E46 Radiator - Life expectancy? Preferred brands?
Discussion
Car started loosing water, thought it might be the header tank as I didnt replace that. However on inspection the radiator is rotten and swelled at the bottom.
I understand is a common fault. However I replaced it shortly after I bought the car, and having dug out the receipts have confirmed it was fitted only 2.4 years ago! Got the rad from GSF, part: 173BM0300, list price currently £150 although the recipt shoes mpr £227, paid £50.
Obviously it needs replacing again, but is this normal? Seems mad to me. I understand 'Nissens' is the brand name in rads? Any other points for brand/supplier? ECP/CP4L appears to list a Hella rad?
Daniel
I understand is a common fault. However I replaced it shortly after I bought the car, and having dug out the receipts have confirmed it was fitted only 2.4 years ago! Got the rad from GSF, part: 173BM0300, list price currently £150 although the recipt shoes mpr £227, paid £50.
Obviously it needs replacing again, but is this normal? Seems mad to me. I understand 'Nissens' is the brand name in rads? Any other points for brand/supplier? ECP/CP4L appears to list a Hella rad?
Daniel
I bought my E46 325ti with 80K miles - and needed a new radiator at 82K miles. 
The usual "banana" problem - my Indy said the only ones that don't do that are the diesels because the intercooler sits below the radiator so it stops the radiator bending too far.
I don't know what he fitted, but it was £83.40 + VAT and lasted past 103K when I sold it.
The usual "banana" problem - my Indy said the only ones that don't do that are the diesels because the intercooler sits below the radiator so it stops the radiator bending too far.
I don't know what he fitted, but it was £83.40 + VAT and lasted past 103K when I sold it.
I was in the same situation myself recently, was recommended to go with the Nissens rad as already mentioned here...no problems so far, and only £67 quid delivered on eBay! Prices for a genuine rad are ridiculous, although other genuine cooling system parts such as thermostat etc. weren’t so bad.
Sounds good, fitted a genuine thermostat, but will get a Nissens rad fitted this time.
The car is my daily and does about 10k year, so it's had reasonable use in 2.4 years, but still less than you would like! For future ref it's 330ci in case it's relevant but I suspect they all suffer the same.
Might swap the reservoir this time too for 'peice of mind' I understand people typically go genuine here? Will ask the garage, assuming it goes to the BMW bloke near my house not the generic city one by work.
Ditto coolant pump? Very hard to know where to draw the line. As you brands to look out for and or request? Only as it's been loosing a pint every 8weeks for a year before the rad failed again.
Made harder by the fact I need it to get to work everyday!
Daniel
Edited to add image of failed rad.
The car is my daily and does about 10k year, so it's had reasonable use in 2.4 years, but still less than you would like! For future ref it's 330ci in case it's relevant but I suspect they all suffer the same.
Might swap the reservoir this time too for 'peice of mind' I understand people typically go genuine here? Will ask the garage, assuming it goes to the BMW bloke near my house not the generic city one by work.
Ditto coolant pump? Very hard to know where to draw the line. As you brands to look out for and or request? Only as it's been loosing a pint every 8weeks for a year before the rad failed again.
Made harder by the fact I need it to get to work everyday!
Daniel
Edited to add image of failed rad.
Edited by dhutch on Monday 25th July 18:27
Mr Tidy said:
I bought my E46 325ti with 80K miles - and needed a new radiator at 82K miles.
The usual "banana" problem - my Indy said the only ones that don't do that are the diesels because the intercooler sits below the radiator so it stops the radiator bending too far.
I don't know what he fitted, but it was £83.40 + VAT and lasted past 103K when I sold it.
It's not that - diesels run much cooler and don't have the pressure to bend a rad out of shape. Petrols can run to 100-115 degrees thanks to the mapped thermostat which is why rads and expansion tanks sThe usual "banana" problem - my Indy said the only ones that don't do that are the diesels because the intercooler sits below the radiator so it stops the radiator bending too far.
I don't know what he fitted, but it was £83.40 + VAT and lasted past 103K when I sold it.
t themselves. I've seen E46 rads that have blown out top and bottom. Always use a genuine expansion tank!
iSore said:
It's not that - diesels run much cooler and don't have the pressure to bend a rad out of shape. Petrols can run to 100-115 degrees thanks to the mapped thermostat which is why rads and expansion tanks st themselves. I've seen E46 rads that have blown out top and bottom.
Always use a genuine expansion tank!
