2001 Lexus that has a hairline fracture in the radiator

Tom asked:

My local Lexus dealer gave me a price with tax of $831.00 to fix my Lexus. A local repair shop with the after market parts with tax and labor come to $280.00. that a whole lot cheaper., but do after market any good and will they last?

There is several things to consider. Is the cost important to you? How long do you plan on keeping the car?

There is no doubt that the OEM part is a better quality and will last longer. If you are planning to keep the car for five years and are not concerned with the price, go with the OEM radiator. Most after market radiators are cheaper because they are not made from the same quality materials, but would be reliable for a couple of years.

Some after market radiators are made by the same companies that supply the OEM parts, they are just sold in a plain box for a fraction of the price.

Either option would be a safe choice . One thing to keep in mind is that most dealers will warranty their work for 12 months and 12,000 miles without a hassle. Most independent repair shop that install after market parts won’t warranty those parts. Which means if it starts leaking again in two months you will be paying them again.