Radiator Help!

[gdlbmw]

Hi there, I have been dealing with a coolant leak for the past month now. So yesterday after work I decided to find out exactly where the leak is coming from and to finally put it to rest. I started by removing the splash guard underneath and worked my way up. I looked at every hose and connection of the cooling system and concluded that it had to be the radiator. So then I started removing the air box, fan shroud and finally the radiator. When I examined the radiator, I found a small crack on the lower part of the radiator near the plastic blue bleeder screw.

Now my dilemma is what radiator to purchase. My vehicle is a 05 X5 4.4i with 80k miles. I can go as low as $120 for an aftermarket replacement found on amazon.com, I also found another radiator that is $140 with a lifetime warranty through a website called radiator barn or I can go OEM through my local BMW dealer for $400.

I am leaning towards the radiator from Radiator Barn for $140 because of the inexpensive price and the lifetime warranty.

What are your thoughts and opinions?

Amazon Radiator
TYC 2593 Replacement Radiator for BMW X5 : Amazon.com : Automotive


Radiator Barn
Radiators, automotive radiators, condenser, oem radiators, truck radiators

[TerminatorX5]

someone else on this board (from down under) was looking for a rad but somehow priced a wrong one as he thought he did NOT have hot climate version but turned out that he did...

what is the last 7 of your VIN? I can look up your option list and see if your car had the hot or cold climate option, and then you can look up further for a rad of your choice...

[Quicksilver]

What about a OE radiator. Have you priced them?
Is there a difference in quality?

[MrFixIt]

I've recently replaced my radiator at 117K miles. The top plastic hose connector had a hairline leak. Replaced with Behr OEM from Autohaus for about $200.

https://www.autohausaz.com/search/pr...cid=16@Cooling System&gid=2172@Radiator

The only noticeable differences between the BMW original and Behr was the missing 'BMW' logo on Behr radiator, and 1/2 the price. Everything else is identical.

(I'm not assoicated with Autohaus). I buy lots of parts from them.

[gdlbmw]

Thank you for the suggestions. My last 7 of my vin are LV15985

[TerminatorX5]

Vehicle information

Type

Value

VIN 5UXFB53565LV15985
Type code FB53
Type X5 4.4I (USA)
E series E53 ()
Series X
Type GEFZG
Steering LL
Doors 5
Engine N62
Displacement 4.40
Power 235
Drive ALLR
Transmission AUT
Colour ALPINWEISS 3 (300)
Upholstery LEDER DAKOTA/SCHWARZ (LCSW)
Prod.date 2005-03-22




Options

Code

Description (interface)
Description (EPC)

S1CAA SELEKTION COP RELEVANTER FAHRZEUGE Dummy-SALAPA
S205A AUTOMATIC GETRIEBE Automatic transmission
S226A SPORTLICHE FAHRWERKSABSTIMMUNG Sports suspension settings
S255A SPORT-LEDERLENKRAD Sports leather steering wheel
S2CCA LM RAEDER STERNSPEICHE 132 BMW LA wheel, star spoke 132
P330A SPORTPAKET Sports package
S386A DACHRELING Roof railing
S402A PANORAMA GLASDACH Panorama glass roof
S412A LADEBODEN AUSZIEHBAR Luggage-compartment floor, extendable
S417A SONNENSCHUTZROLLO HINTERE TUERSCH. Roller sun visor, rear door
S430A INNEN-/AUSSENSPIEGEL AUT.ABBLENDEND Interior/outside mirror with auto dip
S435A EDELHOLZAUSFUEHRUNG Fine wood trim
S441A RAUCHERPAKET Smoker package
S461A SITZLEHNENVERSTELLUNG IM FOND,ELEK. Electric seat backrest adjustment, rear


S481A SPORTSITZE FUER FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Sports seat

Code

Description (interface)
Description (EPC)

S488A LORDOSENSTUETZE FAHRER/BEIFAHRER Lumbar support, driver and passenger
S4NAA INNENSPIEGEL MIT DIGITALEM KOMPASS Interior mirror with digital compass
S508A PARK DISTANCE CONTROL (PDC) Park Distance Control (PDC)
S521A REGENSENSOR Rain sensor
S524A ADAPTIVES KURVENLICHT Adaptive Headlights
S609A NAVIGATIONSSYSTEM PROFESSIONAL Navigation system Professional
S639A KOMPLETTVORB. HANDY USA/CDN Preparation f mobile phone cpl. USA/CDN
S677A HIFI SYSTEM PROFESSIONAL HiFi system Professional DSP
S761A INDIVIDUAL SONNENSCHUTZVERGLASUNG Individual sunshade glazing
S775A INDIVIDUAL DACHHIMMEL ANTHRAZIT Headlining anthracite
S785A WEISSE BLINKLEUCHTEN White direction indicator lights
S840A HOCHGESCHWINDIGKEITSABSTIMMUNG High speed synchronisation
S8SPA COP STEUERUNG Control unit COP
S926A ERSATZRAD Spare wheel




Standard equipment

Code

Description (interface)
Description (EPC)

S220A NIVEAUREGULIERUNG Self-levelling suspension
S249A MULITFUNKTION FUER LENKRAD Multifunction f steering wheel
S302A ALARMANLAGE Alarm system
S321A EXTERIEURUMFAENGE IN WAGENFARBE Exterior parts in vehicle colour
S354A GRUENKEIL-FRONTSCHEIBE Windscreen, green-tinted upper strip
S442A GETRAENKEHALTER Drink holder
S459A SITZVERSTELLUNG, ELEKTR.MIT MEMORY Seat adjustment, electric, with memory
S522A XENON-LICHT Xenon Light
S533A FOND-KLIMATISIERUNG Air conditioning, rear
S534A KLIMAAUTOMATIK Automatic air conditioning
S645A RADIO-STEUERUNG US BMW US Radio
S692A CD WECHSLER I-BUS VORBEREITUNG Preparation, BMW 6-CD changer I-bus
S845A AKUSTISCHE GURTWARNUNG Acoustic fasten seat belt reminder
S853A SPRACHVERSION ENGLISCH Language version, English


S876A FUNKFREQUENZ 315 MHZ Radio frequency 315 MHz

Code

Description (interface)
Description (EPC)

S992A STEUERUNG KENNZEICHENBEFESTIGUNG Control of number-plate attachment

[gdlbmw]

Terminator X5, thanks for the info but does this mean I have the hot ckimate version?

I am now leaning towards the radiator from Autohaus.

[gdlbmw]

Any suggestions on what else I should be changing since I have the car up on stilts and have more access with the radiator, fan and air box out. Thanks!

[TerminatorX5]

no, i did not see the verbiage saying hot or cold climate, so you should be ok...

I see only one part number for your radiator - 17101439101, so as long as the replacement part matches that part number, you should be OK

[TerminatorX5]

OE water comes with a plastic impeller, that is known to fail over time... replacement pumps come with metal impeller... you might want to consider the belts, while you are there, that is not a really big deal, the belts last for a while, it is just a cheap part, that you can just swap while you are there... in that case get a quality belt, don't go super cheap...
hoses... that is a big thing - while you are inthere, check to see if you want to swap hoses... these engines are very temp sensitive... also make sure you properly bleed the system from all the trapped air...