[GoneIn4Secs]

I noticed the front radiator fins were bent from stone chips hitting them , behind the front grill

Anything need to be done?

Is this rad used to cool engine or for air condition etc?

Does this cause problem for performance?

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by GoneIn4Secs

I noticed the front radiator fins were bent from stone chips hitting them , behind the front grill

Anything need to be done?

Is this rad used to cool engine or for air condition etc?

Does this cause problem for performance?

Totally normal unfortunately.

Stay further back from traffic to reduce it.

[GerardzM]

You could also straighten them out carefully with a flat head.

We use to do that on our dirt bike radiators....those could get very bad as you can imagine.

[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by GerardzM

You could also straighten them out carefully with a flat head.

We use to do that on our dirt bike radiators....those could get very bad as you can imagine.

Yes but done wrong, you can tear them unnecessarily, causing a coolant leak.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by GerardzM

You could also straighten them out carefully with a flat head.

We use to do that on our dirt bike radiators....those could get very bad as you can imagine.

Generally for a radiator as long as it's not leaking I would leave the fins alone. I will say as a former STI owner that's driven through a hail storm where hail went through the hood scoop and pelted the intercooler, that a quality set of tweezers and some patience can make any tube and fin intercooler look new again.

[XRAVE]

My radiator right behind the kidney grills is also damaged, I'm assuming from the 1500 mile drive down south on i95. I'm not sure if it's still the case but I remember the air compressor radiator would actually sit in front of the engine radiator.

Either way, I have no plan on fixing it, I can't imagine is has an notable effect

[pruettfan]

In Arizona we see a lot of this from the crap that tends to get on the roads after monsoon rains. My car has 37,000 miles and 20 or so track days and my coolers are very impacted by this. Does it effect performance? I'm sure it does but I wouldn't straighten them unless I knew what I was doing. Because of our hot climate and my track habit I will probably be doing the full CSF cooing package, hopefully it will be more resistant to this issue also.

[F87source]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

Generally for a radiator as long as it's not leaking I would leave the fins alone. I will say as a former STI owner that's driven through a hail storm where hail went through the hood scoop and pelted the intercooler, that a quality set of tweezers and some patience can make any tube and fin intercooler look new again.

+1
Oh yeah, my STI's intercooler looked like garbage just after ~5,000km of ownership.

But yeah OP there really isn't much you can do tbh, it does happen. If I were you I probably would just leave it as is (if it is not leaking), and maybe address it by adjusting the fins with a screw driver as the issue gets worse.

[GoneIn4Secs]

Yea i don't usually drive tailgating ppl ,

Does someone know what the radiator is used to cool in tbe m2

[joec1101]

If the fins aren't smashed down flat, leave them alone. Whatever you do, DON'T use a screwdriver or other sharp metal tool or object to try to straighten them out. They make a special tool for this - here's an inexpensive one on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Allstar-ALL10.../dp/B006K8GKBO

[F87source]

Originally Posted by joec1101

If the fins aren't smashed down flat, leave them alone. Whatever you do, DON'T use a screwdriver or other sharp metal tool or object to try to straighten them out. They make a special tool for this - here's an inexpensive one on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Allstar-ALL10.../dp/B006K8GKBO

Very nice that they make something like this lol. I had to tape a small flat head jewellery screw driver to fix my intercooler.

[look585]

https://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1593697