The study of a radiator

[robinbanks]

I’ll make a note to remind you

 

[norseman]

Mahle-Behr is all over ebay. For the E46, there is the cheaper standard one and a premium-line one. I am guessing the materials are thicker on the premium and more able to resist bumps. Since it isn't OEM, a Nissen one might be no worse. Nissen has a single model, presumably matching the premium-line one, but has discounted offers.

'Oh well, I'll just hope that the combination of a higher price than that mentioned by the OP & the fact that the rad. wasn't sourced through the 'bay might mean I've ended up with an item from the premium range.

 

[Avocet]

Mahle-Behr is all over ebay. For the E46, there is the cheaper standard one and a premium-line one. I am guessing the materials are thicker on the premium and more able to resist bumps. Since it isn't OEM, a Nissen one might be no worse. Nissen has a single model, presumably matching the premium-line one, but has discounted offers.

I have a Nissen radiator on my old Alfa. It's nowhere near as good as the original. I'd avoid them in the future.

Weight isn't necessarily an advantage for a radiator - often the opposite. Thinner-walled tubes dissipate heat faster.

 

[norseman]

I have a Nissen radiator on my old Alfa. It's nowhere near as good as the original. I'd avoid them in the future.

Weight isn't necessarily an advantage for a radiator - often the opposite. Thinner-walled tubes dissipate heat faster.

I've had a Nissens on my old Range Rover classic for over 4 years without issues, but that's only about 7K miles ago so perhaps it's storing up surprises for me.

 

[Avocet]

I've had a Nissens on my old Range Rover classic for over 4 years without issues, but that's only about 7K miles ago so perhaps it's storing up surprises for me.

No, the cooling was noticeably worse on my Alfa from the moment I turned the key. (Well, OK, the moment the thermostat opened, after the moment I turned the key...)! It just doesn't cool as well as the old leaking one did. That was an "old skool" copper matrix with brass header tanks, soldered together. The Nissens one is the modern plastic header tanks and aluminium matrix. I think it has just been designed down to a cost. It has one less row of tubes than the original one.

 

[norseman]

No, the cooling was noticeably worse on my Alfa from the moment I turned the key. (Well, OK, the moment the thermostat opened, after the moment I turned the key...)! It just doesn't cool as well as the old leaking one did. That was an "old skool" copper matrix with brass header tanks, soldered together. The Nissens one is the modern plastic header tanks and aluminium matrix. I think it has just been designed down to a cost. It has one less row of tubes than the original one.

Thermostats can be tricky blighters as well, back in January my old 5 series overheated about 3 miles from home, following a cold start. Recovered to our local garage.
Thermo. suspected, but when tested by immersion in hot water it operated fine.
Replaced as a matter of course, no further problems over the past 1300m.

 

[Avocet]

Thermostats can be tricky blighters as well, back in January my old 5 series overheated about 3 miles from home, following a cold start. Recovered to our local garage.
Thermo. suspected, but when tested by immersion in hot water it operated fine.
Replaced as a matter of course, no further problems over the past 1300m.

I tend to have the opposite problem - all mine always seem to fail open!