nissens vs. behr.....which should i buy?.........

[tim s]

there is about a $90.00 price difference.
pros & cons on each???
i like oem, but i also like to eat.
thanks
tim s.

[shogun]

Behr, no question. Nissens is a copy of the old design Behr and still has the weak part in it. I already showed that in pics. Use the search.

[Tiger]

Nissen... I got it for 5 years now... zero problem. I don't know what shogun is talking about... Nissen got reinforced neck... thicker than Behr. Behr has metal tube underneath the plastic neck but they expand at different rate... so might get weaker faster.

[Cambridge]

I'm running a Nissens that I ordered from Radiator.com. I paid $259 including shipping. The Nissens was $10 more than the Behr.

Why the Nissens? My stock radiator that died was a Behr, so I thought I'd give the Nissens a whirl. I'd heard good things about the Nissens so I thought I'd give it a try. So far (6,000 miles), no problems.

Here's how I replaced the radiator on my 1995 540ia: radiator replacement procedure (http://www.bmw-540i.com/1995-540i-radiator-replacement/index.php)

[shogun]

o.k., if you are happy. That is just my personal opinion. Have a look here , comparison pics by Sean
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/RadiatorReplacement.htm

[Tiger]

$197 at my favorite online part supplier for Nissen...

[Tiger]

540iA does not have trans cooler... plus nissen radiator does not have those metal sleeve inside the radiator neck. Overtightening clamp on any plastic neck will cause it to fail PREMATURELY regardless of any brand.

[Cambridge]

o.k., if you are happy. That is just my personal opinion. Have a look here , comparison pics by Sean
http://shrubbery.student.utwente.nl/sean750/radiator/RadiatorReplacement.htm

Both the Behr and the Nissens shown in the pictures look different from the Behr I had and the Nissens I had. I noticed the sections about reinforcement, etc. but I didn't see anything like that on my Behr (stock).

[cmk]

I put in a Nissens this summer.
It's still ok.

I did notice that the bends on the aluminum fingers that clamp the plastic sides mostly had cracks on the outside.

I know that this is typical of bends in alunminum over 1mm in thickness, but it still makes me a little worried that it will be a seat for early corrosion and leaking if they weaken too much.

Try and inspect the rad before you take it home.

[uscharalph]

there is about a $90.00 price difference.
pros & cons on each???
i like oem, but i also like to eat.
thanks
tim s.
I bought a brand new Nissens off eBay for my M20 engine and have had no problems so far.

[Dave M]

For what it s worth.

Manual tranny (no trans cooler issue) M50 525. Nissens with no problems for last two years.

Dave M

[zuzuk212]

I juat asked for info about radiators before Thanksgiving ... I went with the Behr and will install this weekend. Got it from BMA for 200.

Ken