Replace radiator (preventative) at how many miles?

Chilipal · Aug 19, 2010

I'm picking up a 540ia Friday, my first German auto. I've poured over these forums and gotten some great info...Thanks!
Its a 2000 but it only has 30k miles on it :thumbup: Should I just go ahead and replace the radiator? The car is like brand new and was "driven" by an older gentleman. It's basically been garaged for the past 6 years.

Also, is it worth it to buy an extended warranty for such low miles? I'm anti-dealer and live in the motor city where there's plenty of awesome indy mechanics... plus I usually do my own brake jobs and would have no problems DIY'ing a radiator myself.

Thanks in advance for your input!

My vehicle pedigree:
2004 Infiniti FX45
2004 Yukon Denali
1994 RX7 TT
1994 300ZX TT
1988 Chevy Silverado (287K)
1980 Datsun 280z

scott0357 · Aug 19, 2010

I would replace a 10yr old radiator or w/ over 100k mi. Especially the car has been stored for 6 yrs, many of the plastic/rubber parts are probably hardened. The plastic fittings connecting the radiator to the expansion tank are probably brittle by now after so many years of storage. Replace the top & bottom radiator hoses, and also the coolant temperature sensor mounted on top of the bottom radiator. The O ring on the coolant temperature sensor tends to leak slowly after 10 yrs or 100k mi.
Don't forget to change the tranny fluid.
Pour some fuel cleaner into the fuel tank.
Change the brake fluid.
I won't bother w/ the warranty. Most of the DIYs or problems can be found/searched in this forum.

540 M-Sport · Aug 19, 2010

Skip the warranty, simply put the money you would have spent on that and keep it in reserve for repairs if needed. If you are not planning on taking long trips, I would leave it alone until you hit 50k, then consider doing it, along with all new hoses...even all the heater hoses...they are probably 12 of them in all. +1 on changing all the fluids....change them all.

Bethesda E39 · Aug 19, 2010

540 M-Sport said:
Skip the warranty, simply put the money you would have spent on that and keep it in reserve for repairs if needed. QUOTE]

+1

FYI- I replaced the radiator on my '03 525i at 85K (this year), preventatively (no cracks or failure yet).

...and regarding warranties: I had a 3rd party warranty that I bought through US Fidelis (administered by Tier One) for 18 months. Paid in about $2K before requesting a refund (they provide used parts, refue to disclose their source, and always have a reason to NOT pay out the full amout for the repair).

After requesting my refund in mid-April, I'm still waiting for a check in the mail (It took a complaint to the BBB in July to get Tier One's attention, and to force them to take this seriously).

As stated many times in this forum, all 3rd party warranties are a scam. :thumbdwn:

dalekressin · Aug 19, 2010

Replaced radiator at 111K on 2001 530i.
I would not grab a warrantee.
My car was purchased new.
You found a great car.

Josh P. · Aug 19, 2010

Have the cooling system inspected (or do it yourself) for leaks, esp around water pump and t-stat housing, and of course any cracks. Test hoses for brittleness. At 30k miles, a radiator failure is rare but not unheard of (I think someone here had one go at 25k, really sad). But as you said, if the car has been sitting, all bets are off. You may be able to leave the existing radiator and just replace the other bits of the cooling system, though it's probably not worth it since you have to take everything off anyway.

Enjoy and welcome!

PS: skip the dealers, and the warranty.

bluebee · Aug 19, 2010

Agree on skipping the warranty.

See recommended cooling system parts list here ...

PS: 30K miles for a ten year old car? I'd be suspicious. It's possible. It's understandable. But it's rare. Is there a good way (perhaps with the DMV?) to doublecheck mileage numbers?

May I ask the forum:
- If the instrument cluster were replaced, say, 30K miles ago (outside the dealership of course), would it be possible to drive with the mileage STARTING back at 000000 again?

Josh P. · Aug 19, 2010

I don't think it's that unusual, you see lots of weekender cars for sale in Roundel (mostly Z3s/Z4s) with under 20k miles. Any odometer, digital or not, can be rolled back--I knew a guy in Miami who leased his BMWs and routinely had his 328 rolled back so he didn't have to pay overage--but it is highly illegal. If the PO was an old man and the only owner, I doubt he had it rolled back.

At least in PA, you report your own mileage on your registration, so that would not really help. But any BMW dealer could look up the car by VIN and you could track the mileage by see what it was when the car was in for service. Assuming it WAS seviced.

Mark@EAC · Aug 19, 2010

http://content.eactuning.com/diys/34-bmwpartslists/60-e39-540-from-998-cooling-list

your radiator and other associated items will be linked in the list above.

bluebee · Aug 19, 2010

Mark@EACTuning said:
http://content.eactuning.com/diys/34-bmwpartslists/60-e39-540-from-998-cooling-list

your radiator and other associated items will be linked in the list above.

Hi Mark,
I loved your list as it's what I didn't have when I needed to figure out what to replace on my cooling system overhaul. It slowed me down LOTS not having a trusted list of potential parts to buy, both by brand and by price. (Which is why I created this list.)

Couple of comments:
- The "Expansion Tank Cap" photograph is wrong ... (it shows the clip instead)
- The temperature sensor photograph is wrong ...( it shows the rivets instead)
- The rivet photograph is wrong ... (it shows one of the hoses)
- The hose clamp photograph is wrong (it shows a hose)
- One of the radiator hose links is dead
- Another radiator hose link is 404 not found
- and another 404 (I'm typing this sequentially)
- This link had a picture of "something" but it doesn't look like a hose:
- Likewise with this "hose" link
- Same with the rest of the hose links

Also, do you really recommend replacing the fan along with the clutch?
I was told the fans don't go out all that often (inspect them of course).

Also, since most of the time the temperature sensor doesn't go bad but the O-ring does yet you can't buy "that" o-ring but you can buy the equivalent o-ring ... (blah blah blah to my question) ... do you sell the 8x4mm O-ring separately for the temperature sensor (BMW PN 13 62 1 743 299)?

Just to be clear, this isn't to dig you ... just to let you know. I think the list is GREAT!
( It slowed me down by MONTHS not having a trusted list of parts, prices, optional parts, and brands handy.)

Replace radiator (preventative) at how many miles?

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