ebay aluminum radiators yay or nay?

[kickinindian]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-1995-fit-for-BMW-325-SERIES-2-5L-performance-Aluminum-Radiator-2-ROW-MT-New-/321464058416?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A1989%7CMake%3ABMW%7CModel%3A325i&hash=item4ad8c04230&vxp=mtr

anyone used them can they be modified to work better etc.

[efficient]

buy once and call it a day

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=329535

[Wishno87]

Buy the mishi if you can afford it. That being said I have been running the ebay one for two years with no problems. It is a little thicker than stock though.

[kickinindian]

wishno did u have any leak problems? i just spent almost 3k on my engine rebuild i figured even if the ebay one is a little ugly as long as it works and is reliable i would run it, i just hate plastic anything in cooling applications.

[15Michaeljoseph]

^me too... will
this work in my 87 325is? the hose connections are in a different configuration...


--Mike

[Coupelx]

I bought one for my 86 eta and moved the outlets to the proper place and added a block for the fan temp sensors. if it werent for the fact the rest of the cooling system is a year old, i would have converted it to the new style stuff. do the early/late cars use different mounting styles too? i had to build brackets too.

They seem well built and pretty decent welds, far nicer looking than my welds.

[Wishno87]

wishno did u have any leak problems? i just spent almost 3k on my engine rebuild i figured even if the ebay one is a little ugly as long as it works and is reliable i would run it, i just hate plastic anything in cooling applications.

I have not had any leaks. The drain plug seems like it would be the most likely place if it did though.

[KIRIEIW]

My friends using one, seems to be working fine for him

[ThatOneEuroE30]

All Im gonna say is you get what you pay for. If you just spent 3k on a engine do you really wanna cheap out and buy ebay parts that are prone to fail and spend another 3k on your engine cause you were being cheap and didnt want to spend the extra 125?

[Wishno87]

All Im gonna say is you get what you pay for. If you just spent 3k on a engine do you really wanna cheap out and buy ebay parts that are prone to fail and spend another 3k on your engine cause you were being cheap and didnt want to spend the extra 125?

^This.


I would try to swing for the mishi if you can.

[Matt-B]

All Im gonna say is you get what you pay for. If you just spent 3k on a engine do you really wanna cheap out and buy ebay parts that are prone to fail and spend another 3k on your engine cause you were being cheap and didnt want to spend the extra 125?

Running one in my 98 m3, I dont think there "prone to failure," this would mean, many people have had issues with them. I got an ebay, so I didn't have to pay 50$ just for shipping. Working just fine currently. And I run my car 5-6 hours a day with AC on at work

[ak-]

They are fine. Few friends are running them, including my friend's turbo s50 swapped E30 without a problem and I plan on purchasing one soon.

I've been told by multiple people to actually avoid Mishi rads because leaks and quality, which is sad because I was about to get one as well. Two of these people work at a reputable BMW performance shop here in SoCal.

[whodwho]

FYI - I have had good luck with the Mishimoto as well, I had a leaky drain plug and no issue with getting a replacement.

[RobertK]

I've used both. The eBay ones are definitely a softer (cheaper) alloy and seen them get bent in shipping easily and in wrecks BUT they still did not leak even after they were disfigured nor did the car they were installed in ever overheat.

The Mishimotos are definitely a higher quality alloy and build as well as packaged much better.

[ThatOneEuroE30]

Mishimoto's are packed extremely well. Personally I'm against eBay parts just from experience. To each his own though I'm not gonna tell you how to spend your money....