BMW X5 Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the X5, one cooling system failure genuinely 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.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 17117807624 (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 60823 / Valeo 701549

Accuracy note: Covers the BMW X5 (F15 2013-2018) 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)	Ava Quality Cooling BWA2471 (587 x 428 x 40 mm, all-aluminium core and tanks, fits 25d, 28i, 30d, 35i, 40d and 40e); Nissens 60823; Valeo 701549; Mahle CR 1049 000S; NRF 58467; Van Wezel 06002471; Hella 8MK 366 301-781; Prasco BM822R002. For the M50d and xDrive 50i: Nissens 60827 (585 x 582 x 32 mm, all-aluminium, fits M50d N57 and 50i N63)
Core sizes & variants	The mainstream four- and six-cylinder F15 (diesel and petrol, including the 40e hybrid) uses the 428 mm high, 40 mm deep radiator carried over from the E70. The triple-turbo M50d and the V8 xDrive 50i take a much taller 582 mm core at 32 mm deep, which is a different part altogether and is not interchangeable.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	17117807624; 17118654431; 17117533472 (six-cylinder and four-cylinder radiator); 17117576272; 17117576305; 17117589467 (M50d / 50i radiator)
Fitment notes	Both radiators use 38.5 mm hose connections; the Ava unit is supplied with O-rings and clips, and the Nissens 60827 with seals.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: radiator core size and construction can differ between petrol and diesel X5 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 X5 Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

This isn't a part anyone gets excited about, but on the BMW X5, overlooked cooling problems are responsible for most serious engine failures that aren't simple wear-and-tear. Catching the early symptoms is about the cheapest insurance available against a major bill later.

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 X5 Radiator: What It Does

Keeping the BMW X5's engine temperature within safe limits comes down to the radiator's job of transferring heat from the coolant into the surrounding air. Automatic-gearbox versions often build in a second circuit for transmission fluid cooling too, which is exactly why fitting the wrong part number can cause two problems, not one.

BMW X5 Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: BMW Radiator Replacement Removal BMW N55 F10 F30 F25 F26 X5 X6 F15 E70 XDRIVE

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Covers F15 X5 among other N55 chassis

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A Genuinely Alarming, Honest Finding Worth Knowing — BMW X5 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, 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: 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, 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.

BMW X5 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.