertri]

They are ~$9 each on pelican and should last, I don't know, ~60,000 miles? But it would offer peace of mind and be good insurance against paying $2500 for a new head if the plastic one breaks and overheats.

[projekt EPiK]

pretty shoddy on BMW's part to make an important engine piece that only lasts 60k or so miles.. but i'm new to BMW, so maybe that is normal practice?

[tiFreak]

their plastic in general is pretty low quality, kinda sucks since it's a challenge to get the door panels off without breaking half the clips

[projekt EPiK]

yea, i've read that. once i do find a ti i almost want to go ahead and order the clips for when the windows DO go bad.

[pdxmotorhead]

You don't wait for them to break, they are supposed ot be cleaned and lubed about every 25K miles, which is how the door liner clips get broke, its a vicious circle....

I did not think the M42 had the plastic pipe, now I need to look.

Dave

[mohaughn]

The M42 does, but only the front one under the manifold. Much easier to replace, and mine has lasted well over 140k miles. I always have a spare with me though..

[familytruckster]

I have a spare set of old ones, the one from the backside of the head is a little melted on the inside though.

I'm also interested, and my car needs them replaced.

[MPWR]

I'd certainly be interested (depending on price).

EVERY M44 should have these replaced. Having one fail is an automatic blown headgasket- and I've certainly seen one fail.

[spidertri]

Glad to see the interest guys. I had my rear connector break over the summer while I was driving through Baltimore, luckily I caught it quickly and pulled over and shut it down before the needle went in the red. That would have been bad, I'd like to never experience it again, lol.

Familytruckster, thanks for the offer! I'll check with Paul and make sure that they don't mind used/not perfect pieces.

[minicoop900]

id be down for a few, we have lots of customers with m44s

[spidertri]

Bump for more input!