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/showt...t=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/Coolin...#anchor5199945

Pelican Parts sells them:

17-11-9-055-593

[bubba966]

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

http://www.normgrills.net/bcg/Coolin...#anchor5199945

Pelican Parts sells them:

17-11-9-055-593

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-B...spagenameZWDVW

$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-B...spagenameZWDVW

$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/s...ry_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.