Thread: Aftermarket radiator for TD5

I walk in knowing landed price from UK and start from there.

I usually get trade at ULR Melbourne by quoting the part number which saves them a lot of looking up.
And ask for it otherwise.
I've been pleasantly surprised on some D2 part prices and always check there.

Originally Posted by Roverlord off road spares

Don't know about Nissens having 2 qualities, a chinese version and a Danish Version. Generally A lot of knock offs are light on in materials.
I've seen td5 Alternators from india and china put on the scales next to the O.E ones and they have much less weight but look the same on the outside. The Dayco belts we find were mainly Italian made. Thats not to say that they may be now made in china, but the finish and specs should be to standard and not vary like the ones you ended up.
Its the same with the GM rads they come in a box with Gm label on the side with the manufacturers label stuck to it and then there are plain boxed versions that some are passing saying they are Gm Rads. The proper GMs come from Uk or Saudi Arabia

I think we just have to be careful if buying from onknown sources, and ask the right questions.
The Dayco serpentine belt was the usual Dayco quality, but what I was sent first time was a consequence of just asking for a serpentine belt and assuming I would get OEM quality.
I think the claim that the lightweight radiator was a "Nissen from China" (no such markings on the packaging), was just sales talk, I doubt Nissen would bother to have their name on such a product.

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

Considering how fiddly it is to change a D2 radiator i'd forget the cheap rubbish one and stick to a Nissens brand.

Re other parts.
Serpentine belts: I only use Genuine LR (made in Germany), Continental (made in Germany, U.K), Dayco (made in Italy) or Dayco Gold (made in USA), then I know they are good for another 100K. BUT saying that the last Conti belt was MEXICO and I've had a few DAYCO made in CHINA, both went on the pile of "i'm prolly never going to use pile" or when someone comes in wanting a freebie.

More and More GENUINE LAND ROVER parts are being made in CHINA, I might as well buy britpart and not pay 3 x as much. example are Defender door lock actuators used to be made in Switzerland, now CHINA but still priced like the swiss made it.

I too have a pile of parts I wouldn't waste my time fitting because they didn't even look the business coming out of the box, and only hang on to them in case I come across somebody stuck for parts.

There was a guy on the AULRO FB group proudly posting his eBay sourced, German Despatched, Made in UK packaged, LR stickered, “Genuine” Discovery 3/4 door lock mechanism.

He was stoked that it cost him only $65 AUD (they’re around $300)

What it was actually was - Made In China - knock off.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

Wow, I have to say that this Chinese fetish is getting a bit over the top.

Where is your TV made? Where is your microwave made? Etc etc.

The issue is not made in China but the source companies of the knockoffs.

Chinese cars are gaining popularity and everyone I have talked to who owns one seems to be happy and they seem to be reliable.

My best friend bought a Great Wall Ute for his son about 5 years ago and it has been faultless.

Is a Chinese Cummins diesel any better or worse than a USA one?

I have a Britpart RH front wheel hub and it so far is fine, and I bought a Chinese MAF for $30 (really to test as I have a VDO as backup)and it is fine after about 2 years.

if you buy stuff off Ebay then you can expect the lowest common denominator but don't paint all Chinese stuff with the same brush. Would you buy a SUNNY TV off Ebay and expect it to be as good as a Sony both built in China?


Regards PhilipA

Thankfully, I do not rely on my Japanese TV, to get me through outback Australia (in past week of ordinary driving I have covered 3000k's in remote regions), and over 500,000k's in past 10 years in remote areas, and only holdup I had was a failing fuel pump.
When buying cars I always look at the ancap rating, so only Mercedes, Volvo's and Land Rovers for my family.
The objection to the Chinese product is that not all their products are made to a standard, but many to a price, and many appear to imitate rather than replicate.
They don't have to come through Ebay. Many of the dodgy parts I have received have been from mainstream suppliers.
I have bought rear tail lights for Mercedes, that presented as an identical replacement, but which had 30% less LED lights in them and would have required me to cut metal out of the car in order to fit them. (Straight in the bin).
Recently bought a set of stud extractors, looked the business, claimed to be "trade quality", collapsed internally on the first stud to be extracted. (bin job)

Post war, "made in Japan" was synonymous with being below par, then it was "made in Taiwan" or "made in Korea", now products made in those domains are considered to be up to standard.
Some Chinese goods are made to a standard, but unfortunately (as you suggest), there are an awful lot of "knockoffs", that one should avoid, and a radiator that weighs 50% less than the usual radiator might be among those products.

Originally Posted by seatosky

I’m guessing you made sure that the old one was totally empty of liquids and had absolutely no deposits inside? 2kg of water is about 2L, not hard for that much to be hiding inside despite draining!

It was certainly dry as, having been turned every which way and also left in the sun for 10 days.

Originally Posted by onebob

The Chinese "Nissens" radiator did not have any brand on it. The above looks like the real McCoy.