inktoxicated

so my cars been eatting coolant since i got it 2 years ago. a few top offs every few months for awhile but as of late it eats coolant quicker. just noticed the other night a small pool of coolant under the front driver side tire. set up an appointment at dealer a week from now. Mde some calls and found a guy in new brunswick nj in the ghetto who owns a bike shop and used to be a master tech at bmw in edison nj. linked up with him and put the car on the lift. the underbody plastic cover was soaked with coolant but it was all collected in one area. we shined the light everywhere and didnt see and wet hoses or anything. waterpump was dry thermostate dry. all was dry except a lil wetness on the plastic shroud thing that the radiator sits in. it was dripping a tiny little bit from there. he put a fitting on the epxansion tank and then used a hand pump and i guess put pressure in the system to see if it would leak, and it sat under pressure for 3. mins and didnt leak. so were thinking when it gets hot the coolant seeps out. he said he can get a ftermarket radiator for 250 and he said hill put it in for 90 bux is that a good deal? or should i ttake it to dealer and see if they take my 3rd party warranty

pcy

BMW lists radiator for over $400. Behr radiator is slightly less than $250.
So, your mechanic's quote is very reasonable. Labor is also very reasonable.
Even if you do the work, you'll probably spend around one to one and half hour replacing radiator anyway.

It doesn't hurt to check if your 3rd party warranty covers radiator. I doubt it, but doesn't hurt to check it.

jgt

+1
Just replaced my radiator a few months ago after experiencing the exact same symptoms, expansion tank top off every couple of months, with a Behr radiator from FCPEuro.com
You'll be able to pick it up for about $180 shipped after the 15% off sale they're having this week.