need some help...

[eubanksae]

I've got an 2001 X5 4.4
My radiator sprung a leak.
My mechanic is telling me it's about $1000 for a radiator hoses and a thermostat.

I just can't afford this right now, but I'm nervous about attempting it myself.

Is this a bad price?
How tough is it to change it myself?

Thanks,

Andy
Sarasota, FL

[TaMbALoLoNg]

Originally Posted by eubanksae

I've got an 2001 X5 4.4
My radiator sprung a leak.
My mechanic is telling me it's about $1000 for a radiator hoses and a thermostat.

I just can't afford this right now, but I'm nervous about attempting it myself.

Is this a bad price?
How tough is it to change it myself?

Thanks,

Andy
Sarasota, FL

It all depends how bad you need that $1000

[zerochief]

I paid about $1500 for a new radiator, hoses, thermostat, water pump (incl. labor). If your not confident, don't do it yourself... it may end up costing you even more.

[E61Silver]

You might give this a try

http://www.barsproducts.com/C16_R6.htm

[eubanksae]

How well does Bar's Leak work??
The stream coming out of the radiator is about twice the size of the stream out of a squirt gun.

Andy

[Weasel]

I would never recommend putting stop leak in a cooling system.... as it also clogs up some of the radiators cooling fins, some coolant passages in the heater core thus reducing heat output, can clog the thermostat in some cases, and settles in the bottom of the cooling system thus stopping up the coolant drain plugs as well.

I know some people say stop leak worked for them, but as a tech I have seen the real problems it can cause, and how many thousands it can cost to fix what the cheap fix caused.