Repair nipple for 528e radiator

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aj - 03 Aug 2007 03:49 GMT

I've got a 1988 528e. The plastic nipple on the top right of the
radiator (that connects to the vent house going to the expansion tank)
has broken off. I've seen repair nipples for other models, but not this
one. Has anyone tried them? Could I thread a metal male
NPT-to-hose-barb adapter into the plastic of the radiator tank? Would
this hold?

Thanks for any advice.

-aj

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yaofeng - 03 Aug 2007 04:32 GMT

> I've got a 1988 528e. The plastic nipple on the top right of the
> radiator (that connects to the vent house going to the expansion tank)
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> -aj

Will it work for a short period? If you do a good job it probably
would. Will it last? I would not bet money on it. I'd just as well
plunk down $200 to get a new radiator. Engine overheating is not
something I like to deal with.

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Jeff Strickland - 03 Aug 2007 05:23 GMT

>> I've got a 1988 528e. The plastic nipple on the top right of the
>> radiator (that connects to the vent house going to the expansion tank)
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> plunk down $200 to get a new radiator. Engine overheating is not
> something I like to deal with.

I'm having trouble with the visual, but I think I agree with you, this is a
temporary fix at best. I'd not worry about the nipple going to the expansion
tank IF the cooling system is otherwise strong. There is no pressure on the
overflow hose, but there is considerable heat. I's be looking to repair the
nipple with some epoxy, or something along those lines ... I'd not be
forcing a mechanical fit into the plastic because I have first hand
knowledge of the result of a catastrophic failure of the radiator.

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