Samples of (Cu(46)Zr(46)Al(8))(100-x)Z(x) metallic glass forming alloys with diameters 2-6mm were prepared by injection casting. The effect of minor amounts of elements Z = Gd, Co and Re with positive enthalpy of mixing within the Gd-Zr, Cu-Co and Cu-Re terminal systems was compared. The addition of Gd up to x = 2 slightly enhances the glass forming ability, Co reduces the critical diameter of bulk metallic glass formation, whereas even for small fractions of Re bulk samples were crystalline, but only amorphous splats can be prepared. Both Gd and Co diminish the crystallization temperature T(x) with respect to the Cu(46)Zr(46)Al(8) master alloy, but in Re-bearing splats T(x) is increased. Alloying with optimum amounts of Gd and Co up to x = 2 leads to plastic deformability of rods, 2 and 3mm in diameter, in comparison with the brittle Cu(46)Zr(46)Al(8) bulk metallic glass. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.