Radiator advise. Need a little help

[dbals]

hey all. I have a 95 540i with a ESS powerdyne blower and I am having some radiator issues. Small leak looks like its coming from where aluminuim is clamped to plastic end caps. Should I replace with OEM? Try to fix? (anyone know how) Have custom all aluminium one built? What do you guys think?
Thx
Drew

[MBXB]

OEM radiators are between $200-300 from BMA;
Custom all aluminum around $850 from rondavisradiators.com

[632 Regal]

do a web search, I think its radiators.com or something like that will get you a cost comparison

[dbals]

thanks all. i am going to pull it, pressure test it and see whats up. I sure would like a all aluminium radiator, but could think of about 10 other car things I would like to spend $800 bucks on.

[Karl]

If you look at a speed equipment catalog, like Jeg's or Summit, you'll find some other aluminum radiator sources

That said, I replaced mine with another stock unit.

[632 Regal]

Stock units are not heavy, plastic tanks and aluminum center...theres no use for a custom one.

[shogun]

second time in 10 years on this car. Always the same point. The Nissens are the worst, as they are a copy of the old Behr. Behr meanwhile enforced this side.
Here the typical leak point.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/take/original/750-22.jpg
That is the onnection for the internal oil coiler on the E32 750 radiator.
My friend here in japan asked a company to make that plastic container in aluminium and add that to the rest of the radiator. All connections aluminum. Not that nice looking but it works now for 20K km.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/take/original/CIMG0051.jpg
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/take/original/FINAL.jpg
old design
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/removeNutFromRad.jpg
New Behr design
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/behrCloseUp.jpg
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/behrCloseUp2.jpg
Zionsville makes all aluminium for the E39 and E38, E30 and ? Maybe you ask them if they also have it for E34. Cost about 550 $
http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=6134&Product_Code=NP-ALLOYRAD39&Category_Code=AR1

[Kalevera]

second time in 10 years on this car. Always the same point. The Nissens are the worst, as they are a copy of the old Behr. Behr meanwhile enforced this side.
Here the typical leak point.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/take/original/750-22.jpg
That is the onnection for the internal oil coiler on the E32 750 radiator.
My friend here in japan asked a company to make that plastic container in aluminium and add that to the rest of the radiator. All connections aluminum. Not that nice looking but it works now for 20K km.
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/take/original/CIMG0051.jpg
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/take/original/FINAL.jpg
old design
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/removeNutFromRad.jpg
New Behr design
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/behrCloseUp.jpg
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/behrCloseUp2.jpg
Zionsville makes all aluminium for the E39 and E38, E30 and ? Maybe you ask them if they also have it for E34. Cost about 550 $
http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=6134&Product_Code=NP-ALLOYRAD39&Category_Code=AR1


Erich, Zionsville refuses to make one for the E34. They don't seem to think that the return will be enough to justify the development costs. Brett's asked them MULTIPLE times about this, including earlier this week at Ofest.

best, whit

[Tiger]

$188 for Nissen at my source...

http://www.mr-auto-parts.com

I got nissen in my car for 4 years now.

[Eric Clark]

Thats funny, When I called for parts I also asked if they would make an all alloy radiator for my 530i when the time comes and they told me they would. I guess I should have asked what it would cost me.