Radiator

[Reell]

Hey guys the radiator in my 95 840 has a small hole upper left corner just below the main hose. Is it a good idea to patch the hole or replace the unit? I've search many places, they only have BMW one which is $460. Does anyone know of an alternative hopefully cheaper? Thanks,

[Rich in Boston]

There are a lot of aftermarket options. Repairing a plastic radiator is not a good idea. For a little over $200 they can be had at fcpeuro and azautohaus.

[Timm]

Time for a new one - the plastic is failing as they are well known to do. In the UK there are many alternatives - must be in the US too.....

[Reell]

ok guys thanks. Will get a new one

[Reell]

Azautohaus $464
fcpeuro $507

all genuine BMW radiator. No aftermarket

[cartoonz]

Rock Auto has an aftermarket one for cheap.

Also, a Nissens 60611 is supposed to fit. The radiators for the earlier cars like mine are a different part #, but the Nissens for those are better than the OEMs

[rogbmw]

Try Rock Auto.

[Reell]

Yup, Rock Auto has it for $94. Talking about a big difference. Didn't have to sell my kidney after all. Thanks a lot guys . 😇

[XAlt]

Yup, Rock Auto has it for $94. Talking about a big difference. Didn't have to sell my kidney after all. Thanks a lot guys . 

I'll buy your kidney(s), if in top condition I'll give you $100 for both.

[thelongeride]

Hey guys the radiator in my 95 840 has a small hole upper left corner just below the main hose. Is it a good idea to patch the hole or replace the unit? I've search many places, they only have BMW one which is $460. Does anyone know of an alternative hopefully cheaper? Thanks,

I have a good used one from an 850. Took it out to replace as PM, then realized it was in good shape and younger than I thought. Close to NY? Its $50...as close to free as I can go.

[rotomoto712]

Look into the Zionsville aluminum radiator if you want to never have to replace again.

[M6csi]

Look into the Zionsville aluminum radiator if you want to never have to replace again.

When the time comes...

[nickbaluyut]

Money save in radiator...use it on Evans Waterless coolant!!!

[wolfebrian2120]

If you get it from rockauto I recommend the OSC brand radiators. I replaced the one in my tahoe with one of theirs and you can see a big difference in how they build them. OSC adds more cooling. don't just get any brand as a lot of other brands skimp on the oil coolers within the radiator. Their video on rockauto explains it and they are right. My tahoe had a different aftermarket one in it when I bought it, when I replaced it with the OSC, I was able to see the oil coolers in the old one had less fins for cooling.

[toomann]

My 95 840 failed in exactly the same way 3yrs ago. Don't remember the aftermarket radiator I purchased but it was under $200. Hasn't given me any problems. If I can locate the invoice I'll post it. The one thing I noticed between them was the original was much heavier than the aftermarket replacement.

[rjbaren]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! Don't buy a replacement radiator that are junk, like the one BMW put in your car in the first place. Check out Zionsville, in Zionsville, IN. They make radiators out of medal, not plastic, and it will last a lifetime. I replaced mine with an OEM and I am waiting for it to fail again, so I can replace it with a quality radiator from Zionsville because the originals made out of plastic are a piece of Shiite.

[XAlt]

NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! Don't buy a replacement radiator that are junk, like the one BMW put in your car in the first place. Check out Zionsville, in Zionsville, IN. They make radiators out of medal, not plastic, and it will last a lifetime. I replaced mine with an OEM and I am waiting for it to fail again, so I can replace it with a quality radiator from Zionsville because the originals made out of plastic are a piece of Shiite.

The POS plastic radiator will go another 100k.

Cheap and disposable wear item? Good for me.

[rjbaren]

I want a radiator that is repairable. I am tired of plastic parts that fail. I bet nearly every radiator that has failed has been the plastic tanks. Ok, just my 2 cents. I'm in my car for way more than it's worth, so at this point I would spend the extra $ for the piece of mind that any good radiator shop could repair it if necessary. Mind you, I don't own one yet, but when mine fails, and it will, I'm going to replace it with the Zionsville.

[Major Cheese]

... I'm in my car for way more than it's worth, so at this point I would spend the extra $ for the piece of mind...

I love it! I believe we've all been there at one time or another.

[Black88GTA]

Hey guys the radiator in my 95 840 has a small hole upper left corner just below the main hose. Is it a good idea to patch the hole or replace the unit? I've search many places, they only have BMW one which is $460. Does anyone know of an alternative hopefully cheaper? Thanks,

Mine was starting to fail in the exact same way as yours a while back. Maybe BMW builds them to fail this way on purpose, as a kind of "early warning" to replace it before it goes completely? I made a
thread about it 8 years ago when it happened. I was also considering the Zionsville, but ultimately couldn't end up justifying it - the money was better spent elsewhere, and also at the time there was a guy blowing out new Nissens radiators on eBay for $80 shipped, which is what I ended up getting. 8 years and 50k miles later, it's rock solid still.

[Reell]

Finally got the time to install the new cheap radiator. The original lasted over 20 years. Who woulda thunk a BMW is so reliable! LoL ��

- - - Updated - - -

Many jokers tell me BMW's are problematic. I guest I need to stop hanging around clowns. 😇

- - - Updated - - -

If you get it from rockauto I recommend the OSC brand radiators. I replaced the one in my tahoe with one of theirs and you can see a big difference in how they build them. OSC adds more cooling. don't just get any brand as a lot of other brands skimp on the oil coolers within the radiator. Their video on rockauto explains it and they are right. My tahoe had a different aftermarket one in it when I bought it, when I replaced it with the OSC, I was able to see the oil coolers in the old one had less fins for cooling.

There wasn't many choices to choose from.

[TedBobo]

Finally got the time to install the new cheap radiator. The original lasted over 20 years. Who woulda thunk a BMW is so reliable!

I must have gotten a bad unit. My BMW radiator only lasted 7yrs.