Pre-emptive water pump change

[A-minor]

I've been reading about failure of the electric water pump on the N52 3.0L engine (yes I know how to cheer myself up ).

There doesn't seem to be much mention of this on the E89 forum but from what I can tell on realoem the E89 30i shares the same pump with the E85/E86 3.0si and other models. Therefore I'm wondering if it's worth getting a pump and thermostat ordered so that they can be fitted at next service. If so I assume these are the parts needed:

https://www.cartech-one.co.uk/en/produc ... _by_search

It looks like the bolts are pictured so I assume are supplied with the pump, would I need anything else? Gaskets etc?

[gregl342]

That looks like everything you need

What milage is your engine on out of curiosity? My last N52 Z4 had the pump go at 70k miles and 10 years old and my current hasn't had it done yet at 37k and 12 years old. Been thinking about doing it as preventative maintenance myself.

[Wildfire]

Just for a stat, mine let go at around 70k too. The signs were the fan coming on immediately after starting the car and only stopping when you restarted the engine.

[A-minor]

Mines done around 112k miles, was used as a daily driver. The last owner had the car for 10 years and never changed the pump, perhaps failure is more age related than mileage. Either way I'm anticipating this issue cropping up at some point.

[Mr Tidy]

My 1st E86 managed 60K miles and 9 years to the day before the pump died.

My E91 325i (also an N52 engine) had one die last year at 135K miles and 12 years - I think that was it's first, but can't be sure.

Either way, their life-span does seem pretty variable so it may be a good plan to have one and that certainly looks like a good price for both parts. The fixing bolts are single-use only, which is why the kit includes new ones. If there are no gaskets I'm guessing the water only flows through the pump and thermostat and not into the block through them - but I don't know as my BMW Indy replaced both of mine.

I don't know about my current E86, or the E90 330i I bought last month - I should probably get a spare too!

I wouldn't get too upset about it though - if they last 8+ years you'll probably only ever need one, and for me the way the 3 litre N52 performs more than makes up for it! Plus I'd be surprised if the 35i and 35is didn't have an electric water pump too.

[Smartbear]

My 1st E86 managed 60K miles and 9 years to the day before the pump died.

My E91 325i (also an N52 engine) had one die last year at 135K miles and 12 years - I think that was it's first, but can't be sure.

Either way, their life-span does seem pretty variable so it may be a good plan to have one and that certainly looks like a good price for both parts. The fixing bolts are single-use only, which is why the kit includes new ones. If there are no gaskets I'm guessing the water only flows through the pump and thermostat and not into the block through them - but I don't know as my BMW Indy replaced both of mine.

I don't know about my current E86, or the E90 330i I bought last month - I should probably get a spare too!

I wouldn't get too upset about it though - if they last 8+ years you'll probably only ever need one, and for me the way the 3 litre N52 performs more than makes up for it! Plus I'd be surprised if the 35i and 35is didn't have an electric water pump too.

They do have electronic pumps but there doesn’t seem to be any reports of early demise so far, improved over earlier versions maybe?
Rob

[Mr Tidy]

They do have electronic pumps but there doesn’t seem to be any reports of early demise so far, improved over earlier versions maybe?
Rob

Yes, maybe they were. I wonder if newer Pierburg units for the N52 have been revised from the original spec?

If anyone knows hopefully they can tell us!

[A-minor]

Well, realoem gives me the number 11517586925, and says that this part was available from April 2008. But it also says this part number supersedes three other pump numbers, the last of which was 11517586924 which was used from July 2009.

Those dates don't follow the part number sequencing so the only way that can make sense to me is if the dates for those superseded pumps are actually the dates of manufacture for the cars that were fitted with those pumps. If I'm right my September 2009 car will have the 11517586924 pump and E85/E86's were most likely fitted with either a 11517563183 or 11517546994. Therefore it is feasible that the 11517586925 is an upgraded replacement pump.

Does this make sense? Here's the link to the realoem page:
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/partxref?q=11517586925

[mcbutler]

Great idea, you might as well get all the other things known to fail at the same time!!

Just wait till it fails, it might not for a long time. And remember that BMW rarely take back parts once taken from the premises, its a lot of money on a maybe....

[Doddsy]

Not sure if you or anyone else on here have ordered from car tech but some of the reviews have made me stay well away.

[A-minor]

Great idea, you might as well get all the other things known to fail at the same time!!

I'm probably a bit paranoid after the water pump on my old E39 suddenly let go at 60mph without warning, it lost half the coolant before I had a clue what was happening. Thinking about it logically I suppose an electric pump couldn't fail in the same way as it's not belt driven.

[Smartbear]

Great idea, you might as well get all the other things known to fail at the same time!!

I'm probably a bit paranoid after the water pump on my old E39 suddenly let go at 60mph without warning, it lost half the coolant before I had a clue what was happening. Thinking about it logically I suppose an electric pump couldn't fail in the same way as it's not belt driven.

The electronic pumps can fail in the same way, there’s often no warning & because the temp gauge isn’t linear the engines overheating before you know it
Rob

[mcbutler]

Great idea, you might as well get all the other things known to fail at the same time!!

I'm probably a bit paranoid after the water pump on my old E39 suddenly let go at 60mph without warning, it lost half the coolant before I had a clue what was happening. Thinking about it logically I suppose an electric pump couldn't fail in the same way as it's not belt driven.

The electronic pumps can fail in the same way, there’s often no warning & because the temp gauge isn’t linear the engines overheating before you know it
Rob

I believe you get a red dash light if it overheats??!!

[Smartbear]

I'm probably a bit paranoid after the water pump on my old E39 suddenly let go at 60mph without warning, it lost half the coolant before I had a clue what was happening. Thinking about it logically I suppose an electric pump couldn't fail in the same way as it's not belt driven.

The electronic pumps can fail in the same way, there’s often no warning & because the temp gauge isn’t linear the engines overheating before you know it
Rob

I believe you get a red dash light if it overheats??!!

Exactly, it’s a bit late by then especially if you can’t immediately shut the engine down, if you’re in the outside lane of a motorway for instance. The magnesium n52 engines can react badly to overheating
Rob

[Mr Tidy]

When mine failed in my 1st Coupe the first I knew about it was when the red light appeared and the gauge was almost in the red zone! This was less than a mile after I had stopped to fill the tank.

Maybe I was lucky, but I had to drive a few miles - I really didn't fancy stopping on an unlit N/S/L dual carriageway after 9 pm in December!

It went into limp mode, but there were no ill effects - other than to my wallet! And it didn't dump any coolant.

When I had the same issue last September in my E91 325i I got even less warning as it doesn't have a temperature gauge! So it was an amber warning light followed in seconds by a red one. Still I got lucky as it was 2 in the afternoon and there was a layby a couple of hundred yards away!

I suppose if you know it's never had one, or don't know, it might be worth getting it done if you have a big trip planned - something like the NC500 or a Euro-trip. A failure then would rather spoil the event - especially if doing it with the OH!