Oil Cooler Damage?

[Captain Pete]

Curious if anyone has suffered stone / debris damage to their oil cooler radiator?
Trying to decide whether to fit a metal guard behind the factory plastic one and if it is really necessary. Also concerned it might reduce airflow to the radiator, I live in a hot climate up to 40 celsius in summer.

 

[Captain Pete]

 

[Rufus]

Hi Captain,

To be honest I’m gonna guess not because we’d probably have had a thread on it by now and I don’t ever recall seeing such a thread (in two years). However, I have done that mod myself and I can’t see any reason not to really. The oil cooler is so exposed to clean airflow, wind or speed generated. Since I took this photo I’ve actually changed the plastic cover for a SW Motech black metal one but the gauze is still on there. Do it

 

[Captain Pete]

Thanks Rufus,
Good to know - Yes the mod is on my list now!

 

[Anibal]

I second that. The radiator fins are very delicate and exposed to impact from little stones or debris the front tyre may throw at it, therefore I believe a simple and very inexpensive mod like this should be done.

@Rufus,
Where did you get yours from? I much prefer the look of yours than the one I got from Wunderlich.
Cheers mate.

 

[nicelychill]

gotta say, I'm kinda liking the wunderlich guard, just a little pricey...

 

[BER18 100]

The Wunderlich copy-cat version is about $90 on eBay.

 

[Rufus]

I second that. The radiator fins are very delicate and exposed to impact from little stones or debris the front tyre may throw at it, therefore I believe a simple and very inexpensive mod like this should be done.

@Rufus,
Where did you get yours from? I much prefer the look of yours than the one I got from Wunderlich.
Cheers mate.

Hi Anibal, firstly before I forget, the metal guard I bought was the same as Nicelychill above, a Wunderlich one not SWMotech (that was my panniers I got mixed up).

Yea, the guard, it’s actually fine aluminium mesh, the type used for body filler on cars or whatever. Cost is about £2 for an A4 sized sheet. I got a piece of thin cardboard, offered it up to the oil cooler and cut and shaped it so that it fit exactly. Then placed the cardboard template over the aluminium gauze & cut it out with stout scissors. Sprayed it with black paint. The oil cooler guard is such a close fit it holds it in place. Voila. Deffo worth a go

 

[Anibal]

Hi Anibal, firstly before I forget, the metal guard I bought was the same as Nicelychill above, a Wunderlich one not SWMotech (that was my panniers I got mixed up).

Yea, the guard, it’s actually fine aluminium mesh, the type used for body filler on cars or whatever. Cost is about £2 for an A4 sized sheet. I got a piece of thin cardboard, offered it up to the oil cooler and cut and shaped it so that it fit exactly. Then placed the cardboard template over the aluminium gauze & cut it out with stout scissors. Sprayed it with black paint. The oil cooler guard is such a close fit it holds it in place. Voila. Deffo worth a go

View attachment 15833

Cheers mate

 

[BigJimSlim]

I didn’t think of this being a problem before and now y’all have me about to buy the Wunderlich guard. It does look better than the OEM, so there’s at least that.

 

[nicelychill]

I didn’t think of this being a problem before and now y’all have me about to buy the Wunderlich guard. It does look better than the OEM, so there’s at least that.

make the jump! once you start thinking about the hunk of plastic down there, kinda makes you wonder why bmw didn't invest in something more substantial. Wunderlich guard definitely feels like it should be oem