Radiator options!

[twoqu]

Looks like my rad has become incontinent and need to be replaced.
Looking at the alternatives, either a straight forward like for like or possibly one without the aux rad take offs. Upon comparing the two it looks as though the non aux take off one uses a narrower core (36mm vs 42mm) than the take off one.
Whilst I was considering taking the opportunity to delete the aux rad I don't really want a smaller core.
So is there a non take off 42mm core variant or is the only option to block the take offs? I know it ok to plug them and it would make it easier to put the aux rad back in, but it sure looks ugly!
Strangely both ECP and GSF no longer seem to list rads based on a number plate search and the drop down menus. I have used as many possibilities as I can think of!

[johne]

ECP part number 203440531 will get you a normal standard core size S2 radiator without an Aux radiator take off on the top. Brand is "EIS" - whoever they are, looks like a Chinese copy to me - and comes with plastic headers, not brass like the Nissens ones.

Construction is the same as a heater matrix so not quite the same as the Behr original one but at £75 delivered a lot cheaper. I got mine when ECP had a deal on and paid £65. It's been on 9 months now and doing fine. One of the brackets for the A/C condensor didn't line up but I managed to work around it.

I fitted a new OE bottom hose without the aux take off on it so didn't need any bungs and so far have had no cooling problems without the aux radiator.

John

[driftin jo]

I take it its aluminium not copper then, the copper ones don't last well but they
transfer heat better so if you run a tuned car they will still cool it well without
the aux rad fitted. I'm running a copper one that is falling apart ( fins dropping out)
with 370 HP, I changed it for a aluminium one and it got hot quick under WOT as
it couldn't cope. Now back to my tatty copper one and cooling fine even with loads
fins missing.

[twoqu]

John,
Thanks for the info! As you say, might be worth waiting for the current ECP disount offer to plop in the inbox!
Looks like I didn't scroll down far enough. You actually have to call them if you want them to check they have a radiator! Thought the point of online buying was to cut that out of the loop especially when they probably don't even know what a S2 is!
There does seem to be differing methods of construction/materials for the rads. I guess plastic/allumium is the cost effective one.

[johne]

Yes, the coolant runs in vertical aluminium tubes with aluminium fins attached to them, The tubes seal to the plastic headers with rubber seals. I doubt it's cooling capacity is good enough for anything over a standard car if you've removed the aux radiator as well.

ECP's on line search is very frustrating. I had to email them with the OE part number to get that part number I quoted above which ECP claimed was a Behr one but of course it was the chinese copy that arrived

The non Aux take off main radiator is roughly half the price of the regular S2 one. Someone on here did manage to get a real Behr OE one for around £75. Pete on Quattro Corner wanted "around £320" so that didn't help.

A group buy for the Behr non aux main radiator would be good.

John

[twoqu]

I managed to get that ECP p/n first time. Went back and now can't get it!
Without doubt you get what you pay for. Guess you could drop nearly £500 on an Allisport version if you really wanted to!
The one in there is a Behr but I can't believe its an original. I think Error404 had a source for the Behr ones which are I believe distributed under the Hella branding. Its the sizing that critical. Seems a bit much to get rid of the aux rad and fit a radiator with less capacity.

[Error404]

some info you might need in this thread mate

http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=58801&highlight=nissens

[twoqu]

It does look like the Hella/Behr ones are dimensionally the same sans the aux take off.
I think I was getting confused with that link to a Nissens rad. The two variants are different sizes. It also does not state the manufacture and I like to know what I am getting. Probably one or other of the cheaper suppliers!

[Error404]

yes the 10v (without aux) behr rads are identical to the 20v/s2 ones, with the exception of the front top hose barb for the aux rad

[twoqu]

Just thought I would update what I have found out.
ECP indicated that they did not stock Behr and directed me to the EIS mentioned above. Worth mentioning that in principle you could get that for about £53 with those 30% discount offers. I did find the same one on ebay for £58. So don't pay the full web site price if you were interested!
GSF seem to offer a relatively expensive option at £198. The construction is listed as copper which rules out it being a Behr I guess. It also has the aux take off.
I have found a supplier of both the Behr variants for @£145 delivered which is about £20 cheaper than another quoted for the 271 variant.
As luck would have it, the correct bottom hose for the aux rad delete popped up on eBay, brand new and at a substantial saving to boot. Still deliberating whether to get the alternative rad with the take off. Having struggled to get the old one out thanks to Audi effectively wedging in it with the PAS pipe, Its not something I'll be doing again methinks. I like the simplicity equals reliability aspect of not havng extra hoses/components that potentially could leak. However as effectively its only one extra take off, it seems that blanking that off would allow the re-fitting of the aux rad if necessary. There is no price differential to consider in the rads. I have saved on the biggest cost of the bottom hose, leaving only a blanking plug and a bit of hose to factor in.
Decisions decisions!

[Rusty]

Been meaning to get an alloy one made up for about 2 years. I've had both spare radiators sat in a cupboard since then

[twoqu]

Been meaning to get an alloy one made up for about 2 years. I've had both spare radiators sat in a cupboard since then

Trouble is they already exist. Just hard to justify X3 the expense over a good quality replacement that has a 20 year life span. Also read some unpositive feedback over examples made for a certain company.

[s2driveruk]

just to dig up an old thread - can you confirm 2 things

1 - Who has Behr 7a rads in stock as i deleted my aux rad years ago
2 - just to confirm that the 7a is the exact same dimensions as the normal S2 radiator?

Cheers
David

[Error404]

You are best of searching for the Behr Hella part number. I got mine through a company called Car Cooling, loads cheaper than ECP and GSF at the time, plus a very good service. The 7A rad is identical to the S2 one. You need the 10v rad which is the same dimensionally but doesn't have the aux rad take-off.

p/n is 8MK 376 711 271

Normal 7A/S2 rad for use with the aux rad is 8MK 376 711 281

[s2driveruk]

Cheers Alex...looks like time to change with fins dropping out.