The way the ti's expansion tank is designed with the o-ring at the base is a huge pita. I eventually went to a Nissens radiator because my behr kept leaking. That being said, once I swapped I went to a behr Z3M radiator and that has been perfectly fine since 2016.
It seems like aftermarket radiators are a crap shoot these days, tried to put a CSF in my Jeep and it leaked immediately. Replaced the CSF with OE Mopar and it's been perfect.
Thermostats usually stick open, it's possible that it would stick closed but you'd never see the temp stay in the middle it would keep climbing straight into the red zone. Same with the water pump, if it's not pumping the engine will get hot fast. Have you changed the two cooling pipes?
You know there is a leak at the radiator. You could rent the cooling system pressure test kit and see if there are other leaks. __________________ ~Dave~
98 328ti Morea Grun slicktop
11 128i space gray slicktop
13 JGC WK2 Deep Cherry
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