Are these radiators of the plastic type? Our 2001 C70 Coupe has a leak on the passenger side where the tank meets the metal part. Is there any fix for this or is it time to just replace it? I did a quick search and found a post explaining the replacement, but it wasn't very informative and referred to the VADIS, which i don't currently have. Can anyone post an R&R guide to this? It looks fairly straightforward, with a few hiccups in the way.

 

it's not that hard, you'll be taking it out from the bottom, so raise the car up.

then seperate the intercooler from the radiator and the tranny lines from the radiator. be sure to go to the dealer and get the green tranny line clips before you do this cause they will break. get some tranny fluid too cause you'll loose some thats still in the radiator and the bit that will spill out of the lines.

remove the fans and the intercooler pipe on the lower driver's side

remove the headlights so you can get to some of the hardware that holds the shoud together and unclip the relays and stuff from the top of the fans.

i'm doing this from memory, but you'll be able to see everything that needs to come apart, you'll be fine, i did mine in an afternoon with no vadis or any kind of instructions.

 

So basically take the front clip off? That's what I was afraid of lol. I should have just bought her a BMW 2 clips and a few hose clamps and it comes right out.

 

No it slides off the bottom you don't really need to take the headlights out.The intercooler comes out with the radiator. The condensor stays in. But it is best to come out the bottom.
There is 4 screws in the front that go through the condensor to the radiator. Then 2 holding the radiator to the body.

But you have to take the fan out to slide the radiator out. The intercooler top hose as well.

 

Nice. Autozone has a Transpro radiator for it that has a lifetime warranty for $193. Normally i'm the guy who says "no way jose" to Autozone parts like this for the BMW's and Volvos, but that's a ridiculous cheap deal with that kinda warranty backing it up. The usual place i get my BMW parts from (www.bmaparts.com) said they have a Nissens one they could sell me for $220. You guys have any experience with Transpro rads?

 

Never even heard of them. All I can say is if you buy it match everything up between the old and new one.
On the Behr and Hella ones we have had to drill holes bigger to make things fit right.

Make sure all hole and everything match up good. You don't want to get it mounted then have to pull it out again and fix it.

 

yeah definitely will do that. Are the radiators the same between the auto and manual T5?

 

I don't think so as far as putting a manual one into an Auto. If you put a auto one in a manual it should work.

 

i really need to send my old rad to C&R performance rads in north carolina, so i can get an all aluminum racing rad made for the C70, since no one has ever made one for our cars.

the aftermarkit rad i have was a lil bit thinner than the original, that was the only difference.

 

What's the closest alternative coolant I can get from a parts store? I dont mind using the Volvo stuff if it's something special. BMW requires their stuff made by Zerex or it eats the plastic expansion tanks. Is Volvo like this as well?

 

Prestone coolant is fine for the Volvo's.

 

The Orange stuff in the gray jug, or the regular? Vato Zone has both.

 

Green stuff. I would not use the Orange.

 

Alllllllllllrighty then. Is $305 from the stealer a good deal on the radiator? Autozone fell through and never placed the order, now my g/f has to start school tomorrow so i'll be doing the flight of the bumblebee radiator replacement tonight.

 

Thats not to bad.

 

$300 for the radiator, $10 for the coolant, $5 distilled water, and a few bucks for those tranny line clips. Gee I wonder what my g/f will be doing for me in teh near future.

 

LOL

 

I believe Nissen is the OEM supplier for Volvo radiators. Checkout FCP Groton

http://www.fcpgroton.com/product-exe...category_id/93

 

I ended up getting a Nissens from a buddy that runs a BMW shop. Found it for $240 locally so that worked out. As someone previously said, the holes don't line up perfectly and you have to drill them. I got the top bolts in and used some zip ties down low for the time being. It doesn't really matter now, since i fixed the radiator leak and the water pump or something else started leaking. I have already replaced the expansion tank and checked there first so it isn't that. If I let it idle for a while it starts steaming from the area where the water pump is. What made that happen?!?!?!?!? And do i HAVE to remove the tension on the timing belt to get the water pump out on these cars? I'll triple check that expansion tank again, but i don't remember see liquids down there.

 

Yes the timing belt runs the water pump. Make sure the thermostat or upper hose isn't leaking back and running down the front of the motor.

Also get in there with a mirror and look while it is streaming out.