Zionsville, Nissens, Behr, or repair?

[bubba966]

So, finally figured out where my mystery coolant loss is. Upper hose connection on my side tank is cracked.

I'd love to just drop a Zionsville in there and be done with it. However I don't exactly have that kind of disposable $ at the moment.

Am tempted to try to seal/repair the crack until I can get a Zionsville in there in a few weeks or so. I recall someone here having good luck with repairing the neck with JB Plastic Weld or something like that. Have tried looking it up, but I'm not finding the info. Even had a pic of the fix in the post as I recall...

Anybody here have experience with the Zionsville units?

Or should I just get a Nissens or Behr unit from Pelican or some other such place?

[shogun]

Speak with Dwight
http://www.radiators.com/
They have very good prices and different brands such as Behr, Nissens, Modine, Valeo, CRYOMAX/CSF, Transpro, AC DELCO.

One of our Bimmerboard members just recently bought a CRYOMOAX for his 750iL for just $ 162 and he is happy with it. CRYMOAX is made in Taiwan, lifetime guarantee.
And the 750 radiator is expensive as it has the ATF cooler integrated into the radiator. Normal discount price for Nissens or Behr is between 200-300$ for the 750 ones.

as an alternative: find a small radiator shop which replaces all of the plastic parts of your existing defective radiator by aluminium, my buddy did it, here pics
http://www.bimmernut.com/forum/showthread.php?t=38465&highlight=alu+radiator
But for the price of this special work you can buy 2 new radiators, of course with plastic which breaks again.

[e34.535i.sport]

I had the same problem and did'nt want to risk repair incase it went big time and left me stranded. If one part is brittle now and cracking the rest should be in a similar condition...

I would love an all alu radiator for peice of mind but as you say they're way expensive... In the end I bought a Nissens one for a very reasonable price and haven't had any probelms at all, it's been brilliant.

[gale]

There is a metal repair nipple, scroll to the bottom of this page:

http://www.normgrills.net/bcg/Cooling_FAQ.html#anchor5199945

Pelican Parts sells them:

17-11-9-055-593

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/imgdsply.cgi?pn=17119055593-M9

[bubba966]

There is a metal repair nipple, scroll to the bottom of this page:

http://www.normgrills.net/bcg/Cooling_FAQ.html#anchor5199945

Pelican Parts sells them:

17-11-9-055-593

http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/smart/imgdsply.cgi?pn=17119055593-M9

That's for the small overflow hose. That's (unfortunately) not what's cracked. The upper radiator hose neck is cracked. The one that everybody usually has break on them. Only have ever heard of someone using a two part epoxy type of patch to repair & reinforce that area. Or of just replacing the radiator.

Checked Shuck's site and see that they have a couple of different Permatex 'radiator repair' products. Think I'll try one of those out for a few weeks until I can get either a Zionsville rad, or just get a Behr unit without feeling the $ squeeze that buying a Behr right now would be.

Anyone use any specific radiator repair product that at least worked for a short while?

[Tiger]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-BMW-OEM-Radiator-E34-540i-540-E32-740i-iL-92-94-95_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQihZ022QQitemZ 350081778820QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

$165 and free shippng.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

I picked up a new CSF radiator for my 525 last month...$150.00

[KenB]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-BMW-OEM-Radiator-E34-540i-540-E32-740i-iL-92-94-95_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33602QQihZ022QQitemZ 350081778820QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

$165 and free shippng.


Got mine from there, a Behr for $158, good deal.

[Paul in NZ]

how much for zionsville?How much longer do you want to keep the car...if it were me i think i would just go a "std" one.As has alredy been mentioned,if it lets go it will be at the worst possible time....

[bubba966]

how much for zionsville?How much longer do you want to keep the car...if it were me i think i would just go a "std" one.As has alredy been mentioned,if it lets go it will be at the worst possible time....

Zionsville all aluminum rad is $564. http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=6134&Product_Code=E34V8AR&Category_Code=CCSE34

So it's $400 more than the OE unit from that eBay seller.

I do intend to keep my car basically forever. I see no reason it won't be hitting 300k miles or more.

[Tiger]

Each radiator last at least 100,000 miles...so you don't need the Zion's.

[DaveCN]

It would seem to me that a universal fit all aluminum model would work - from a place like Jegs or Summit Racing. All you would have to do is weld in a bung for the fan sensor.

I am thinking of going this route.

[bubba966]

So for the moment I went for the repair option. Got a Permatex radiator repair kit. http://www.permatex.com/products/Automotive/specialized_maintenance_repair/professional_repair_systems/Permatex_Radiator_Repair_Kit.htm

Worked great. It says it's "permanent" and it probably is. But as the whole rad isn't covered in that the rest of it will crap out at some point.

Will have to see how the $ situation goes for the next couple of weeks to see if I get a Behr or a Zionsville. The couple of local BMW CCA'ers I've heard from that have Zions have had real good experiences with them. And after seeing what happens to the plastic on the OE style rads makes me want to go with a Zions even more.

[Tiger]

100.000 miles... for $160... The question is are you gonna keep that car that long to spend $600?

[bubba966]

100.000 miles... for $160... The question is are you gonna keep that car that long to spend $600?

I'm never going to sell the car. And I'm not sure that the plastic rads last 100k. Still haven't had the time to pour through the service history on the car. And I don't recall offhand if/when it's had the rad replaced. But it's at 171.5k now, and I really doubt it's the original rad. If it's only on it's second one and you average the miles between the two then that's 85k per rad. Am I going to keep & run the car another 250k (lets figure that's 3 plastic rads to equal the cost of one Zions)? I'm sure it'll see it.

Mostly need to decide if I should put forth the extra $ at the moment towards a Zions when that $ could be put towards many other things that need $ both related & unrelated to the car.

[Tiger]

Seriously... you will need that extra money for other things in order to run extra 250K miles.

[uscharalph]

Zionsville all aluminum rad is $564. http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/store/shop.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=6134&Product_Code=E34V8AR&Category_Code=CCSE34

So it's $400 more than the OE unit from that eBay seller.

I do intend to keep my car basically forever. I see no reason it won't be hitting 300k miles or more.
How about that kit for $1,009.00?

[bubba966]

How about that kit for $1,009.00?

That's only for the 525. As I've got a 540 I'm stuck with their basic aluminum rad as far as choices go.

Will say that the repair I made to the rad has held up fine, and it's been a little over 3k miles since I did it.

Still have the Zionsville at the top of the list. Will go with an updated Behr unit if I have to, but would rather not.