ok out with the old and in with the new my ? is has any one bought a radiator of ebay? is it worth taking the chance or just have the shop find me a replacment?

 

I have to think that the cost of shipping and the prospect of a bad deal would cause one to play it safe and buy a new radiator locally. Our Advanced Auto has them for $140.

 

You can get a Premier radiator from rockauto.com for $110 or you can get the same radiator off of Ebay for about $85. Shop around online and just avoid the $49 ones

 

Wouldn't know - my Max is only 15 years old. Original radiator is still working just fine.

 

haven't had any real issues with radiators other than honda/acura being an issue with the rad cap not fitting.
I always recommend buy local if possible.

 

You are the exception to the rule. Nissan plastic-tank radiators usually get cracks in the top of the tank area after 7 or 8 years, sometimes sooner.
replacing is easy, and the radiators are relatively cheap.

 

I also recommend buy locally, you can go to a small body shop and have them order one for you, probably get a discount too...G/L

 

I guess I am too then.
the current max has 201000 on it and radiator is still original, car had it's 15th birthday a couple of months ago.
I don't recall any of my 10 maxs ever having a replacement radiator, I know I didn't replace any.

 

My 1997 Max's radiator was replaced by dealer under warranty with 59,000 miles on it.
My 1996 Max I replaced the radiator at 160,000 miles due to pinhole leaks developing in the top part of the plastic.
My 2003 Altima had the radiator replaced at 80,000 miles due to pinhole leaks/cracks in the upper tank

 

I bought one from NAPA about 5 years ago. I've got no complaints.

It is the OEM aluminum with the plastic tank though, but like I said, I've got no complaints.

I believe this is the one I've got: http://www.napaonline.com/Search/Det...+50090+2090038

You'd have to call your local store for a price but I think it's like $175.00 or so.

I've also purchased two of the brands sold at Advance. These were for Ford V8 trucks, but again, I've got no complaints about those either.

The removal and reinstall is pretty straight-forward too.

 

I've owned three 4th gens with the stock radiator (my 3.5 car has an upgraded radiator) and I've never had a radiator leak in any of them (knock on wood). my beater had 225k on stock rad, my current daily driver turned over 159k on the way to work today, and my 96 had about 150k on it when I hit a deer and destroyed the radiator.

My upgraded radiator in my 3.5 car was $140 from Oscar's Radiators on ebay, but I just looked and all of the upgraded ones on there now are significantly more money. Cheapest I see is $199 and most are $240.

 

This just happened to me, coolant seeping out the top, 10 year old original radiator.

I payed 126 shipped for a quality aftermarket radiator (Koyo, from go-part.com). the only thing that's easier than replacing a radiator is replacing the starter. the whole job was an hour and half, with new oem hoses, coolant and radiator, all under $200. and as a bonus, you can play along at home with pmohr on youtube as he replaces his radiator in almost-real time.