Preventive Radiator replacment

[fuzzymonkey]

My new S1 is running fine. After reading the forums, I see the radiator can be a bit iffy now and then. Should I replace it with the Eliseparts one before it causes any problems or should I just wait till it goes?

[Scuffers]

fuzzymonkey said:

My new S1 is running fine. After reading the forums, I see the radiator can be a bit iffy now and then. Should I replace it with the Eliseparts one before it causes any problems or should I just wait till it goes?

well, not unless you want the work or are planning a Euro-trip or the like...

[jamesc_1729]

In my humble opinion, preventative maintenance just because you've heard about it on a forum isn't really worth it.

Just check the hoses, rad, and coolant regularly, and be aware that there is a problem, but leave it at that.

Otherwise where does it end - will you have a new head gasket, rail, steel dowels, PRT, etc fitted just on the off chance you could have HGF??? when it might never happen.

Get out and enjoy it. I have a '99 S1, original head gasket, original radiator, and I don't give it a second thought (other than to check as above).

[S Works]

As Mr Scuffers says, unless you have reason to think it's on the way out, wait until you want a clam respray or something where you can combine a few tasks to get the labour costs down. The S1 rads seem to last better than the S2 ones, the plastic end caps of which tend to be the weakpoints.

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Yup, wait till it goes, or wait till something else needs doing that needs the clam off - as it's the labour that costs the real money (unless of course you're doing it yourself, in which it costs time, which may very well be money).

[fuzzymonkey]

Okey thanks everyone for the advice. I shall leave alone for now