[EJOE12345]

I am using a Nissens radiator replacement and am struggling on which side needs the shorter and longer side. I believe both plugs should be the shorter ones?

Also, does my car have the “after cooler” I have a small radiator that goes behind the main one but I don’t know what that is. I have a 2006 BMW 325i manual.

[The Nightman]

Driver side: long plug if AT, short plug if MT
Passenger side: easiest way to verify if you have an "after-cooler" is to physically inspect your current radiator. If there is a hose connected to the radiator under the lower radiator hose, then you use the long plug.

[EJOE12345]

Originally Posted by The Nightman

Driver side: long plug if AT, short plug if MT
Passenger side: easiest way to verify if you have an "after-cooler" is to physically inspect your current radiator. If there is a hose connected to the radiator under the lower radiator hose, then you use the short plug.

I do not have an after cooler then. I just have the lower radiator hose on the passenger side. Which means I need the long plug? The Nissens instructions say the opposite but I have an odd feeling they may be wrong lol.

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by EJOE12345

I do not have an after cooler then. I just have the lower radiator hose on the passenger side. Which means I need the long plug? The Nissens instructions say the opposite but I have an odd feeling they may be wrong lol.

My apologies, I meant to say you use the long plug if there is an "after-cooler." Since you do not have one, then you use the short plug to block off that port from the rest of the end tank.

I just replaced my radiator with the same Nissens one and had to use two long plugs since I have AT and an "after-cooler"

[EJOE12345]

Originally Posted by The Nightman

My apologies, I meant to say you use the long plug if there is an "after-cooler." Since you do not have one, then you use the short plug to block off that port from the rest of the end tank.

I just replaced my radiator with the same Nissens one and had to use two long plugs since I have AT and an "after-cooler"

Ahh gotcha, thank you! How exactly do you place the new plugs in btw? I’ve seen some stuff online but am not sure. Is it lining up the two top notches onto each cut out on the radiator. Pressing it down all the way and turning? Also, I can’t seem to get it down all the way. Gets stuck riiight before it’s in all the way and I can turn

[The Nightman]

Yes, the plugs are very finicky and fragile. Screw the smaller drain plug in first to give the plug some more rigidity. Push them straight in and then turn it a quarter turn or so until it hits the stops and locks. I used a 19mm socket to push them in and a 19mm wrench to very gently turn them. Coating the o-rings with dielectric/silicone grease helps a lot

[EJOE12345]

Originally Posted by The Nightman

Yes, the plugs are very finicky and fragile. Screw the smaller drain plug in first to give the plug some more rigidity. Push them straight in and then turn it a quarter turn or so until it hits the stops and locks. I used a 19mm socket to push them in and a 19mm wrench to very gently turn them. Coating the o-rings with dielectric/silicone grease helps a lot

Okay great, and when I plugged one it it stopped right before it seemed to go through the cutout area. And I was pushing really hard to get it the rest of the way, felt like I could’ve broken the radiator if I kept at it, so I stopped lol. Is that just the need for the grease you mentioned or am I missing something important?

[StradaRedlands]

Yes, short/short for a MT. I think it ships with long on driver side for AT, and short on passenger side for non-cooler. But don't quote me on that. Put it all together and if coolant gushes out from one of the sides, then you need the other plug!

[EJOE12345]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Yes, short/short for a MT. I think it ships with long on driver side for AT, and short on passenger side for non-cooler.

That seems to add up, thank you! I actually broke the short one that I had. So I gotta find a new one lol

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Yes, short/short for a MT. I think it ships with long on driver side for AT, and short on passenger side for non-cooler. But don't quote me on that. Put it all together and if coolant gushes out from one of the sides, then you need the other plug!

I think Nissens needs to ship the radiator with either long+long or short+short for the most common applications. I'm not aware of any set up which uses long+short

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by EJOE12345

Okay great, and when I plugged one it it stopped right before it seemed to go through the cutout area. And I was pushing really hard to get it the rest of the way, felt like I could’ve broken the radiator if I kept at it, so I stopped lol. Is that just the need for the grease you mentioned or am I missing something important?

That's exactly how I felt too. I thought I was doing something wrong until I greased the o-rings.

Have fun with the upper radiator hose connector! Or spare yourself the pain and just buy a replacement upper hose.

[EJOE12345]

Originally Posted by The Nightman

That's exactly how I felt too. I thought I was doing something wrong until I greased the o-rings.

Have fun with the upper radiator hose connector! Or spare yourself the pain and just buy a replacement upper hose.

Will do ahaha, I actually broke the short one experimenting so I’m in the process of finding a new one lol. Will come back here with any questions. Thanks for the help!

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by The Nightman

I think Nissens needs to ship the radiator with either long+long or short+short for the most common applications. I'm not aware of any set up which uses long+short

Whichever way it was, it was the wrong one for me and I ended up spilling a bunch of coolant. But I figured it out eventually! Ended up breaking the longer diagonal tabs on the plug, but the shorter ones are still holding fine!

[The Nightman]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Whichever way it was, it was the wrong one for me and I ended up spilling a bunch of coolant. But I figured it out eventually! Ended up breaking the longer diagonal tabs on the plug, but the shorter ones are still holding fine!

I broke those additional tabs while removing the factory installed plug, but somehow managed to keep them intact on the new plug going in. No idea what those extra tabs do but they were a pain

How long have you had the Nissens radiator for? Hoping it lasts longer than the Behr ones.

[StradaRedlands]

Originally Posted by The Nightman

I broke those additional tabs while removing the factory installed plug, but somehow managed to keep them intact on the new plug going in. No idea what those extra tabs do but they were a pain

How long have you had the Nissens radiator for? Hoping it lasts longer than the Behr ones.

I wish I didn't mess with them... second guessed which was which based on what was in the bag, and chose poorly.

I have three in three cars, but all are under a year old, so no real longevity data to speak of. They're all fine though, so far so good!