Leaking radiator

[Mick4271]

Is it cheaper to have the radiator re-cored or buy new and what are the advantages to having an aluminium radiator over the original type. I've seen new ones for £392 which seems a lot of money for a radiator.

[S6 Devil]

Might be worth considering this if you are on a tight budget. Not sure there is any great difference in the two but I would have thought the aluminium would be lighter and last longer.
http://pistonheads.com/sales/2149372.htm

[Basil Brush]

There's not that much difference in weight to be honest. My '00 car had an all alloy rad as standard but swapped to a copper and brass one when it split last year. As I understand it, size for size, alloy is less efficient at cooling anyway. It's basically 200 quid to save at most a few pounds in weight.

My new rad was 250 quid + vat from a place in Leeds called Northern Radiators.

[dvs_dave]

See this thread http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

I don't think it's worth the extra £200 quid for the alloy rad. It's not as if the standard one struggles.

In other words, the only thing an alloy rad will make faster is the rate your wallet empties.

Edited by dvs_dave on Sunday 10th October 23:09

[Mick4271]

Thanks everyone, I think I will have the old one repaired.