I bottomed out the other night leaving a parking lot, noticed
temp started to rise immedately and I shut it down before it got
into the Red (120) zone.

Radiator was mashed in and leaking on the Starboard side where the mount had been pushed up into the bottom.

DOes anyone know:

1). THe differance between the Behr and Nissan radiators?
Why do they offer 2 if they both fit, is there a quality or fit issue?

2). What should I do to prevent this from happening again? It looks as though the mounts are on a metal tube that is easily bent buy a scrape on the front end. Has anyone done anything to provide some reenforcement for this part?

THanks in advance,

Craig Amos,
Pensacola FL
1987 300D Turbo,
277K

I know that no response usually means there has been a discussion on a given topic lately, and it is in the archives.

Please forgive if I have overlooked it, if so then please give me
some things to search for I have tried some obvious combinations.

Thanks

Craig

Craig I find that at weekends you may have to wait until the week starts properly,cos alot of the guys aren't near their computers till Monday.Try a search for Behr or Nissan they were mentioned in the last 2 weeks.Least this shows there is someone out there,sorry I can't be of more help though.Bear

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Two things:

1.) It's Nissin, I think
2.) If you hit hard enough to smash the lower radiator support, then that's what happens in a sedan, bro-if you think a car should be able to sustain a hit like that, then perhaps you should be driving a Galaendewagen?

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Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

Bear,
You are right, I hope I did not sound ungrateful. I was in a bind and as it turns out was having problems with the search as I was misspelling the name "Nissens" and have just spent 2 hours reading the 16 threads that came up with info.

Michael,
Thanks for the spell check, you are right, the spelling was off.

I was really surprised to find the mount bent up, the hit did not seem that hard, but I suspect it was bent in earlier hits from
the rust on the prior scrapes. I am glad to learn that this is not
a common problem.

I appreciate this site, and all who frequent it. It is nice to have help when you need it, even if you simply need your spelling corrected (as I often do)

Thanks to all

Craig

OBTW, Nissens sounds like a good deal to me now that the neck reenforcement issue has been settled.

And learned all "orange stuff" is not created equal!

Craig, I think Behr & Nissin are equivalent in kwality. I'd use either.

About the hit, well, welcome to the W124 world. These cars scrape up there quite easily. You need to be VERY careful entering & exiting any parking lots or streets that have a dip. Better yet, go across them at a 45 degree angle. This particulary applies if you have lowered your car at all (like mine).

You should have the car straightened out by a body shop. If you don't, you risk having the space between the fan & radiator too close, and you can have the fan chew a hole in the radiator tubes under hard braking. A friend of mine went through 2 radiators before he figure out the real cause! A trip to the body shop (and a 3rd radiator) cure it.


Good luck! :p

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Had to replace my radiator in my 300d trubo when I broke the upper tank nipple. Talked to Phil and ended up ordering a Nissen from fastlane to replace my original Behr.

I have had no problems with the Nissen, my temp. reading is now between 80 - 100c no matter the outside tempature. The money I saved with the Nissen was nice to. I would order Nissen again if needed. Just MHO.

Wayne

I have been fighting a running hot problem on my 87 300TD, (unsuccesfully, I either have a leaky head gasket or a craked head that was missed in the head pressure test) and ended up buying a replacement Behr radiator to replace my six month old one. Well to get to the point, I have a new radiator in the box that has seen 3 hours of run time, still with the original plug caps and stuff. If you are interested, it will go for cheap. Let me know if you are interested.
Also, my Uncle did the same thing on his car. Busted the radiator.

He tried fixing it with some magic glue but it always leaked. He just swapped the broken with a new one and never had a problem again.

Henry

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63 190d (sold)
69 220D (sold)
69 280SL (sold)
76 BMW 2002 (sold)
86 190E-16v (Demised at Laguna Seca Turn 9)
87 300SDL (sold)
87 300SDL 135k
87 300TD 280k (sold)
95 E320W 211k
95 E320w 111k
05 C320 4matic
06 E320 CDI 90k (Totaled by a texting 19 year old girl in a nissan)
2013 GLK 250 Bluetek 4MATIC

I have heard from several including here and my mechanic that Nissens are junk. My mechanic said he tried one on his wife's car, it leaked. He doesn't like Behr much either, but would rather install a Behr than a Nissen. $80 isn't much for insurance if your Nissen breaks and you need a tow and a new rad.

Brian

Henry,

I sent you a message through the board since your email is private. I *might* be interested in your radiator... drop me a line at: gsxr@rcsis.com


Thanks!

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Got the Nissens in today, orderd from a company other then
Fastline... big mistake.

Old style, ie no reinforcement in the neck, and DOES NOT FIT!!!!
There seems to be amounting flange on the right tank that interferes with the chassis in front of the rad.

The old Behr does not have it!!!

I hope this place will take it back and make it right.
worst part is I ordered Saturday night and paid for
overnight and got it toaday! (Wednesday evening)

I also called Monday AM and specifically asked about the
reenforced neck, and was assured it would have it.

So much for the *enz bin, think I'll stick with fastline
from here out!

Craig Amos

Hmmm. My second 300D has a Nissens, installed by a shop when the P/O overheated it. I think I remember it not having the reinforced neck when I pulled the hoses to flush the cooling system. I did not look for modified flanges. I can pop the hood and read the model number off mine if you want... sorry you had trouble with B.B.! I've never used them personally but I have heard several stories from other unhappy people. Seems FastLane is more reliable. I get most of my stuff from R*sty, who has always come through for me... anytime there was a problem, he made it right ASAP (and that was only about twice in the last 2 years and 100+ different parts ordered!)


Keep us posted on what happens with your rad fiasco...

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Here is the Behr without the flange

Attached Thumbnails

 

Here is the Nissens with the extra flange, the flange runs nearly all the way down to the bottow and does not clear the chassis in front of the radiator. Yes, I could just saw the plastic flange off, but if I do and then find the thing leaks there would be no warranty. So, I guess I am stuck.

OBTW, yes YES HGV I would like to buy your rad if I cannot get this one made right.

Craig Amos

Attached Thumbnails

 

Found a Behr, banged the mounts back down,
Filled up with MB Coolant and distilled water.

Temp is good, and runnig smooth
(Priase God, I was afraid the brief overtemp might have done bad things)

I will be EXCEPTIONALLY careful pulling in and out of parking lots,
hope this was a freak problem.

Just to be sure, could someone measure the distance between
the back edge of the rad mounts (lower mounts) to .. oh say the
anti sway bar, or other ready landmark.

Thanks,

Craig W. Amos
1987 300D Turbo,
277k

New Rad, back on road!