Aftermarket Aircon Condensor Radiator: Recommedations Please

[boggie]

Hi All,

After 5 years in storage, I am returning my 996 Turbo X50 to the road. It needs some light recommissining and on my list of jobs to get it back to top condition, is resolving the leaking aircon system. On of the condensing radiators has sprung a leak (as evident from the lack of cold air and a dark patch on the radiator, where the oil has escaped and spread). The genuine Porsche items are arounr £300+VAT each (I plan to replace both) but the tech at my local Porsche specialist suggested that aftermarket might be the way to go. However, there are quite a few makes out there and it seems some are a better fit than others. E.G. On the Design911 site, they list the following:

• Mahle Original
  Mahle Premium
  NRF
  Auto Air
  Do any of you have recommendations please?

Also, what about fitting a protective mesh grille to stop leaf litter etc from getting onto the rads and causing corrosion, whilst I am at it?

Thanks,
B

 

[Guywilko]

Tameside radiators, ashton under lyne

Good quality, v cheap

 

[ScoobyDoo555]

Got my pack from Design911.
Worked a treat.

Standard mesh is fine - just don't do what I did and cover the towing eye

 

[maldren]

Rennline mild steel mesh kit from Design911 £200+, aluminium mesh from ebay about £10, quite an easy decision really and I also used stainless screws.

 

[Gt3Owl]

Mahle are perfectly fine 👍

 

[Kersidan]

I fitted 'Black Race Mesh' from Amazon to my C4S an easy job with front bumper off (clean out the rads anyway). make up a cardboard template and reverse it for the other side. I held the mesh in with thin black cable ties. You wouldn't notice it was there at a glance and certainly stops leaves and stones doing damage.

 

[Shalmaneser]

I've always got on very well with mahle, I used them for the engine rads and as far as I could see they were the same as oe.

I also need to do this job!

 

[Drew-Nitram]

I recently used the Meyle rads from design911.

They fitted perfectly and appear to be every bit as well made as the ones I removed, that said they were probably an aftermarket rad as the car is 22 years old with 103k miles.

I bought them while D911 was offering a decent discount during one of the COVID lockdowns.

 

[TonyC911]

I have fitted condensers on my Boxster, 997 & 991, all from this company:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/coolpartsuk

 

[maldren]

Interesting comments, is there anyone who has had a bad experience with aftermarket parts or are they all ok?

 

[timm996]

I put on some ebay specials 9 years ago, so far so good.

 

[½cwt]

Three is not a lot you can do wrong with a condenser other than inferior metal. The best way to make them last to to ensure they get cleaned out of all the road debris and general crud that gathers in them overtime and allows them to rot out. It is bumper cover and dusts off to do properly though.

 

[ian_alex]

My "cheapies" have been on here for 7 years now, absolutely no problem. Think they were under £100 for the set.
I would second the comment about keeping it all clean, bumper off every 2 years !!