Heater Matrix / Core / Radiator HELP!!!!!!

Hi all,

I have taken the heater core out of my 1998 520i e39 and the only place I can get a replacemnet is BMW and they want over $400 for it. There must be a cheaper option available. I have searched all the sites I know and cant get one. There seem to be two cores available for the e39. Mine has an aluminium bracket which clamps on the three water pipes and is held on with one nut in the centre. All the sites list a different core for my car. Its almost the same but has three brass stud holes instead of one and the pipes on mine are slightly different and dont fit. Does anyone know is this a modification? Do I need to buy new pipes also? I keep getting told my core is obsolete but nobody knows why......

Any advice from people who have come across this would help....

Pictures of my core attached....

You might have more luck finding help with your specific question in these UK based forums. A little closer to you for suppliers & probably the same models, i.e. 520 like yours.

http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f15/
BMW 5 Series Forum - Technical Talk on the BMW E39, E60, E61, F10 and F07 GT

http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/forum/64-e39-1996-2004/
E39 1996-2004

Another thought would be to try an auto recycler (junk yard, here in North America) I think the British term is breakers yard. Same term in Ireland?

Dunno ... but maybe, at least temporarily, you can bypass it while you search for parts.

- The search for a heater core DIY (1) & questions about temporarily bypassing the heater core (1) and searching for a cooling system heater pipe heater core inlet return pipe leak (1) (2) (3)