[uberschnell]

Doing a 120K refresh on my n54

Replacing belts, tensioner, water pump, thermostat, most of the cooling hoses, expansion tank, valve cover, installing aux radiator.

Radiator has no leaks, but it's original, do I go ahead and change it out anyways?

[Dave92N54]

I probably would. Simple enough to do and not terribly expensive. My end tank started leaking on mine at 122k.

[uberschnell]

Originally Posted by Dave92N54

I probably would. Simple enough to do and not terribly expensive. My end tank started leaking on mine at 122k.

True, already got most everything out.

By chance did you go with aftermarket?

[Dave92N54]

Originally Posted by uberschnell

True, already got most everything out.

By chance did you go with aftermarket?

I bought the nissens from FCP, no issues now at 141k

[F13.KENN]

If you do change it, get a csf. Im on my 3rd or 4th? stock radiator in the last 3 years. The plastic end tanks keep cracking or weeping coolant.

Replaced it 6-7 months ago & last week i walked out to my car at work, started it, low coolant light came on.. looked around at it and one of the plastic end tanks are weeping coolant again :

[335i54n]

^ you got underlying issues, sport cooling will help extend the life of plastic parts. both my BMW is still on original rads and expansion tanks

[F13.KENN]

Originally Posted by 335i54n

^ you got underlying issues, sport cooling will help extend the life of plastic parts. both my BMW is still on original rads and expansion tanks

Ive run sport cooling the last 100k miles.. just have had bad luck. Talking about bad luck, my fathers 135i is about to get its 5th water pump within the last 4-5 years he has had it. He is only at 136k miles

[Jklad]

Originally Posted by uberschnell

Doing a 120K refresh on my n54

Replacing belts, tensioner, water pump, thermostat, most of the cooling hoses, expansion tank, valve cover, installing aux radiator.

Radiator has no leaks, but it's original, do I go ahead and change it out anyways?

I would. Mine started to leak around 120k. Replace some of the hoses too, the skinny hoes on top going across the front, and the hose that goes into the engine block where it tends to fail. Honestly just replace all the nearby hoses you can get to.

[uberschnell]

Originally Posted by Jklad

I would. Mine started to leak around 120k. Replace some of the hoses too, the skinny hoes on top going across the front, and the hose that goes into the engine block where it tends to fail. Honestly just replace all the nearby hoses you can get to.

Plan on doing that. I already busted that skinny hose just pulling it out of the clips. The hoses are brittle! Should also mention that it's a 2008, so 14 years old.

[zero2sixtyZ]

Originally Posted by Jklad

I would. Mine started to leak around 120k. Replace some of the hoses too, the skinny hoes on top going across the front, and the hose that goes into the engine block where it tends to fail. Honestly just replace all the nearby hoses you can get to.

RobC DIY to upgrade that hose: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=870353

[uberschnell]

Originally Posted by zero2sixtyZ

RobC DIY to upgrade that hose: https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=870353

Holy crap that's bad ass - on my list now

[Jaronbwall]

Originally Posted by uberschnell

Holy crap that's bad ass - on my list now

RobC had a pretttttty badass build back in the day. Wonder where that car is now?.. I was broke college grad when I joined e90post and his posts kept popping up making me jealous.

Engine bay porn.

[Jaronbwall]

Originally Posted by SCHWARZ_E92

Ive run sport cooling the last 100k miles.. just have had bad luck. Talking about bad luck, my fathers 135i is about to get its 5th water pump within the last 4-5 years he has had it. He is only at 136k miles

WHY? HOW? This makes no sense.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Jaronbwall

WHY? HOW? This makes no sense.

Makes me wonder if they were OEM water pumps or cheap aftermarket ones. 5 in 4/5 years is nuts.....and doesn't make sense at all.

[Saif2018]

Only changed Waterpump once since I bought my car, been about 4 years now.

Changing it 5 times is insane. The OEM waterpump is nowhere near that bad, something else must be causing the problem.

[Dave92N54]

Originally Posted by Jaronbwall

WHY? HOW? This makes no sense.

My guess is the molding. Within the first 4 months of owning my car I had to do the pump 3 times, the housing cracked on the first two replacements after about a month. Current one has been on for about a year and a half no issue.

[Jaronbwall]

Originally Posted by Saif2018

Only changed Waterpump once since I bought my car, been about 4 years now.

Changing it 5 times is insane. The OEM waterpump is nowhere near that bad, something else must be causing the problem.

Ditto. Changed mine about 5 years ago.
"knock on wood"