Have you changed your blacktop N52 waterpump?

Poll Poll If you have a blacktop N52K have you changed your waterpump?

  • Yes - the bastard pump died at less than 70k miles

    Votes: 4 9.1%

  • Yes - the bastard pump died at greater than 70K miles

    Votes: 1 2.3%

  • Yes - I got twitchy and changed it anyway

    Votes: 6 13.6%

  • No - Not hit 70K yet so why worry?

    Votes: 13 29.5%

  • No - More than 70K but still going strong!

    Votes: 20 45.5%
  • Total voters
    44
Z

z4pilot

Senior member
 Lytham, Lancs
There's always lots of discussion on here about what to look for when buying an E85/E86 and inevitably one standard that always gets trotted out is the waterpump. In fact, so much has it become part of Z4 folklore, that potential buyers visting the forum now seem to be using whether a car has had a replacement pump as a differentiator or reason not to buy a particular car.

All well and good - and enough members with N52s have experienced pump failure to suggest that the component has an average lifetime of approx 70K, but as a recent thread discussing the merits of silver top or black top N52s higlighted - the later blacktop engines (designated N52K) received an upgraded water pump.

See here; https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=105709&hilit=N52k&start=45

So my question is do the later waterpumps have the same failure rate? I have to confess my interest is slightly selfish - my N52K is just ticking over 70K mies and I'm wondering whether I should be considering a preventative maintenance swap of the waterpump, or am I just buying into the hype?
 
I've only owned my Z4C (N52K) for a couple weeks now but had read about this issue prior to buying - the car has just clocked over 60k and have to admit I have the fear a little.

It's a car I've wanted for a long time and had to work hard to buy (prior to house purchase etc.) so the last thing I want is for something catastrophic to go wrong with it - plus in summer I often travel the length of the country to go to car shows etc. - even over to Austria. So would be even worse if it were to go on such a trip!

As far as I'm aware it's a relatively painless job, not crazy expensive and an easy job for a mechanic. So personally I think it's worth spending the little bit now just to prevent it happening - and to get rid of the fear!

I'll likely have it done some point in Spring - unless I decide to do it myself while the car is in the garage over winter. If anyone's got a How To thread I'd be grateful for the link.
 
Shop about and buy the parts online then get an independent to do it. In the scheme of things its not too big a deal. In fairness I think it was my thermostat that failed so that the pump wouldn't stop (I found out because it was killing the battery). Seemed sensible to change both.
Mine is a black top and was at about 75k miles.
 
I've always wondered this too - was there a part number change on real OEM? The question is perhaps even more pertinent for E89 owners who have the N52K engine as all those cars should in theory have the modified version of the pump (if such a thing really exists). I wonder if any of those owners have had the pump fail?
 
ph001 said:
I've always wondered this too - was there a part number change on real OEM? The question is perhaps even more pertinent for E89 owners who have the N52K engine as all those cars should in theory have the modified version of the pump (if such a thing really exists). I wonder if any of those owners have had the pump fail?
Click to expand...
Interesting point... not at all scientific, but my gut feel is that very few e89 owners complain of pump failure. I guess the average e89 won't have the same sort of miles on the clock but early ones must surely be up around 70k?
 
Not sure if you are aware of my water pump poll: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=95479&hilit=water+pump+poll
Doesn't differentiate between the black / silver cover, so yours could be informative if there are enough responses.
(I ticked the last option since mine was at 82k with black cover and still working when I sold it)
 
It looks like a small percentage of cars had this problem. As usual on any forum the owners with problems are the most vocal.
People without troubles aren't posting, they are off driving about. When you factor this in the problem gets even smaller. :)
 
Mine went at 101k. :cry:
To say I was gutted would be a massive understatement, but £300 for a new Pierburg water pump and thermostat + 2hrs of fiddling around under the front of the car and all is now well. To be honest it is not as bad as it is cracked up to be. :thumbsup:
 
ph001 said:
I've always wondered this too - was there a part number change on real OEM? The question is perhaps even more pertinent for E89 owners who have the N52K engine as all those cars should in theory have the modified version of the pump (if such a thing really exists). I wonder if any of those owners have had the pump fail?
Click to expand...

I have been reading about this water pump business, I have a E89 N52K it's a 2009 and now got 36000 miles. Is it something I should worry about? is the failure of this component based on miles or age or both?
 
Changed mine this year preemptively, 44K on the clock and 12 years old. Had a leak on the expansion tank so figured since i was draining the coolant anyway that I might as well.

Had a look on RealOEM its a bit confusing. It says the DSC pump in a 2007 3.0si is part #34516778490 this was available April 2006 and only discontinued in 2018 with a new part #34512460432.
It does also state that is supersedes part #34516769163 which was available Feb 2006 until Sept 2006.
Strangely though if you put in details for a 2006 3.0si then it tells you the part is the same as the 2007 3.0si i.e. #34516778490
The E89 part is listed with a different part number again #34516795705
 
adam1985 said:
Changed mine this year preemptively, 44K on the clock and 12 years old. Had a leak on the expansion tank so figured since i was draining the coolant anyway that I might as well.

Had a look on RealOEM its a bit confusing. It says the DSC pump in a 2007 3.0si is part #34516778490 this was available April 2006 and only discontinued in 2018 with a new part #34512460432.
It does also state that is supersedes part #34516769163 which was available Feb 2006 until Sept 2006.
Strangely though if you put in details for a 2006 3.0si then it tells you the part is the same as the 2007 3.0si i.e. #34516778490
The E89 part is listed with a different part number again #34516795705
Click to expand...

That's really useful information - thanks
 
Marlon said:
Not sure if you are aware of my water pump poll: https://z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=95479&hilit=water+pump+poll
Doesn't differentiate between the black / silver cover, so yours could be informative if there are enough responses.
(I ticked the last option since mine was at 82k with black cover and still working when I sold it)
Click to expand...

Thanks Marlon - I actually responded to your poll 2 years ago when my car was on 64k. Now just about to hit 71k - I need to get out more in it!
 
Sure that’s the right part though? I assume the dsc pump to be the abs pump rather than the water pump?
 
Interesting read, mines is a blacktop 2007 engine, and looking at the history it hasnt had the pump done yet and im on 110k now no issues
 
My first Z4 (2008) had the thermostat go faulty but the water pump was fine. I always wonder when reading about this problem whether people jump to the conclusion the pump has gone when it’s just the thermostat....
 
My car (2007 3.0si roadster) only had 30,000 miles but was 12 years old when I changed the pump. Maybe excessive pre-emptive maintenance, but it was not an expensive job. I bought a genuine Pierburg pump for £228 and it cost £100 to fit. I then sold my old water pump on ebay for £100. So £228 for piece of mind for another 10+ years.
 
The pump on my first Coupe (with the black-top) died almost 9 years to the day from 1st registration with just 60K miles on it. :headbang:

My current Coupe (silver-top) is on 90K miles, but I've no idea whether it has had a new one. I just keep the RAC card in my wallet!

Luckily, because last summer the pump on my 06 plate 325i (N52 silver-top) died at 135K miles, but that might have been it's 2nd one.

Anyway being a glutton for potential punishment I replaced the 325i with a 55 plate 330i with a silver-top and it's done 110K miles now and I have no idea if it has had a replacement - fingers permanently crossed. :lol:
 
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