87 replies to this topic

[mike.]

Been looking at these for a while now but the time has come where i need to order a new radiator, so im deciding what to buy.

Heres the link to ebay: Link

There twin core, alloy and from the picture look nicely made, but obviously don't now what they're like.

Normally i believe you get what you pay for, but with the radtec rads selling for about £250, i'm really tempted to see what they're like.

I'm thinking for the money, whats the worst that could happen?

[Darkscamp]

this is the one i bought, and it was so good we got another one for a project mini

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...=item2a0088d70d

the one your looking at from china on ebay has a strange plastic wingnut on the bottom which i felt uneasy about. the one i brought(in the link) has a metal threaded bolt in the front corner for optional fitting of a fan temp sensor.

i compared it with the minispares one and found the only difference was that this one is all ally and the minispares one is just a standard core in a brass housing.

i found it very efficient in cooling throughout the year, so much so that i didnt think it was working properly, as it was still cool at the bottom of the rad when the engine was up to temperature. this caught me out quite embarrasingly when i got a mini mechanic to look at it . On average i think an ally 2core rad is 35% more efficient at cooling than the standard 2core rad

a few of my mates were very impressed and ordered them straight away.

i did have one issue with it though, which was very easilly sorted. the bottom pipe from the rad instead of being welded on at an angle, has been made using two short pipes, one very short one at 90* to the rad and another at the correct angle from that. all i had to do was snip about 10mm off the rubber bottom hose(well kevlar to correct) so it didnt push too far on and distort, yet its still pushed on far enough to prevent any chance of a leak.

hope this helps

pete

[roofless]

sorry to jack in - pete - was it an off the shelf item, or made to order? did it take long to arrive ??

[minipete]

For the price i would stick with Minispares 2 core radiator.Never had any issues and you`ve got no problems with warranty if anything wrong with it.
£73.48 well spent.

[Darkscamp]

sorry to jack in - pete - was it an off the shelf item, or made to order? did it take long to arrive ??

i ordered it and it arrived within 10days, which isnt bad from china.

Minx also has one to fit on her car, if it ever gets done.

if Mini-mad-daps ever gets his arse into gear, we will be down to visit you asap and i'll sneak Minx's down for you to look at

It comes with a warranty but as i havent had a problem with it, i wouldnt know if its any good.

Edited by Darkscamp, 08 February 2010 - 08:17 PM.

[toyboy396]

I got one for christmas {bless em} Not from the same people but still from China.
The quality of it looks good to me.. well worth the £63.

Not fitted yet so the proof will be in the eating.



*sorry.......... bad pun*

[mike.]

Excellent review darkscamp, just what i was after. Thanks for the link too, i had noticed the plastic wingnut but figured i'd just get a proper bolt to put in there if it turned out to be a problem.

Think i'll order one of those ones you've linked too.

Thanks again

[mike.]

Doh! Just realized the sellers away until 21st of feb! I need it before then really...

Suppose i'll have to just fit the standard rad for now and fit the uprated one later, bit of a pain though.

[ste88]

is the wing nut not a draining tap?

[mike.]

Yeah or you can screw a temp sender into it.

[leadly]

Cheers for the link, yet another mini related item im watching on ebay now, lol!

[minimotor_JD]

Now bookmarked

[mymini007]

Nothing wrong with my rad but at that price I might just buy one and sit it on the shelf till I do need it.

[GINO R32]

I got the same rad as darkscamp from china im using it on my 1293 turbo with no probs

Edited by GINO R32, 09 February 2010 - 03:51 PM.

[Guess-Works.com]

The funny thing is...

If you buy the same rad from ebay.com ( US site ) it's even cheaper....

UK site... http://cgi.ebay.co.u...em=180397594381 £57

US site... http://cgi.ebay.com/...em=180399775724 $79.99 or £51.14

Helpful buying tips from GW ( may even get one myself )