[rothwem]

I found a crack in my radiator end tank today, so I'm going to replace the radiator. Couple questions:

-Mine is an automatic, do I have to worry about spilling ATF? I know there's a cooler built into the radiator somehow.

-Is the 328i radiator the same as the 335i? There's a CSF aluminum one for 335i/auto but none for 328i/auto.

Any other thoughts (and prayers) are appreciated.

[Biginboca]

In situations like this you can go to realoem.com and compare part numbers for the 335 and 328 radiators and see if they are the same.

I have a manual so can’t help you with the tranny cooler question. Good luck!

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by Biginboca

In situations like this you can go to realoem.com and compare part numbers for the 335 and 328 radiators and see if they are the same.

I have a manual so can't help you with the tranny cooler question. Good luck!

Gotcha yeah they're definitely different, I guess what I was wondering was if the 335i one would fit and if so, would it be an upgrade.

I think I'm probably just going to go OEM behr though. Or just JB weld the crack

[Pilarskica]

The ATF cooler is just bolted on with a torx. You'll have to take it off to remove the fan. You will not lose any ATF fluid.

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by Pilarskica

The ATF cooler is just bolted on with a torx. You'll have to take it off to remove the fan. You will not lose any ATF fluid.

Gotcha. Yeah I took a good look at it last night. Its got a hose running to the cooler, but its got coolant running through the hose, not ATF.

I ordered the parts this morning, hopefully its not too awful to do.

[AoS810]

Originally Posted by rothwem

Gotcha. Yeah I took a good look at it last night. Its got a hose running to the cooler, but its got coolant running through the hose, not ATF.

I ordered the parts this morning, hopefully its not too awful to do.

Hey rothwem,

Just curious, did you end up going with the CSF aluminum radiator, OEM Behr, or JB welding the crack? And how is whatever you went with holding up?

It seems like there's quite a bit of horror stories with the Behr radiators of them not lasting and going through multiple replacements, unfortunate.

Thanks and appreciate your or anyone else's input.

*EDIT* I looked up the CSF radiator for my application (2011 E91 N52) and this was the only option from them, has anyone tried this? thoughts?
https://csf.mycarparts.com/items/3718

UPDATE: It looks like CSF 3718 isn't compatible with the N52 and is for the N51. At least that's what I'm seeing on FCP's Q&A section https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...or-csf-3718#qa

UPDATE2: I am now more confused if the CSF 3718 radiator works for the N52, Rock Auto has both the BMW part numbers listed as compatible for the N51 (17117537292) and N52 (17117562079) radiators: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=2172&jsn=895

UPDATE3: I feel like the CSF 3718 will work.. did a search and came across two threads below where RossBMWZseries posted that they installed a CSF 3718 on their 328i N52, his profile says he's got a 2011 E92 328i LCI. In another thread (second link below), autoart and K9Leader appear to have also installed the CSF 3718 as well..
https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1634776
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1926945

[AdrianE36]

I had a Mahle Behr radiator that started leaking from where the driver side end tank and the core meet and from what I've learned is a common failure with those radiators. Odd considering I ran a Behr S54 radiator in my old E36 with zero issues. I'm running a Nissens unit now & have been leak free for 9K miles.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by AoS810

Hey rothwem,

Just curious, did you end up going with the CSF aluminum radiator, OEM Behr, or JB welding the crack? And how is whatever you went with holding up?

It seems like there's quite a bit of horror stories with the Behr radiators of them not lasting and going through multiple replacements, unfortunate.

Thanks and appreciate your or anyone else's input.

*EDIT* I looked up the CSF radiator for my application (2011 E91 N52) and this was the only option from them, has anyone tried this? thoughts?
https://csf.mycarparts.com/items/3718

UPDATE: It looks like CSF 3718 isn't compatible with the N52 and is for the N51. At least that's what I'm seeing on FCP's Q&A section https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...or-csf-3718#qa

UPDATE2: I am now more confused if the CSF 3718 radiator works for the N52, Rock Auto has both the BMW part numbers listed as compatible for the N51 (17117537292) and N52 (17117562079) radiators: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=2172&jsn=895

UPDATE3: I feel like the CSF 3718 will work.. did a search and came across two threads below where RossBMWZseries posted that they installed a CSF 3718 on their 328i N52, his profile says he's got a 2011 E92 328i LCI. In another thread (second link below), autoart and K9Leader appear to have also installed the CSF 3718 as well..
https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1634776
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1926945

I think the CSF 3718 is "intended" for the N51 because it can accommodate the EAC sensor. It'll work on the N52 too as far as I know

[rothwem]

Originally Posted by AoS810

Hey rothwem,

Just curious, did you end up going with the CSF aluminum radiator, OEM Behr, or JB welding the crack? And how is whatever you went with holding up?

It seems like there's quite a bit of horror stories with the Behr radiators of them not lasting and going through multiple replacements, unfortunate.

Thanks and appreciate your or anyone else's input.

*EDIT* I looked up the CSF radiator for my application (2011 E91 N52) and this was the only option from them, has anyone tried this? thoughts?
https://csf.mycarparts.com/items/3718

UPDATE: It looks like CSF 3718 isn't compatible with the N52 and is for the N51. At least that's what I'm seeing on FCP's Q&A section https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...or-csf-3718#qa

UPDATE2: I am now more confused if the CSF 3718 radiator works for the N52, Rock Auto has both the BMW part numbers listed as compatible for the N51 (17117537292) and N52 (17117562079) radiators: https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=2172&jsn=895

UPDATE3: I feel like the CSF 3718 will work.. did a search and came across two threads below where RossBMWZseries posted that they installed a CSF 3718 on their 328i N52, his profile says he's got a 2011 E92 328i LCI. In another thread (second link below), autoart and K9Leader appear to have also installed the CSF 3718 as well..
https://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1634776
https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1926945

I did the Behr, its been working fine since. It was surprisingly easy, especially since I didn't care about cracking the old end tanks further by being too rough on the top quick disconnects. I had the radiator swapped and the new one installed in an hour and a half, the hardest thing was finding someone to take my old coolant.