Are the 850 radiators like the 700/900 radiators? i.e. do you need to change them out after about 7 or 8 years because the plastic becomes brittle? Is the heater control valve like the ones on the 700/900s? i.e. do you need to change them about every 3 or 4 years or are they more relaible than the 700/900 ones?
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Leon Ramseur in NC, 1997 855, 1995 945, 1990 760, 1990 740 & 1990 745. 90 740 & 745 FOR SALE.

Search the web. I just ordered an all-aluminum (NO PLASTIC) radiator for $129 (including shipping) from radtechworldwide.com. Great price, limited lifetime warrantee to original purchaser.

It is scheduled to arrive Friday. If it is unacceptable I'll post a message. Meanwhile, that is a great price!
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-- Bruce / '82 244 (315k miles!), '86 745, '87 760Ti, '94 854

I just had my radiator replaced.

I'd noticed, when viewing the front of the car, that the intercooler vanes were no longer exactly horizontal. Fortunately, I noticed this after the car had been clipped (a Durango turning right from the left lane ripped the front bumper cap off -- fortunately no sheet metal damage) by a driver whose insurance company agreed that he was at fault (the camera I had with me, to capture images of where my car was with respect to the intersection when it was struck, probably paid for itself many times over that day; it also didn't hurt that he admitted he'd had "a beer or two"). After the adjuster explained to me why I would be getting a used/refurbished radiator, he came back and told me there were no refurbished radiators available for my car so it'd be getting a new one (same story as for the bumper cap!).

Apparently the radiator is mounted to the car only by the radiator's 2 protruding plastic 'arms', and one had broken, leaving the radiator mounted on one side only, dangling/bouncing around as I drove. It's hard to be sure the failure was from the relatively nonviolent accident, but harder to be sure it hadn't; his insurance company didn't argue...

FWIW, after installation, there was a bit of coolant leakage from around the upper right (USA passenger) side auxillary (engine oil?) line fitting that mounts on the radiator. Tightening the large exterior brass nut that holds the fitting to the radiator body seems to have done the trick.

- Dave; '95 854T, 143K mi

Leon;
It would seem so with the radiators at least. I recently had the coolant flushed in my '95 850 w/115k miles, and soon after I started seeing leaks.
Took it back to the Indy radiator guy and he showed me where tiny cracks were
showing up all along both sides (where the plastic fins are).
I plan to replace with an all metal one instead of the plastic. Here is a pretty good site for that.

http://www.eeuroparts.com/

Hope this helps!