Can anyone ideantify what is leaking and can I use Radweld?

[Rob5]

Hi all,

2001 E53 X5 leaking coolant AGAIN! This time from whatever is in the picture. Its the connection between the radiator and whatever the silver box is in the picture. Having spent £2500 yesterday reconditioning the gearbox and replacing the bushes I'm not looking forward to what this will cost me. I'm thinking about Radweld but there are mixed reviews out there about long term heater matrix damage. Any thoughts anyone? Its not spraying out, just a slow drip at the moment.

The front of the car is at the top of the picture if that makes sense!

[X5Sport]

That looks like the oil cooler heat exchanger for the auto gearbox.

See this image from Realoem.

I've not used RadWeld for many years and given what the rad is doing would be wary of using it.  I had mixed results on a brass rad matrix so an Ali one may be even more trixxy. 

[Rob5]

Thats interesting. Given it came back from the garage yesterday where its just had a recon gearbox fitted could this be related? I think I might give them a call in the morning! Thanks, I wouldn't have linked it with the gearbox at all, didn't even know the coolant system was linked to that.

[IanP]

I have just changed my radiator and thought I could get away without changing the sealing rings on the gearbox cooler Just picked up the new ones from BMW today, about £3 each as they are shaped rings, and not round cross section.
While your photo is not too clear it looks like the stub pipe off the gearbox cooler is damaged, if so then I would get it back to the garage. If not then changing the ring is easy once the pressure is off the system, just pull the clip up and the cooler pulls off to  the rear of the car.

[andym3]

[quote="IanP"]
While your photo is not too clear it looks like the stub pipe off the gearbox is damaged, if so then I would get it back to the garage.[/quote]
Agreed!!! 

[AVI-8]

Hi Rob,
Rad weld is the coolant equivalent of that stuff sprayed into tyres to "repair" a puncture, does more harm than good, at best a temporary repair ignoring the consequences, when something's broken, fix it like new, rather than have to revisit a problem further down the road.

[Reusch]

Get some egg in it "like the olden days " no only jesting as above get it fixed as new it's better in the long run bud.