Radiator advice

[Stiffler_PE]

Hey Guys,

Help me with a decision regarding the cooling system on my e46 318 FL.

I did the expansion bottle a couple months back and the top radiator hose.
Problem solved... no more low coolant light.

Untill last night when i get ready to go out, started her up and saw the low coolant light was on :banghead::banghead:
Parked her and jumped into my ever faithful Isuzu.

Now... i know its probably not expansion bottle, since its so new and the car has done allmost NO mileage since then ( she only really moves on weekends, have a company bakkie )
I had a look around under the bonnet quickly. No evdidence of the white powder really... except on the radiator self... between the little tabs that hold the plastic side onto the raditor.

I called a local reputable radiator repair ( EP Radiators for those in PE ) for advice. He did my old e36 and all is well.

The dude reckons there is a plastic pipe/elbow on the bottom of the radiator which has probably cracked due to age/brittle etc.
He will drop in new radiator with 1 year guarentee and use my expansion bottle etc obviously, for R1290 excl.

Question 1) do you guys agree with diagnosis ? any ideas ?
Question 2) is the price about right ?
Question 3) any other comments ?

Cheers guys, look forward to hearing from you.

 

[Sankekur]

It might be useful to refill with coolant and to inspect for any obvious leaks in the system.

 

[andrewbuch]

I had that on my E36, between the expansion bottle & radiator.. Replaced the radiator & expansion bottle.. was about R1400 incl for supplying the radiator, I fitted it my self

 

[freerider]

Just replaced my radiator last week for the exact same problem. The plastic tanks separate from the core of the radiator.

 

[Stiffler_PE]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the quick reply... you obviously know the k@k feeling in your gut when your baby is down :bawling:

@freerider... who did you get to do the repair... original or aftermarket ?
I am inclined to think that aftermarket would be ok considering im using original expansion tank etc. Basically replacing the core. Thoughts ?

Sounds like the quote i got for R1290 excl is not bad at all ( includes labor - remove and fit )

Now to cancel appointments for the afternoon and get my baby to the radiator shop

 

[freerider]

Yeah thats a decent quote, I paid R820 for a plexus radiator from Silverton. Fitted it myself.

 

[Stiffler_PE]

@ Freerider... thanks bud, that settles it. I assume you did this on the 320 ?

Would you recommend just buying the core and doing it myself... is the effort/sweat worth the R400 saving ? Or let them do it for me and have my car back in 2 hours

 

[Stiffler_PE]

I have gotten my hands on a BEHR radiator for R960 :excited:

Anybody got a DIY or a link for the radiator ? ( manual box )

@freerider... was it a PITA or not bad at all ? From what i can gather its not to bad.