Water pump failure

F

Faz

Member
Hi Guys

Engine temp started going up quite a bit luckily was down the road from home, RAC came, the mechanic didn't think was water pump initially and plugged diagnostics which came up with water pump speed deviation intermittent. The heating is intermittent so when turned to hot is sometimes cold, not sure how this is linked?
Plan to get the pump changed. Just wanted to ask if it's advise able to get timing belt done while they're doing it. 99000 miled, z4 coupe 2006.

Thanks
Faz
 
No need for a timing belt as your car has a timing chain - one of the things I like about BMW straight 6 engines!

Sadly the pump won't be cheap - probably between £250 and £300 for a Pierburg one (they made the OE ones).

Not sure about your hot/cold issue though, but it might be worth having a new thermostat fitted while you are at it.

If you don't have a regular garage you use it's worth looking for an independent BMW specialist to do the job as they are more familiar with these cars - the cooling system bleed procedure is electric!

Hope you get it sorted OK. :thumbsup:
 
New pump for sure but it’s an easy diy if you have a few spanners. The reason your heater stops working is because there is no coolant being pumped around!

Ebay have some around the £100 mark which although not oem, we know the oem aren’t very reliable so maybe no bad thing... https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F372874216232

The bleed procedure couldn’t be easier..... just switch on ignition and hold accelerator down for 10seconds and away it goes (best to support the battery with a charger as takes around 12 mins).
 
Dubbedown said:
While you’re in there may as well do the oil filter housing gasket. :thumbsup:
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Unless it’s an n52 engine like the op’s coupe & the water pump’s underneath the engine and nowhere near the oil filter housing :o
Rob
 
Smartbear said:
Dubbedown said:
While you’re in there may as well do the oil filter housing gasket. :thumbsup:
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Unless it’s an n52 engine like the op’s coupe & the water pump’s underneath the engine and nowhere near the oil filter housing :o
Rob
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It’s not about location but the fact the coolant has to be flushed for both jobs and the OFHG is a quick and accessible job (and a piece also known to fail prematurely).

Also agree with other post but surprised there was no mention of thermostat. To me that’s a given it should be replaced with WP.
 
Dubbedown said:
Smartbear said:
Dubbedown said:
While you’re in there may as well do the oil filter housing gasket. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Unless it’s an n52 engine like the op’s coupe & the water pump’s underneath the engine and nowhere near the oil filter housing :o
Rob
Click to expand...

It’s not about location but the fact the coolant has to be flushed for both jobs and the OFHG is a quick and accessible job (and a piece also known to fail prematurely).

Also agree with other post but surprised there was no mention of thermostat. To me that’s a given it should be replaced with WP.
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I getcha, i mistakenly thought you meant the location was next to each other :thumbsup:
Rob
 
Dubbedown said:
Also agree with other post but surprised there was no mention of thermostat. To me that’s a given it should be replaced with WP.
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It’s not a conventional stat on the N52, but a servo controlled electronic one. Failures are few and far between but nobody would slate anyone for changing it at the same time. Personally I wouldn’t bother though.
 
ph001 said:
Dubbedown said:
Also agree with other post but surprised there was no mention of thermostat. To me that’s a given it should be replaced with WP.
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It’s not a conventional stat on the N52, but a servo controlled electronic one. Failures are few and far between but nobody would slate anyone for changing it at the same time. Personally I wouldn’t bother though.
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I am not new to the n52, I personally owned a coupe for 10 years with half those years driven hard on track . I’ve seen N52 t-stats fail. For the cost it’s cheap insurance and avoids having to pull things out 2x. I suppose it may last as long as the original “lifetime” fluids.
 
ph001 said:
Dubbedown said:
I’ve seen N52 t-stats fail.
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Interesting, do you know what part of it fails exactly and what the symptoms are?
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It’s designed to fail in open position so it won’t cause overheating if that’s what you’re asking. Instead the car won’t reach optimal temps but would be confirmed by pulling codes. Unless you’re getting rid of the car in near future, just common sense to do both together as it’ll save you time and money in long run. It’s no different than other type of preventive maintenance but you actually have a reason to tackle the job once your pump goes.
 
Got you - don’t dispute what you are saying, just that I have never seen a single thread on here reporting of an N52 not getting up to temperature properly. If indeed people want to take a punt on the £100 pumps, the thermostat is almost the same again and is probably quite unnecessary most of the time. Each to their own of course, I can understand people changing it when the pump is off for peace of mind.
 
ph001 said:
Got you - don’t dispute what you are saying, just that I have never seen a single thread on here reporting of an N52 not getting up to temperature properly. If indeed people want to take a punt on the £100 pumps, the thermostat is almost the same again and is probably quite unnecessary most of the time. Each to their own of course, I can understand people changing it when the pump is off for peace of mind.
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I guess it comes down to ownership expectations and maintenance philosophy. Many N52 owners see water pump failures as early as 70k (OP should consider himself one of the lucky ones). But if you think you’ll own the car for as long as the new water pump, you may as well since it’s not a matter of if but when, i.e. do you really think the thermostat is good till say 140k? Else why do the same job 3x unless of course you don’t think you’ll own the car for that long. Plus even by traditional maintenance standards most BMW’s are due for cooling system overhaul at 100k miles.

WRT observed failures it’s more prevalent with the E90/60 n52 owners but the Z is not any less susceptible considering same parts/design (as confirmed by srhutch).
 
I didn't do my water pump at my last 2019/9 service only because I can pull it out relatively easy if I need to replace it. I replaced some hoses up to it because they didn't look to kosher. But thats just me, luckily after 12 years im still on original pump :) but i'm sure its due to fail at some time.
 
rsutoratosu said:
I didn't do my water pump at my last 2019/9 service only because I can pull it out relatively easy if I need to replace it. I replaced some hoses up to it because they didn't look to kosher. But thats just me, luckily after 12 years im still on original pump :) but i'm sure its due to fail at some time.
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How many miles has your car covered? :?
Rob
 
Mine is still going at 120k
Although I’m not sure if it was changed before I owned it 7 years ago at 60k
 
No, it's hard to tell if you don't have the full history of the car.

My 1st E86 needed one at 9 years and 60K miles, and my E91 325i (also N52 engine) needed one at 12 years and 135K miles - but that may have been its 2nd!
 
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