Electric Water Pump Failure - Poll

[Smartbear]

I wouldn't bother replacing it until it goes. It's an expensive piece of kit. You current one could be fine for years to come.

It's expensive, but not as expensive as a replacement engine after it's been cooked!
Rob

Yes but that's like saying "I'm buying a new gearbox, just in case it goes". There's preventative measures and then there's overkill. If money is no issue then i suppose it's up to the person. I personally would just keep an eye on engine temps. He does state it's "working fine" so why replace something that's not broken.

Not quite the same thing though, a gearbox usually lasts for the life of the car-these electronic water pumps have proven that they don't!
Plus a replacement oe pump is £225 ish as opposed to thousands for a new gearbox :wink:
Rob

 

[alekos911]

I had it when my car hit 25kmiles. I know pretty soon, I guess mine was faulty in the first place, or maybe our hot summers took their toll on the pump. Luckily when mine failed it was -6C outside so it didnt fry the engine.

Just before it failed, I noticed the fan working hard without reason and as a bonus...the heater didnt blow any hot air at all.

 

[Roundozo]

And that's my point. They usually show signs before they drastically fail and kill the engine. I would agree with getting one in for a preemptive strike if they go boom, shortly followed by the engine going boom but on 99% of the cases failed water pump, there are usually tell tale signs that it's on its way.

I do agree the gearbox comparison is a bit rubbish but it's all i could think of at the time.

 

[DMC63]

Hi, your car doesn't have the electronic water pump this threads talking about :wink:
Rob

Now I feel left out, rejected, less than And slightly embarrassed

That would explain the rubber band thingy going round the end of it from the engine.

That's probably why it hadn't failed. It wasn't electric. Less to go wrong. Hehe.

That's probably why your car uses more fuel & produces less power, more parasitic drag on the engine
Rob

This thread is not going well, I feel even worse now

 

[GreyZed]

And that's my point. They usually show signs before they drastically fail and kill the engine. I would agree with getting one in for a preemptive strike if they go boom, shortly followed by the engine going boom but on 99% of the cases failed water pump, there are usually tell tale signs that it's on its way.

I do agree the gearbox comparison is a bit rubbish but it's all i could think of at the time.

No they do not show advance signs of failure. If your heater is not blowing hot air and the fan is running then the water in your cooling system is STATIC and you will get local hot spots around the cylinder head which the N52 will not deal with very well. If you are lucky enough to get to 60k miles on the original pump I would seriously consider a preventative maintenance replacement. Not sure I would bother doing the stat as many do but if you do please do not fit anything other than a BMW sourced one as it is a mapped unit and the ECU does not like aftermarket spurious versions.

 

[Smartbear]

Now I feel left out, rejected, less than And slightly embarrassed

That would explain the rubber band thingy going round the end of it from the engine.

That's probably why it hadn't failed. It wasn't electric. Less to go wrong. Hehe.

That's probably why your car uses more fuel & produces less power, more parasitic drag on the engine
Rob

This thread is not going well, I feel even worse now

Cheer up, the suns out & you've got a convertible (with a working water pump)
Rob

 

[DMC63]

That's probably why your car uses more fuel & produces less power, more parasitic drag on the engine
Rob

This thread is not going well, I feel even worse now

Cheer up, the suns out & you've got a convertible (with a working water pump)
Rob

Thanks Rob, I feel much better now

 

[Sinkrate]

Cost seems to vary massively for new water pump installs. Only called one Indy and was quoted £700. Anyone know the rough price to get one changed these days? Any recommendations Manchester / Liverpool area would be great. Thanks all.

 

[Smartbear]

Cost seems to vary massively for new water pump installs. Only called one Indy and was quoted £700. Anyone know the rough price to get one changed these days? Any recommendations Manchester / Liverpool area would be great. Thanks all.

Oem pump can be had for £240ish & it's an easy fit, an hours labour?
Rob

 

[NickDE]

Cost seems to vary massively for new water pump installs. Only called one Indy and was quoted £700. Anyone know the rough price to get one changed these days? Any recommendations Manchester / Liverpool area would be great. Thanks all.

Oem pump can be had for £240ish & it's an easy fit, an hours labour?
Rob

I'm thinking of doing mine before it breaks. Which brand(s) are best, and where is the best place to buy ?

 

[Sinkrate]

I've got the pump down to £250 ish at https://www.gsfcarparts.com/ using the forum40 code.
Just need to find someone to fit it now and I'll buy it and get it sorted.

 

[Mr Tidy]

This thread is getting more positive - last time I posted the fail rate was 1 in 3, now it is more like 1 in 5! So not quite as big a problem as I first thought.

Mind you when mine did die there was no prior warning - everything worked fine until I stopped for fuel, then less than a mile from the garage it just went straight to the red on the temperature gauge and the warning light lit up.

I suppose the nature of how it fails is the aggravation factor - mechanical pumps whine, leak, etc. and give you signs they are failing whereas the electric ones just stop like you've turned them off with a switch. :x

 

[bradz]

I Just purchased one from ebay for £221 Original PIERBURG pump.

Mine is showing no signs (My local indy said the fans staying on after the car has been shut off is an early sign)

I have been quoted £220 to fit it with a new thermostat and coolant.

I'm driving across Europe next month and its not really something I want to be worrying about as the car has just clicked 70k!

 

[GreyZed]

I Just purchased one from ebay for £221 Original PIERBURG pump.

Mine is showing no signs (My local indy said the fans staying on after the car has been shut off is an early sign)

I have been quoted £220 to fit it with a new thermostat and coolant.

I'm driving across Europe next month and its not really something I want to be worrying about as the car has just clicked 70k!

The Pierburg pump should be fine but make sure your Indy uses a genuine BMW stat as in dealer sourced and not an aftermarket 'oem quality' item. These are ECU mapped stats that have about 4 different modes they switch between depending on engine load/driving style etc. and the only one that will behave correctly is a dealer part.

 

[grumps]

Not yet, but still under 50k (just).

 

[85genius]

I got the pump for £210 off ebay (find the cheap seller on ebay UK then look through their German listings to save a tenner) then paid £90 to fit it and also repair one of my headlight washers. The mechanic told me he spent more time on the washer than the pump so I paid just under £250 all in to sort mine

 

[GreyZed]

85Genius...

A man in a dress destroyed your Silver Zed?

 

[Jamesw]

Bought coupe at 60k, now on 91k and no issues yet. Not sure if done prior to my ownership. Good informative thread

 

[Ducklakeview]

Bought coupe at 60k, now on 91k and no issues yet. Not sure if done prior to my ownership. Good informative thread

As per thread, they do fail without warning. Some have been lucky and got to 100k, others have had them fail circa 60k. In the overall picture, £230-£250 for a pump isn't that bad, and about an hour to fit it. The thermostats are usually fine, normally cracking bodies is their problem.

Mike

 

[keith777]

I've got the pump down to £250 ish at https://www.gsfcarparts.com/ using the forum40 code.
Just need to find someone to fit it now and I'll buy it and get it sorted.

Try ducklakeview -a member on this site, located St. Helens I believe.
Cheers Keith.