BMW 5 Series Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

A genuinely alarming, honest finding: one cooling system failure often reveals another waiting to happen shortly after, since every part shares the same pressure — plus a technical finding that an electric water pump can fail instantly, without warning, on newer models.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 17117573257 (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 60776 / Mahle CR 1585 000S

Accuracy note: Covers the BMW 5 Series (F10 2010-2017) 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)	NRF 50479 (610 x 487 x 27 mm, aluminium, soldered fins; fits 523i N52B25/N53B30, 528i N53B30, 530i N52B30/N53B30); cross-refs Nissens 60776, Ava BW2596 and BW2430, Van Wezel 06002430, Mahle CR 1585 000S, Hella 8MK 366 301-861, Ridex 470R0562, Prasco BM048R002.
Core sizes & variants	This 487 mm-deep-core unit is the petrol six-cylinder radiator. The four-cylinder 520d/525d diesels (N47/B47) and the 535d use their own radiators, which are not confirmed here.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	17117573257; 17117603745; 17117612954; 17118615992; 17118615994; 17118617905; 17118662853; 17118663676; 17118669005; 7573257
Fitment notes	Covers 2009-2017 F10/F11 petrol sixes only; for a 520d or any other engine, order the genuine radiator against the VIN.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: radiator core size and construction can differ between petrol and diesel 5 Series engines, and again between manual and automatic gearboxes where the automatic needs an integrated oil cooler circuit — confirm your exact engine code and transmission before ordering.

BMW 5 Series Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

Nothing about this component is glamorous, but on the BMW 5 Series, almost every serious engine failure that isn't wear-related traces back to a cooling system problem left unaddressed. Catching the early signs here is genuinely cheap insurance against a much bigger bill.

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.

BMW 5 Series Radiator: What It Does

The BMW 5 Series's radiator transfers heat from the engine coolant to the surrounding air, keeping engine temperature within a safe operating range. On automatic versions, it often also cools transmission fluid through a separate internal circuit — one more reason the correct part number matters so much here.

BMW 5 Series Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: BMW F10 Radiator replacement 520d 530d 535d 540d

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Diesel F10; petrol alt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCnVO0afXAI (528i/535i)

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A Genuinely Alarming, Honest Finding Worth Knowing — BMW 5 Series Radiator

If a cooling system component has just failed, this is genuinely worth knowing: this specific pattern, where one cooling system failure reveals another waiting to happen shortly after, has been specifically documented on this model. Because every part in the system shares the same pressure, a cracked expansion tank replaced today can be followed by a radiator seam or a nearby hose fitting failing just months later — worth having the whole cooling system properly inspected together, including hoses, the expansion tank, radiator, and water pump, rather than simply replacing whatever failed first.

A genuinely useful, technical finding worth knowing on newer models: unlike a conventional mechanical water pump, which may leak or make noise for weeks before failing, an electric water pump can stop working instantly and without warning once its internal electronics fail. Specific diagnostic fault codes are commonly associated with this kind of failure, worth having a proper diagnostic scan carried out if the car suddenly displays an overheating warning with no prior symptoms.

It's also genuinely worth knowing that BMW engines are generally designed to run hotter than many other brands, accelerating wear on plastic cooling components, gaskets, and seals — worth considering preventative replacement of ageing plastic components around the 80,000 mile mark.

BMW 5 Series 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 BMW Radiator

The same part, covered across other BMW models.