BeHr Vs OEM

so... This will Be my 2nd exspantion tank in idk 5(ish) years

I replaced the behr cap last week.. Knowing that doing so was going to result in a leak sooner then later in another location..

but i wasn't expecting the tank to split

So i have a Oem bwm one on the way...

and i wounder if there's anyone out there that thinks that the OEM ones are better then the aftermarket ones?

zionsville here we come

The OEM BMW expansion tank seems to be better quality. Had a China Behr, and it would leak right away without any pressure (coolant cold). Replaced it with the dealer version, and it's OK since.
I think I will piggyback it with a lower pressure expansion tank cap from Gary. I think this will prevent splitting of cooling components.

Typing /oem F3 in the bestlinks nets the following list of parts best bought OEM:
- What BMW E39 parts & supplies are best to buy OEM (1)

Go to dealer, skip dinner money and pay for the BMW reservoir.

BMW reservoir is garbage and so is Behr as a company from my experience.

Well the oem is already in the mail... So its a mute point.. guess ill have to see how long it last on my own... i was kinda figuring that it was going to be at least a little better in some sort of way... but im not expecting much... Its a ez fix... 40 min replacement,

I even made a little funny video while i was talking **** to the car... about how the fuhrer would be upset with this quality of this air craft...

no harm

At least the BMW reservoir is a known quantity and should last some 4-5 years.
Just carry some 50-50 mix of coolant in the trunk (put it in a Rubbermiad plastic container should it spill...).

My next project....if my BMW reservoir cracks again, then I will mod with Volvo 850 reservoir. At least the Volvo coolant reservoir easily lasts 10y/100K because I owned a few Volvos and I know the ins and outs of Volvo 850.

My oem expansion tank still waiting to be installed when I do my overhaul says Made in Germany. Got it from FCPeuro.

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What is the brand name on the reservoir?

Prolly Uro. Or maybe the Chinese went one more step forward in the art of deception.

Originally Posted by cn90

What is the brand name on the reservoir?

Behr
http://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-expansion-tank-17111436381

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I don't know. Did I get played? My expansion tank has a sticker that says 'Made in Germany' and there seems to be an area below sanded down. Maybe that's the part that said 'Made in China'?

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Originally Posted by BM109R

I don't know. Did I get played? My expansion tank has a sticker that says 'Made in Germany' and there seems to be an area below sanded down. Maybe that's the part that said 'Made in China'? Attachment 364207

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We discussed the sanded down part.
I think it's in this thread:
- Cooling system date stickers & radiator date codes & markings (1) (2)

You know with a very high probability that No matter which radiator, reservoir etc you buy in 3 years or so, you're gonna need another one? Why invest in high dollar stuff, when you can go to Advance or Autozone, get a lifetime warranty and pay once? Just common sense to me and at the first sign of failure, replace it all...

I agree with the no matter what you buy it will leak.

Why is that?

Is it just terrible German engineering?

Who designed the cooling system anyway? BMW? Behr?

And, who decides what terrible plastic to use? Nissens? Behr? BMW? Uro?

Originally Posted by shaftdrive

I agree with the no matter what you buy it will leak.

Why is that?

Is it just terrible German engineering?

Who designed the cooling system anyway? BMW? Behr?

And, who decides what terrible plastic to use? Nissens? Behr? BMW? Uro?

Nothing to do with engineering, I put my 15 year old expansion tank back on the vehicle due to dealer one leaking 2 months after install. Its a lack of quality control nowadays.

I still have the factory reservoir sitting in my trunk!
Whatever it is, the reservoir made in 1997-98 was very good, it held up to 10y/100K miles easily.

I personally think the quality of plastic they use these days cannot hold up to heat.

OEM expansion tank here at 10yr/100K mark. It was replaced 3 weeks after I bought the car CPO in 2003 when my radiator neck blew sitting in summer traffic. I just replaced the chipped bleeder screw last week, but i still avoid traffic jams like the plague with this M62TU.