Warning About CSF Radiators

[cn90]

Has anyone tried the Mahle Behr radiator?
About $210 on eBay etc.
Per eBay seller, it is "made in Germany"...

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[scot850]

That brand is usually good. Is Behr not the OEM?

Neil.

[cn90]

I think Valeo is the original supplier.

[volvolugnut]

The issue is not where parts are built, but how they are built. I think nearly every country in the world is now capable of building quality automotive parts if the company plans to build good parts.
Likely wise, if a company in any country wants to build poor quality parts, they will build bad parts.
volvolugnut

[abscate]

Make sure all your engine mounts and radiator mounts are good. A few cm sag on the engine mount will strain the upper rad hose and make the side tank leak in just a few years.

Indeed, you cannot buy by either brand, country , or forums.

Fora, onthe other hand, are a verdant oasis of treasured information on quality.

[XC70Rider]

Thanks for the warning on those CSF radiators. My P2 just surpassed 200k miles with the original radiator. I saw someone selling a 2007 XC70 on FB marketplace down in AL last month. He was selling it for parts due to a blown head gasket caused by a broken radiator. It had the original radiator that failed at 265k miles.

My timing belt and PVC cleaning is due at 220k miles so I might throw in a new radiator then.

[erikv11]

I don't buy auto parts from eBay unless I am highly confident about the seller, which is rare.

At any rate this P2 radiator from Mahle Behr is about the same or less from some trusted retailers e.g. currently $180 plus shipping at AutohausAZ https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/BH-31319056

Too bad FCP isn't selling it ...

[volvolugnut]

I have bought several Volvo and Mercedes parts from Autohausaz. They offer OEM parts and alternate brands so they have a range of pricing. Good online service.
volvolugnut

[scot850]

I don't generally have any complaints with EBay purchases. No more than Amazon, Ali Express, Temu are all way worse in my mind. Amazon on quality and Temu/Ali Express on quality and deceptive descriptions to trick purchasers in to thinking you are buying one thing and then finding you are buying a lesser item. They then state you bought what they were selling. BS.

FCP and IPD have given me issues too, so no seller (even Volvo) are perfect. Unfortunately buying on-line has it's challenges. Heck, where I used to prefer buying the Blue Box parts because they had better manufacturing tolerances and quality checks done to them, sadly that is no longer the case. Case in point just had Volvo swap out the fuel pump on an 06 S60 AWD after only 3.5 years and 40k miles. Fortunately that was covered by their lifetime warranty.

So, no guarantees on parts any more. All you can do is hope!

Good Luck!

Neil.