I am working on a bunch of maintenance items on my R53 and since I do not know if the radiator is original or not and the car is at 153k miles I am considering replacing while it is all apart.

Is it worth spending the extra on an aluminum radiator or just stick with OE? Car is a fun weekend car/autocrosser.

 

i've never run an aluminum radiator in my mini, but i don't think there's much of a need. unless you've done serious modifications that would require additional cooling power, i suspect the OEM radiator will be fine.

do you monitor your temps? does it try to run hot?

 

When I looked, the Aluminum ones were dicey. ( this was 2023 ). I bought a OE plastic style Nissens from FCP. I did almost all - new Rad, big hoses, thermostat and housing, and Octopus hoses ( R53 6 speed Auto ). The original was from 2005. No issues - 20K miles later

 

I will be autocrossing but mostly stock. It is more for the durability due to the aluminum end tanks vs plastic.

I am adding a water temp gauge.

 

Yeah I bought new hoses, thermostat, housing and water pump.

 

.
+1 on the Nissens --- mine has been going strong for 4 years now

altho i did attempt to get the OE MINI Canada-spec unit but the order was cancelled because it was taking too long to fulfill,
this was from a dealer and back then it was a somewhat affordable option



ECS is still showing that version as available,
but it is quite pricey nowadays . . .

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...r/17117570822/

 

+1 The canada version is in stock in germany and will take a couple weeks to get in, stock status did not update from germany.. Price really went up on that one over time.

Valeo and Nissens in the past are OEM, depends on the production year. I am still on my stock rad on my R52 Cooper, it does not have the end tank issues like some stock R53s due to the next and maybe the engine and that neck that likes to leak over time.

We do have lifetime replacement.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/Sit...h/17117570489/

 

I have the all-aluminum CSF radiator that I was warned - on this forum, I believe - that all aluminum radiators can be leak prone . I'm on my second one in maybe 5 years. The first started leaking within 18 months. My current radiator has a pinhole leak that coolant rarely makes it to the ground but there is a trail on the passenger side tank I can see when I'm under the car. Even living in the heat of the Phoenix and tracking my car a few times every year, it has been cooling my car just fine, although I'd rather it not be leaking. I just don't want to deal with it unless/until I must.

 

flush when you do tstat, housing, oil cooler gasket and expansion tank and whatever else I’m forgetting but I’d save money and keep the radiator unless you find something obviously wrong. Plus any hoses that seem crusty

 

As a strong advocate of the "while I'm in there" philosophy", I disagree. OP has a high mileage car that is, or will be, torn all apart for some work. There is no better time to knock a bunch of potential problems out than this. Then he can spend more time driving the car and be on a maintenance schedule, instead of going back in to put out small fires that could have long been mitigated when it was easy.