Overheating 35i

[sexy beast]

Went out for an evening bimble yesterday, after about 10 miles or so the amber temperature warning pops up, then the red warning.
Pulled over at a garage, opened the bonnet to let some heat out. There was what looked like coolant splattered over the left-side of the engine cover. The coolant cap seemed to be on OK but made sure it was tight.
Waited about 30 mins then set off again, only about a mile then red warning again, pulled over in a garage. After a bit of a wait, opened the coolant cap and some coolant bubbled out, got a bottle of water and topped it up, only a little bit though. Another 30 mins wait.
Set off again and again only lasted about a mile, pulled over in a pub car park. Same routine, this time waited an hour to cool down. Restarted the engine let it idle for about 10 mins - fan was on full pelt all the time. Needed to try to get back home so set off again, cabin heaters on full this time. Lasted a couple of miles before the red warning came on again. Pulled into yet another pub carpark, parked up safely, got a taxi home, about 5 miles.
Going to get it transported back home today, not risking driving it, even if the car is now totally cold, suspecting the water pump has gone? Thermostat? Doesn't seem to be leaking coolant as the level seems OK.
e89 35i 57k miles.

 

[raymond.harper]

The water pump fails at 100000, or so they say, and is quite common. There is a test you can do to check it is running https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JCRRBUlX3s&t=81s

 

[B21]

Typical water pump failure..mine went at 60k miles 500 miles from home..

 

[B21]

Typical water pump failure..mine went at 60k miles 500 miles from home..

Replace thermostat and water pump at the same time..

Codes need to be read immediately after failure….usually water pump failure to respond to command / current issues type codes..

 

[sexy beast]

Typical water pump failure..mine went at 60k miles 500 miles from home..

Jeez glad it was just 10 miles away for me!

Recovery guy came out this morning, said looks like the water pump IS working, but all he could was water swirling in the coolant tank, so might not be working as efficiently as it should i.e. on its way out. Didn't read any codes, priority was to get it to a garage. Re-checked coolant all OK, shadowed me to my local indy BMW garage with the heaters on maximum blast, made it with no warning lights. I'll give them a bell on Monday see what's up.

Like you said, if one has gone I'll get them to replace both anyway.

TBH apart from the drive back when I picked it up a few weeks ago, I've mostly just pootled around my local area. Did a single long-ish drive last weekend and did think "Christ, my feet are getting hot!" but got home without any issues, and last night again did think the footwell was warm. We'll see.

 

[B21]

The pump fails ‘soft’…usual problem is the drive to the motor..the brushes start to wear out…it self heals to an extent when cool then repeats until eventually around 500-2,500 miles after the 1st incident it gives up completely and irreversibly ..so when it’s ‘working’ no fault codes are apparent..if you have a decent reader you can find the ‘shadow codes’ from previous incidents..

Mine first let go after a spirited few miles on the NC500..

 

[Busterboo]

£1,500 at the AD. Interesting to see how much it will be at the indy.

 

[matsmith749]

Either a coincidence that the water pump failed so soon after purchase, or you inherited someone else's expensive problem.

So many see the early signs of an expensive issue & get the car moved on, someone else's problem.

I hope this is the only issue - what's the service/repair history like?

 

[2k35is]

Are yo not within the 30 days when any faults are considered pre existing and/or you can reject the car from a dealer
see Auto traders for details
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/content/advice/how-does-the-consumer-rights-act-protect-you-when-you-buy-a-car

 

[sexy beast]

Just to round this off (thanks for the comments everyone) - was indeed a water pump failure so I got that renewed at my local indy, along with the thermostat - all OK now.
Seeing as when I collected the car I drove it 70+ miles back on quite a hot day, I think the seller could reasonably argue it wasn't a known/pre-existing problem. TBH I had some money set aside for things like this.
Car has what looks like a full BMW service history - fluids etc. all changed on schedule, looks quite comprehensive; no mention of water pump so assuming it was the original pump that failed. Oh well, just bad luck I guess.
Since then, the car has driven well and I've had a couple of 100+ mile blasts and its been fine, so all sorted.

 

[B21]

Just to round this off (thanks for the comments everyone) - was indeed a water pump failure so I got that renewed at my local indy, along with the thermostat - all OK now.
Seeing as when I collected the car I drove it 70+ miles back on quite a hot day, I think the seller could reasonably argue it wasn't a known/pre-existing problem. TBH I had some money set aside for things like this.
Car has what looks like a full BMW service history - fluids etc. all changed on schedule, looks quite comprehensive; no mention of water pump so assuming it was the original pump that failed. Oh well, just bad luck I guess.
Since then, the car has driven well and I've had a couple of 100+ mile blasts and its been fine, so all sorted.

Good to report back..my pump failed at 60k..seems the N54 pumps go much quicker than the N52 versions…I guess working harder..