3.0D 2005 E83 Radiator NRF vs Mahle
 

Hi all,

I've got a very slight weep from the RH side radiator tank (only ~ 100 ml every few weeks or so), I'm pretty confident it's the RH tank connection to the radiator core and not the o-rings for the rad hoses (I generally replace the o-rings when I have to remove rad hoses for the first time). I can see coolant collecting at the bottom here, but only very gradually.

It's not really causing any issues, but figure I should get on top of it (it's been this way for ~2-3 years) before there is a more major failure.

I'm in Melbourne, Australia, so parts are not super easy to come by compared to Europe or US. Besides the no-name ebay specials, it looks like my only decent options are an NRF ($250) radiator from Clickable, and a $340 Mahle from runauto. Does anyone have any preference/advice which one to choose? Any advice on disconnecting auto trans heat exchanger?

Thanks!

Are you indicating there's a crack in the connection.
My 05 automatic (dripped), i procrastinated for about a year until it got ridiculous. Read an article indicating the likelyhood of the rings were bad. Sure enough they had flattened out...haven't look back since. That had to be over 7 years ago.
Are you open to visiting the boneyard (auto salvage yard)? I don't know how plentiful they are there down under.
$350 for weeping...me, I would investigate the area more and if so I'd use that silicone sealant tube.

Hey mate - yeah not coming from the hose connection area (I'd already replaced that o-ring at some point anyway, probably when I changed out the thermostat or water pump).

It's somewhere on that RH tank, I suspect where it joins the aluminium core. It's more or less as fully investigated as it can be besides pulling the radiator off, and if I go that far I might as well replace it.

Haha, I do frequent the car wreckers here often (self service, pull it off cars yourself). I'd normally just go with Mahle, but I think I read somewhere NRF made the original radiators for the E46, so can't be too bad.

Very well.
I'm not familiar with NRF...
Cheers! (always wanted to say that[emoji106]