Range Rover P38 2.5 TDI M51 BMW engine overheating - SOLVED
I had a radiator problem because diesel engines have both the supply and return lines to the main radiator at the top, plus all the dirt settles at the bottom over time and clogs the radiator. Mine was only running at 30%, and if I drove it 120 km on the highway, the temperature would also start to rise in traffic. I could have installed a 4.6 HSE gasoline engine with the return line at the bottom, but a new one was expensive, and there's no point in buying a used one, as it would be the same as mine (I think). I found a budget-friendly solution. I've driven it all summer without any problems.
I got my old radiator out. I removed the upper and lower housings; we'll need them to mount the new radiator.
We're buying a Mercedes-Benz W123/W126 MT 76-84 radiator; a new one costs $55.
We take the lower housing and secure it where it was. You'll just need to drill a hole in the plastic for the coolant drain of the new radiator. I also found a hose from the bottom of the return line to the thermostat while disassembling. We'll place the old plastic seal on top of the new radiator, but we'll need to cut it with a grinder, as shown in the photo. This way, the old fasteners hold the new radiator in place.