Useful info as there is still an E46 (petrol) in the family - thanks. t themselves. I've seen E46 rads that have blown out top and bottom. Always use a genuine expansion tank!
But I've moved on to an E91, so a whole new world of pain with the electric water pump!
Zero issues with Nissens and Behr rads here and that’s with x2 E38 728i and x2 E39 530i cars
Imo, unless already done, whilst the rad out you may as well get the water pump and stat changed too as they’re not that expensive. Walher for the stat and Meyle for the pump
Use RealOEM website for your part numbers (use the drop down menus or your VIN to source the correct car/parts) and use eBay to source parts via BMWmotormec or C3BMW.
Imo, unless already done, whilst the rad out you may as well get the water pump and stat changed too as they’re not that expensive. Walher for the stat and Meyle for the pump
Use RealOEM website for your part numbers (use the drop down menus or your VIN to source the correct car/parts) and use eBay to source parts via BMWmotormec or C3BMW.
Well, its that time of year again....
Ended up with a new Hella Rad and Tank fitted by a BM Indi back in early October 2018. Whatever that cost at the time.
Roll on not quite four years, and its in at another BM Indi, for an Ignition Switch and the look at the coolant loss again.
Rad is split down the side, which makes a change from the bottom going like the last two times I guess, but pita.
They are quoting £160 plus labour for the rad 'Likely Nissens, Hella, nothing cheap' so I guess we roll the dice again.
I can get a Nissens off carpartsforless for £75 £90 less a random 19% off today, but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
So that's now three rads in 6.5years. Otherwise the car is without issue, but what a mess. Rant over!
Ended up with a new Hella Rad and Tank fitted by a BM Indi back in early October 2018. Whatever that cost at the time.
Roll on not quite four years, and its in at another BM Indi, for an Ignition Switch and the look at the coolant loss again.
Rad is split down the side, which makes a change from the bottom going like the last two times I guess, but pita.
They are quoting £160 plus labour for the rad 'Likely Nissens, Hella, nothing cheap' so I guess we roll the dice again.
I can get a Nissens off carpartsforless for £75 £90 less a random 19% off today, but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
So that's now three rads in 6.5years. Otherwise the car is without issue, but what a mess. Rant over!
dhutch said:
Well, its that time of year again....
Ended up with a new Hella Rad and Tank fitted by a BM Indi back in early October 2018. Whatever that cost at the time.
Roll on not quite four years, and its in at another BM Indi, for an Ignition Switch and the look at the coolant loss again.
Rad is split down the side, which makes a change from the bottom going like the last two times I guess, but pita.
They are quoting £160 plus labour for the rad 'Likely Nissens, Hella, nothing cheap' so I guess we roll the dice again.
I can get a Nissens off carpartsforless for £75 £90 less a random 19% off today, but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
So that's now three rads in 6.5years. Otherwise the car is without issue, but what a mess. Rant over!
Nissens or Behr; try BMWmotormec and/or C3BMWEnded up with a new Hella Rad and Tank fitted by a BM Indi back in early October 2018. Whatever that cost at the time.
Roll on not quite four years, and its in at another BM Indi, for an Ignition Switch and the look at the coolant loss again.
Rad is split down the side, which makes a change from the bottom going like the last two times I guess, but pita.
They are quoting £160 plus labour for the rad 'Likely Nissens, Hella, nothing cheap' so I guess we roll the dice again.
I can get a Nissens off carpartsforless for £75 £90 less a random 19% off today, but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
So that's now three rads in 6.5years. Otherwise the car is without issue, but what a mess. Rant over!
dhutch said:
but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
wew, what kind of indy is that? I understand a lot of them have "main dealer experience", but that seems overkill. The only time I had that argument with a specialist was when swapping a master cylinder. Just went to a different one.On topic, isn't there some sort of cooling mod/addon you could do to reduce temps?
Edited by 4004 on Thursday 21st July 15:12
4004 said:
dhutch said:
but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
wew, what kind of indy is that? I understand a lot of them have "main dealer experience", but that seems overkill. The only time I had that argument with a specialist was when swapping a master cylinder. Just went to a different one.On topic, isn't there some sort of cooling mod/addon you could do to reduce temps?
