OEM parts or not - radiator?

Racing Tortoise · Post by **Racing Tortoise** » Wed 20 Oct, 2010 17:49

Seems like my Z needs a new radiator. Unwilling to pay outrageous London prices for the relatively mundane task of fitting a new radiator, I dropped it off last weekend at my mother's very trustworthy and good village garage (they're sound guys who build and race all manner of things and their hourly labour charges are 40% of what my local indy in London charges and 25% of what the local main stealer charges!).

They've pointed out that a new radiator from BMW is £300 but that they can get what they say is a good quality non-OEM one for half that.

Question: would you go with the non-BMW supplied part? I wouldn't mind saving £150 as it happens. Chances are the OEM one isn't made by BMW in any event I guess.

sfh3l · Post by **sfh3l** » Wed 20 Oct, 2010 20:33

Jonnie,

I'd always go OEM if possible for bits like that, though not Stealer prices if it can be avoided. Try the guys at C3 (0208 659 7272). They do OEM bits at (usually) a decent discount.

felix · Post by **felix** » Thu 21 Oct, 2010 08:23

The Z1 uses the same radiator as the 530i and 730i (big six engines) of the era. If they supply a Behr or other OEM supplier product it should work just fine.

Just a data point - eurocarparts lists a rad for £102 but no mention who it's from.

BBZ149 · Post by **BBZ149** » Thu 21 Oct, 2010 09:46

OEM always,
And only rip-off genuine BMW if they got you by the balls and they’re the only supplier

SCORPION · Post by **SCORPION** » Thu 21 Oct, 2010 11:04

Have you priced a recore.
There used to be a couple of local people here that recored radiators. Usually in an old shed with a small bucket of solder bubbling on a stove. The problem is that I think they died rather young from breathing the lead fumes. If you do go down the recore route it's best to get a recomendation as the work has to be precise to match the original dimensions. I had no problem with an MGB radiator and a Corvette radiator recore.

Racing Tortoise · Post by **Racing Tortoise** » Thu 21 Oct, 2010 13:28

Well, the twist in the tale is that the village garage cannot find a leak in the radiator - they've flushed it, pressurised it, run it hot and cold and it's apparently as sound as a pound. But there was a leak on the header return pipe (I think that's what they called it), and they think this is the cause.

apollo · Post by **apollo** » Thu 21 Oct, 2010 13:59

Racing Tortoise wrote:Well, the twist in the tale is that the village garage cannot find a leak in the radiator - they've flushed it, pressurised it, run it hot and cold and it's apparently as sound as a pound. But there was a leak on the header return pipe (I think that's what they called it), and they think this is the cause.

If it is the one I am thinking of I think the pipe is over £90 +VAT.

I gave my old one away sorry.

Racing Tortoise · Post by **Racing Tortoise** » Sat 23 Oct, 2010 08:49

apollo wrote: If it is the one I am thinking of I think the pipe is over £90 +VAT.

But of course it is! Could one expect any less?!?

Racing Tortoise · Post by **Racing Tortoise** » Mon 18 Apr, 2011 11:02

Well. It wasn't that pipe alone....and it wasn't the radiator....

It was the water pump!

Had to leave the Z1 up in Suffolk two w/ends ago because the leak came back worse than ever and it was starting to run slightly warmer than usual (never seen this or the last Z1 do that before). Garage got back to me this morning to say all fixed and identifying the water pump as the culprit.

At least a water pump is cheaper than a radiator!