Rad has just gone (3200)

[Contigo]

So joy this morning when I drove to the gym and as I locked the car noticed a hissing soud, went round to front of car and saw a very fine jet of water spraying out from the front of the car. I knew it was on the way out as it's the original but still gutted.

So options are

1) Brand new from Italy at £600 plus.
2) rad weld (only joking)
3) recore. This appeals more cos it can be turned round much quicker.

So anyone got any other ideas?

I'd like to go aftermarket really as would be more reliable for the future.

Thanks in advance.

 

[BennyD]

Recore or a bespoke aluminium.

 

[BJL]

Sorry to hear that Phil, bespoke Aluminium like Benny says as it can be made with better cooling etc.

 

[Contigo]

Its knowing where to get the bespoke item from though Barrie. There seems to be very little in the way of any aftermarket or propr custom places doing this sort of work. Sods law as tickets arrived for Brooklands this mornign too

Oh well there's always another day

 

[Woody]

I'd be interested in suggestions too. I've got a very very small hole in my rad, have had for some time. It barely looses water but it one of them things that needs to get sorted. At £600 I decided I'll carry checking it and filling it up (every few months, no more). However, I cant believe there's not a decent metal worker who could sort for less than £600.

 

[BennyD]

Just Google 'aluminium car radiators' and go from there. There are a few companies around that do rads for racing cars.

 

[Woody]

O/T, Benny, are you doing to Brooklands this weekend?

 

[zagatoes30]

I managed to get an upgraded Rad for the Q4 relatively easily, we do seem to have some skilled craftsman around here.

 

[Contigo]

Called radtech and they want the old one to match and looking at over a K.

Hmm might go for a recore at this rate.

 

[rossyl]

I managed to get an upgraded Rad for the Q4 relatively easily, we do seem to have some skilled craftsman around here.

Might be worth you sharing the details of who you used so Contigo can use someone recommended.

 

[zagatoes30]

Might be worth you sharing the details of who you used so Contigo can use someone recommended.

I would if I could remember, I will dig through the paperwork tonight

 

[Contigo]

So I'm going down the used path but a very lightly used one from a much later car. Will be with me next week and will fit then.

 

[SteveM]

Just seen this message. I had similar problems 2 years ago but discovered that it was only the smaller of the two cores that was damaged/rusty (I suspect as it is in the front it protects the larger core behind). Advanced Cooling in Bristol managed to get a new core within 24 hours once they had broken down the radiator casing to get the correct size and I guess from dropping it off to collection was 3 days - cost 2 years ago was £130 plus VAT. They also replaced the 3 connecting hoses with silicon hoses I provided.

 

[LeeH]

I had mine swapped at Autoshield.

They normally keep a re manufactured one in stock and they are a LOT cheaper than new.

 

[BennyD]

So I'm going down the used path but a very lightly used one from a much later car. Will be with me next week and will fit then.

A very lightly used one? Radiators don't really do much, they just sit there and give off heat. What you can't see is any corrosion damage inside or any pin-pr!ck dents on the outside. Yours sprang a leak and I'm sure it's on a well maintained car so and, given you don't know the history of a broken up car, what's to say your new 'lightly used' one won't do something similar? Just a thought.

 

[StuartW]

A very lightly used one? Radiators don't really do much, they just sit there and give off heat. What you can't see is any corrosion damage inside or any pin-pr!ck dents on the outside. Yours sprang a leak and I'm sure it's on a well maintained car so and, given you don't know the history of a broken up car, what's to say your new 'lightly used' one won't do something similar? Just a thought.

I agree and had the same dilemma so opted for brand new. Although when it was removed and I discovered the air con condenser was also shot, I started to have second thoughts! All's well now though but they're mounted in such a vulnerable spot, it's a miracle that some of them last as long as they do

 

[StuartW]

A very lightly used one? Radiators don't really do much, they just sit there and give off heat. What you can't see is any corrosion damage inside or any pin-pr!ck dents on the outside. Yours sprang a leak and I'm sure it's on a well maintained car so and, given you don't know the history of a broken up car, what's to say your new 'lightly used' one won't do something similar? Just a thought.

I agree and had the same dilemma so opted for brand new. Although when it was removed and I discovered the air con condenser was also shot, I started to have second thoughts! All's well now though but they're mounted in such a vulnerable spot, it's a miracle that some of them last as long as they do

 

[Contigo]

If I order new it is well over a weeks wait as they are from Italy. Recore is as expensive as a used part which runs on a low mileage car. I am going to fit the replacement then take the old one to Guildford radiators for them to recore that one then I can have a spare...

 

[Evo Cymru]

Interesting - I have a friend who runs a company making aluminium rads, intercoolers, ERG valve replacements etc. If anyone has a radiator lying around I could take it to him, I could get a cost for an ally one, maybe a group buy if they are a common failure? Do the 4200 and GranSport use the same one?

 

[CatmanV2]

Interesting - I have a friend who runs a company making aluminium rads, intercoolers, ERG valve replacements etc. If anyone has a radiator lying around I could take it to him, I could get a cost for an ally one, maybe a group buy if they are a common failure? Do the 4200 and GranSport use the same one?

As each other, yes, but it's 'only' £235

C