Expansion Tank Bracket — BMW E36 / E46, Strut Tower Mount
Your expansion tank needs somewhere to live. This is where.
A bracket that holds the coolant expansion tank on the strut tower — designed on our own E46 build, and sitting further toward the centre of the car than the original position. Shorter hose runs, and you can reach the cap without dismantling the engine bay.
Printed in-house in PA-GF, glass fibre reinforced nylon. It stays stiff next to a hot engine and holds its shape where PLA and PETG start to sag.
Buy the printed bracket, or buy the drawing files and print it yourself.
Bolts not included. Ships worldwide.
What it is
A bracket that holds the coolant expansion tank on the strut tower.
We designed it on our own E46 build. The original tank position didn’t work any more, so instead of clamping the tank somewhere and hoping, we modelled a proper mount — and moved the tank further toward the centre of the car while we were at it. Shorter hose runs, and you can reach the cap without pulling half the engine bay apart.
If your tank has lost its home — swap, different radiator, rebuilt front end — this is the part that gives it one.
Why PA-GF and not PLA or PETG
An engine bay is a bad place for a printed part unless the material is right.
PLA starts to soften around 60 °C. PETG around 75 °C. Both slowly sag under a constant load next to a hot engine — and a full expansion tank is a load that never goes away.
PA-GF is glass fibre reinforced nylon. The fibre keeps the bracket stiff, holds the geometry at under-bonnet temperatures, and takes vibration without going brittle. It’s the same reason plenty of factory under-bonnet brackets are moulded from glass filled nylon rather than plain plastic.
- 🔧 PA-GF, glass fibre reinforced
- 🔥 Built for under-bonnet heat
- ⚙️ Designed and printed in-house
- 🏁 Tank sits inboard — easier access
Two ways to buy it
The printed bracket — black, PA-GF, ready to fit. Bolts not included. We ship worldwide.
The drawing files — instant download after payment. Print it yourself or hand it to any shop that runs nylon. Same geometry we run on our car.
Specification
| Fits | BMW E36, E46 |
| Function | Mounts the coolant expansion tank to the strut tower |
| Developed on | Our own E46 build |
| Material | PA-GF — glass fibre reinforced polyamide |
| Colour | Black |
| Manufacturing | 3D printed in-house, Lithuania |
| Bolts / hardware | Not included |
| Available as | Printed bracket · Drawing files (digital download) |
| Shipping | Worldwide. Files delivered by download. |
FAQ
What does this bracket actually do?
It holds the coolant expansion tank on the strut tower. That’s the whole job — it’s a mount, nothing else. The tank, hoses and hardware are not part of it.
Will it fit my E36 or E46?
It’s made for E36 and E46 chassis. We designed it on our own E46 build. If your engine bay has been changed around and you’re not sure, send us a photo — we’ll tell you straight.
Does the tank sit in the original place?
No. It sits further toward the centre of the car. That shortens the hose runs and makes the cap reachable when the car is hot.
Do I need to change or shorten my coolant hoses?
Depends on where your tank was sitting before. The new position is more central, so plan on checking your hose lengths when you fit it.
Do the bolts come with it?
No. Hardware isn’t included — bolt it up with what suits your car.
Will a 3D printed bracket survive engine bay heat?
PA-GF will. PLA and PETG won’t — they soften at roughly 60 °C and 75 °C, and a loaded bracket slowly deforms. Glass fibre reinforced nylon holds its shape at under-bonnet temperatures and stays stiff. It’s a normal OEM material for under-bonnet brackets for exactly that reason.
Is it as strong as an aluminium bracket?
It carries an expansion tank, not a suspension load. PA-GF is stiff enough for the job, damps vibration better than aluminium, and needs no welding or coating. It’s a bracket, not a structural part.
What exactly do I get if I buy the drawing?
The digital files for the bracket, as an instant download after payment. You print it yourself or send it to a shop that prints nylon. Nothing ships.
Can I print it in PLA?
Fine for a test fit on the car. Don’t drive on it. PLA won’t hold up next to a hot engine, and the tank will end up somewhere you don’t want it.
Where do you ship?
Worldwide. Or buy the files and skip shipping entirely.
Do you make brackets for other chassis?
We design and print in-house, so yes — tell us what you’re building. 🔧