BMW radiator leak and recommended replacements?

Kantaro

Kantaro

Joined
Sep 2, 2016
Messages
209
2009 BMW E90 328i AT with 140k km

I was replacing my radiator fan and noticed that my radiator appears to be leaking from both ends where the tubes join the header plates. Has anyone seen a radiator with the same failure? I'm curious if I can continue driving until I can change the radiator, or if something like this will fail catastrophically and leave me stranded.

No meaningful change in coolant level (yet). On a related topic, my radiator fan just stopped working and coolant temps hit 120C at idle. For what it's worth, "component protection" mode where engine and AC power is reduced starts at 117C. At 120C, a yellow warning is triggered before a red warning comes up at 125C for "emergency" mode.

My choices for replacement radiators in Canada are basically limited to what RockAuto offers. Do you have any opinions or feedback for the following:
  1. Denso 2219405 (Indonesia or China?), $159.53 (wholesaler closeout, $233.20 regularly)
  2. CSF 3718 (China?), $180.38
  3. TYC 2882 (Taiwan), $183.45
  4. Nissens 60786A (Slovakia), $223.46
  5. Mahle/Behr CR1711000P (South Africa), $286.01
  6. BMW 17117562079 (Germany), $716.64
I would normally default to the Mahle/Behr as it's the closest thing to OE, but many recent reports of premature failure and leaking on E90 specific forums.
 

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While we're at it, here's my failed TYC 622990 (Taiwan) radiator fan after 17 months and 825 km:



Interestingly, no fault codes were triggered and live data indicated that the fan was supposed to be spinning at 90%. When my factory fan was acting up, it would trigger a fault code for failing self diagnosis, and the vehicle would go into limp mode as a precaution (ie fan and electric water pump running at max speed with engine power reduced).

When enquiring about the lifetime warranty, TYC told me to pound sand since I purchased the fan off Amazon. Lesson learned!
 
I have gotten BEHR units for BMW and MB which had the star or propellor ground off or marked out with a permeant marker, though all for older cars.

I thought Modine was defunct.

I'd defer to the E90 specific forum, but I'll say my last Denso (for a honda due to FOD) was not impressive. I would go with 4 or 5 myself, unless i could confirm the quality of one of the others. If i didn't like the look of it when it came, I would sent it back and bite the bullet on the BMW one.

Shame about the Canada thing, several online discounters seem to sell Genuine for 350.00 ish US.
 
Mahle/Behr or Nissens are fine. I have used both with no issue. Of course , Genuine BMW is fine too if you are ok with the cost premium.

I would not use the Denso, TYC, or CSF.
 
I got new one for a e46 at advanced auto worked good for 5 plus years now cars gone
 
CSF will create heating issues in N51/52. Might not be that dramatic with AT, but generally they are better suited for N54/55.
OE or Mahle. Denso might not be bad choice.
 
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