Edited by 4004 on Thursday 21st July 15:12
I missed the bit where you said they won't fit supplied partsI know some Indy garages that won't fit customers parts; all down to liability if anything goes wrong and they also don't make any money on the parts 9the small amount they do make, but it all adds up)
However, know I've got to know them and they know I'm a genuine petrol head; they're happy to fit supplied parts as they know I don't take the piss and its generally because I simply can't do it myself
The local indy to me who also does our MOTs has just fitted a full cat and exhaust to the wife's Racing Jazz, after the cat was stolen a few weeks back - in agreement I pay them cash for their 'butties fund'
Absolutely. And the garage that would often have the car would likely fit parts for me. Certainly they have offer to look for used parts at one point.
However this is the first time I've used this, and I think they do do a bit of the "dealer experience" bs.
Car is only with them as it went in for an intermittent electrical fault on the ignition I was told might be imobiliser and I thought a closer knowledge of the car might help. Took than that many "ahh, we've got a guy off sick, so had a look but didn't get to the bottom of it" and a 10day lead time on a next slot the leaks went from on the to do list to fairly urgent.
With a house project, 5month old, and wedding, DIY isn't an option and further more for £100odd it's not even worth moving it to the normal garage.
However this is the first time I've used this, and I think they do do a bit of the "dealer experience" bs.
Car is only with them as it went in for an intermittent electrical fault on the ignition I was told might be imobiliser and I thought a closer knowledge of the car might help. Took than that many "ahh, we've got a guy off sick, so had a look but didn't get to the bottom of it" and a 10day lead time on a next slot the leaks went from on the to do list to fairly urgent.
With a house project, 5month old, and wedding, DIY isn't an option and further more for £100odd it's not even worth moving it to the normal garage.
Had a bunch of e46's and had to do the rad on every one of them. Factory rad generally lasts 10-14 years and they all go banana shaped at the bottom.
Had no issues with Hella/Behr radiators, in fact I've just taken the factory radiator out of my 21 year old M5 and found no issues with it and the word Behr moulded into the side of it.
I steer clear of the cheaper radiators unless it's being fitted to an old clunker with a very limited life.
Had no issues with Hella/Behr radiators, in fact I've just taken the factory radiator out of my 21 year old M5 and found no issues with it and the word Behr moulded into the side of it.
I steer clear of the cheaper radiators unless it's being fitted to an old clunker with a very limited life.
A Behr rad made in 2001 was probably a different kettle of fish: made in Germany for BMW. A lot of 'good name' aftermarket rads are repackaged Chinese ste. What they supply to manufacturers and what is sold via ECP too often isn't the same thing.
Nissens were consistently good but even they may be outsourcing now. Who knows?
te. What they supply to manufacturers and what is sold via ECP too often isn't the same thing. Nissens were consistently good but even they may be outsourcing now. Who knows?
dhutch said:
Well, its that time of year again....
Ended up with a new Hella Rad and Tank fitted by a BM Indi back in early October 2018. Whatever that cost at the time.
Roll on not quite four years, and its in at another BM Indi, for an Ignition Switch and the look at the coolant loss again.
Rad is split down the side, which makes a change from the bottom going like the last two times I guess, but pita.
They are quoting £160 plus labour for the rad 'Likely Nissens, Hella, nothing cheap' so I guess we roll the dice again.
I can get a Nissens off carpartsforless for £75 £90 less a random 19% off today, but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
So that's now three rads in 6.5years. Otherwise the car is without issue, but what a mess. Rant over!
Are you still looking? I think I may have a new Nissens in my garage if you’re interested. (Need to clear out all my E46 spares!)Ended up with a new Hella Rad and Tank fitted by a BM Indi back in early October 2018. Whatever that cost at the time.
Roll on not quite four years, and its in at another BM Indi, for an Ignition Switch and the look at the coolant loss again.
Rad is split down the side, which makes a change from the bottom going like the last two times I guess, but pita.
They are quoting £160 plus labour for the rad 'Likely Nissens, Hella, nothing cheap' so I guess we roll the dice again.
I can get a Nissens off carpartsforless for £75 £90 less a random 19% off today, but of cause, they wont fit customer supplied parts.
So that's now three rads in 6.5years. Otherwise the car is without issue, but what a mess. Rant over!
)
Annoying I don't even know, he said it was a Nissens, or an EIS, or an another three letters acronym he said as was equally reputable. Not a cheap one, and I don't think it was a Hella this time. Can't see a sticker now it's installed.
Checked the out going one, deffo has a Hella Behr sticker.
Old rad.
Checked the out going one, deffo has a Hella Behr sticker.
Old rad.
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