Audi A5 Coupe Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the A5, related Audi models have genuinely had confirmed water pump recalls, with problems documented occurring between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

Generation covered: this guide is for the second-generation A5 Coupe (F5 platform, 2016–2024) — the two-door coupe discontinued when Audi renamed the A4 saloon to A5 in 2024. These are entirely different cars despite sharing a name; if your car is a four-door saloon or estate bought new since 2024, this guide does not apply to it. Check your logbook or VIN if you're unsure which car you have.

Illustration for editorial purposes

Find Audi A5 Coupe Radiator Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

Unglamorous as it is, the Audi A5 Coupe's cooling system sits behind nearly every serious engine failure that isn't just ordinary wear — and one that went unaddressed for too long. Noticing early warning signs here is a small cost against a potentially very large one.

Before you buy: radiator size and design vary significantly by engine size, transmission type, and whether your car has air conditioning. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

OEM Part Number: 8W0121251J (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 606463 / Valeo 701292

Accuracy note: Covers the Audi A5 Coupe (F5 2016 on) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Radiators are sold by engine, gearbox and air-conditioning fitment, and one model usually has two or three different cores — a thicker core for diesels and automatics, a thinner one for small petrols — with different hose positions, so a radiator for the wrong engine will not connect up. The references below are UK aftermarket listings whose fitment lists name this generation, labelled by brand with the core size in mm; genuine numbers are those quoted against the listing. Check your engine code and whether the car has air conditioning against your VIN, and replace the coolant and bleed the system after fitting.

Radiators (aftermarket)	Mahle Premium Line CR 2177 000P (718 x 475 x 11 mm, aluminium core with plastic tanks, fits 2.0 TDI 136/150 PS and 35 TDI, engine codes CZHA, DEUA, DEUB); Nissens 606463; Valeo 701292; NRF 550234. Nissens 606462 (720 x 471 x 26 mm, soldered aluminium core, plastic tanks, fits 3.0 TDI 218 PS CSWB and 3.0 TDI/50 TDI 286 PS DCPC); Valeo 701309; Mahle CR 2180 000P; NRF 550276; Van Wezel 03002412
Core sizes & variants	The four-cylinder 2.0 TDI takes the slim 11 mm Mahle/Hanon core, while the 3.0 V6 TDI takes the 26 mm Nissens core with 38.5 mm hose connections.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	8W0121251J (2.0 TDI); none quoted for the 3.0 TDI unit
Fitment notes	Nissens 606462 comes with gaskets and seals and 38.5 mm inlet and outlet; Quote the engine code when ordering, since the 2.0 and 3.0 units are not interchangeable.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: Audi radiator part numbers for the A5 Coupe frequently change mid-generation as engines are updated or facelifted, so a part valid for an early build year may not fit a later one even within the same model name.

Radiator specification varies between the four-cylinder TFSI/TDI engines and the six-cylinder S5/RS5 given their different cooling demands. Quattro all-wheel-drive versions may also differ from front-wheel-drive equivalents given the additional driveline cooling requirements.

Audi A5 Coupe Radiator: What It Does

On the Audi A5 Coupe, engine coolant sheds its heat into the passing air via the radiator, which is what keeps engine temperature in a safe working range. On automatics, it frequently pulls double duty cooling the transmission fluid through its own internal circuit — a detail that makes getting the exact part number right especially important.

Audi A5 Coupe Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Replacing a Leaking Radiator on a B9 Audi : 2017 Audi A4 (sister (audi a4 b9))

Watch on YouTube ↗

Same B9/MLB-evo platform and front end as the F5 A5; the only "Radiator Removal Audi A5" video found (Skg-ncUSE3E) does not state its generation.

Find Audi A5 Coupe Radiator Here!

Opens live listings in a new tab.

A Genuinely Useful Piece of Context Worth Knowing About Water Pump Issues — Audi A5 Coupe Radiator

If you're facing a coolant leak or overheating concern, this is genuinely worth knowing: related Audi models have had confirmed recalls addressing water pump issues that could cause coolant to leak from the pump housing, with problems on this platform documented occurring anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 miles.

A genuinely useful, real diagnostic technique worth trying: with the engine cold, removing the coolant bottle cap and having someone rev the engine while you watch the return hose is a simple way to confirm the water pump is genuinely circulating coolant properly.

It's also genuinely worth knowing an important clarification: genuine overheating caused directly by a failed water pump is actually quite rare, more often stemming from warped cylinder heads or a weakened head gasket left over from a previous overheating event.

Audi A5 Coupe Radiator: Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Radiator Guide for the three common failure modes, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.

More Audi Radiator

The same part, covered across other Audi models.