Hi,
In the last 50k miles, I have replaced the radiator at least 3 times.
The OEM has died at something like 130k miles.
After that I bought a really cheap radiotor for equivalent of 50 dollars - The radiator lasted 5k miles, and than the plastic snapped at the main top hose.
Later after it, I bought branded but again cheap (maybe 80 dollars) radiator which lasted about 9k miles.
After It I bought full aluminium "Direnza" radiator which cost about 200 dollars. I thought that it will outlast the OEM as it looks really well made from outside.
This one started leaking after about 6k miles (3 months). The leak occurred where the tubes are pressed into the sides of the radiator.
The guys gave me another "Direnza" radiator. It started leaking after 1 month and 2K miles. As it turned out after short research on the internet, anything Direnza is almost always problematic.
WHAT BRANDS DO YOU RECOMMEND APART FROM BMW OEM?
Nissens radiator with 5 year warranty for 120 dollars - Good price, great warranty however the radiator uses round tube design - I am not convinced about its cooling capacity.
Valeo 130 dollars which as far as I know is OEM for french cars. - 1 year warranty, OEM looks
HELLA 115 dollars - 1 year warranty, OEM looks
I have Nissens in my 750il, and Behr in my 740il, both works great no problem. I find the Behr fitment is better than Nissens, otherwise no problem for 20k on each radiator. No experience with other brand you mentioned, but i think all those brand should be quality stuff.
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Behr is OEM so personally I’d stick with them
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Watch out. Behr from the dealer is OE and expensive. Behr Service, is available from multiple external sources. Get a radiator from a reputable supplier such as FCPEuro or OEMBimmerparts.
Behr rads are easy enough to source on eBay; just make sure it's from a reputable seller with solid feedbac
My car: 2002 E39 540i Sport - Japanese import - the new project!
Behr is not availiable from my supplier, only hella.
Am I right to think that Hella is not BEHR?
I use autodoc.co.uk , the biggest part supplier in Europe.
Hella is not Behr - correct - not sure who is the most trusted suppliers in Europe.
I think we are failing to diagnose the root cause of all of these failures. Yes, cheap radiators will break more easily, but if you motor mounts are bad, the engine will lift and pull on that upper hose, causing the radiator to break at the neck. Check your motor mounts, if they are bad, not even an OEM radiator will last that long.
'98 740il | 9/97 build | schwarz 2 | sandbeige | 5AT | 270k
'04 330i ZHP sedan | Mystic blue | Alcantara | 6MT | 120k
'00 540i sport | Titanium silver | Black | 5AT | 152k
'85 Mustang GT convertible | Medium charcoal metallic | Gray | 5MT | 216k | one owner, all original
mods: m-pars | Bilsteins & B&G springs | ValentineOne | StealthOne
retrofits: full nav | MKIV | bluetooth TCU | BM53 w/ AUX input | video module w/ AV input & backup cam | oem sirius xm | xenon | shades | PDC | rain sensor | BMW DWS TPMS | lighted door handles | front seat heaters | heated steering wheel | euro rear fog lights | ski pass | folding mirrors
dont forget fcpeuro offers lifetime warranty on their parts. fyi
The mounts are in perfect condition.
The cooling system has failed again after one day of perfect operation.
The plastic at the main hose developed micro leak.
The thermostat died causing overheat and killed the water pump.
What is next... BMW e38 has really poor cooling sytem, its shit. On Toyota you may have no leak for 200-300k miles.
In the last 60k miles (3 years):
Including what needs to be changed.
4 radiators
1 Visco
2 water pump
2 thermostat
2 main hoses
1 Alternator
I suspect that when I get the next 3 things replaced, head gasket will fail. Terrible reliability.
My friend has e38; same problems with cooling system... He drives less, so he replaces things less often.
Just 2nd radiotor in 25k miles.
1 valley pan
Last edited by MrChrysler; 07-21-2018 at 06:00 PM.
Try Evans Waterless coolant . It takes all the pressure out of the system I think its the best answer for the our sorry coolant system although I went to Zionsville and Evans.......
I have no problem with my BEHR Radiator that was made in south africa... I think i got it from FCP...
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Behr
2001 BMW 740i - Anthracite Gray - Style 32 Wheels --------- 2004 BMW 330i - Silver Grey Metallic
Convenience Pkg - Cold Weather Pkg - PDC ------------------- Sport Package - Auto - Mroof - Hseats
THIS! I wish I had something substantive or definitive to follow, but I don't. I do agree though your failure rate is unusually high even for an e38. Something seems amuck. I've had two e38's and only replaced my radiator once. The first one was replaced as an upgrade after having the car for over 4 years. The original radiator was OEM equipment and was still in good condition. The aftermarket radiator lasted for 3 years before the car was totaled in a flood. I was able to salvage that same upgraded radiator and installed it in my current e38. It's been in this car for the past 5 years and no issues.
+1..... This is the aftermarket upgraded radiator that I got to replace my OEM unit. I don't expect that I will ever need to replace it again for as long as I own the car. Basically I've had the same radiator for ~8 years in 2 different cars & it still works fine.
But I would strongly suggest you determine the root cause as racer2086 suggested. After 3 years & 60K miles and you've replaced 4 radiators, 2 water pumps and a host of other cooling related parts, is it possible you have an issue with the coolant itself? is something affecting the coolant contents? It's state? Someone suggested valley pan (source of coolant leaks). Have you checked to see if your coolant is right?
just a thought.
"A good scientist is a person with original ideas. A good engineer is a person who makes a design that works with as few original ideas as possible. There are no prima donnas in engineering." - Freeman Dyson
Thank you for the thread here. I am looking for a radiator for me too, and I am thinking about some of those which I found online on https://www.concord-parts.com What do you think? Maybe you can recommend me some of the brands they have? I would apreciate it
Last edited by Kohin; 07-27-2018 at 06:05 AM.
Advanced Radiators is my usual supplier:
https://www.adrad.co.uk/
Timm..2007 E64 650i Individual Sport..1999 E31 840ci Individual Sport..ex owner of 2000 E38 740..1999 E38 740i V8 M62..1998 E38 735i V8..1993 E32 730i V8..1988 E28 518i
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I got BEHR radiator made in south africa, It has MAHLE, BEHR and HELLA labels on. Looks solid.
I put Millers RED coolant, OAT technology. It also provides the highest boiling point of known to me coolants. Thus pressure in the system should be the lowest.
What mix of water to coolant does BMW suggest?
Haha.... What did I say a few posts above... God has listened to me... Today a head gasket has blown, it causes the system to pressurise extremely from 80*C, at 95*C the cap opens up to release the pressure, letting out some coolant too.
I need to say that it turned out that the thermostat did not need to be changed, however water pump and the hose had to be.
Can my e38 ever do more than 6000 miles without fixing?
Last edited by MrChrysler; 11-25-2019 at 12:57 PM.
And now the engine is dead. It did 185k miles, regular quality oil changes every 6k miles. The engine stall and wont turn anymore.
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