[AllBlackBimmer]

OK tried seraching, couldn't find excatly what I was looking for... so:

1) Will any scanner pick up the pump error codes (such as the free one at autozone) or do I need a BMW-specific reader?

2) Once the pump goes, there is NO WAY to drive the car with the red overheat symbol correct? you must get it towed (to a dealer)?

3) Why is there only 1 "replacement" pump available? ... there are no aftermarket options? I can get 5 different bolt on turbo kits but there is only ONE water pump that works with our cars?

4) If and when my pump blows up, this will covered COMPLETELY under warranty correct? (assuming my factory 4/50k or my CPO warranty is still good)

5) What has been TOTAL cost of replacing the pump, including labor? both with this covered under warranty, and not covered under warranty.

6) Do you HAVE to replace the thermostat when replacing the pump or is it just recommended?

7) how hard is the DIY? scale to 1-10, 10 being the hardest.




Thank guys looking to start checking into my water pump, am at 48k and I know they "usually" don't fail until 80-100, I want to keep an eye on that thing.

[cwn23]

1...scanner should show water pump codes
2 once you get red temp warning, you can let the engine cool completely like overnight and drive it sparingly to a location if your close (not recommended but can be done as long as its not a long drive)
3 At the moment there is only the BMW water pump that I know of
4 If your under the 4/50 yes it should
5 1200+ at dealer indy shop about 900-1000
6 replacing the thermostat is not a must but most people change it out also when replacing the pump...dont want to do a job twice
7DIY scale 7-8 ( indy shop said getting to the pump was difficult because of *******

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by cwn23

1...scanner should show water pump codes
2 once you get red temp warning, you can let the engine cool completely like overnight and drive it sparingly to a location if your close (not recommended but can be done as long as its not a long drive)
3 At the moment there is only the BMW water pump that I know of
4 If your under the 4/50 yes it should
5 1200+ at dealer indy shop about 900-1000
6 replacing the thermostat is not a must but most people change it out also when replacing the pump...dont want to do a job twice
7DIY scale 7-8 ( indy shop said getting to the pump was difficult because of *******

.... for #4.... water pump isn't covered under CPO?!?

... my car is about to hit 48k, I won't have my 4/50k much longer...

[cwn23]

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

.... for #4.... water pump isn't covered under CPO?!?

... my car is about to hit 48k, I won't have my 4/50k much longer...

CPO is a different because they extend the period after you purchase the car

4/50 miles is for the first owner of the car and when you purchase the car as a CPO they extend the years and the mileage...You need to find out what applies to your case.

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by cwn23

CPO is a different because they extend the period after you purchase the car

4/50 miles is for the first owner of the car and when you purchase the car as a CPO they extend the years and the mileage...You need to find out what applies to your case.

Both do. I bought my car with 39k, still under factory warranty AND it was a CPO car.

So to my understanding when I bought it, I have the factory 4/50k until I hit jsut that, either 4 years or 50k after which my CPO warranty takes over for 2 addition years or 60k (i think its 60k, something like that)

... so I am just saying that, I don't tihnk my pump is going to blow up in the next 2k 9I have 48k on my car now) but then I will obviously be under CPO, which I would think would cover the water pump if and when it blows up.

[cwn23]

All I know is if you see water pump codes, do yourself a favor and get it changed out as soon as possible or find yourself stranded in the middle of no where!

[samchoi604]

1) You need a BMW-specific reader, not any OBDII reader. Get the BT Tool. There are cheaper alternatives for 2008+ 335i, such as the CAN Tool, but for 328i you will need BT Tool.

2) Correct

3) Only OEM available

4) Covered under CPO warranty but you need to pay a small deductible

5) With CPO warranty, you pay $50 deductible.. without, you pay about $1000 ($600 for parts)

6) No, you don't have to replace the T-Stat but you might as well do it since (1) it's accessible during water pump replacement, (2) it's only $100, and (3) it's prone to failure

7) No idea, depends on your skills and the tools you have

[AllBlackBimmer]

Originally Posted by samchoi604

1) You need a BMW-specific reader, not any OBDII reader. Get the BT Tool. There are cheaper alternatives for 2008+ 335i, such as the CAN Tool, but for 328i you will need BT Tool.

2) Correct

3) Only OEM available

4) Covered under CPO warranty but you need to pay a small deductible

5) With CPO warranty, you pay $50 deductible.. without, you pay about $1000 ($600 for parts)

6) No, you don't have to replace the T-Stat but you might as well do it since (1) it's accessible during water pump replacement, (2) it's only $100, and (3) it's prone to failure

7) No idea, depends on your skills and the tools you have

If the water pump goes out and lets just say its covered under warranty, will they automatically replace the T-stat too? or is that a "seperate error code" or whatever and the 2 part failures are "not related" ? ... if and when my pump bows, I'd def change the T-stat since it's only a 100 bucks.


I still cannot believe there is no "aftermarket" water pump for our cars. Esp when this is a KNOWN problem. Tischer or someone couldn't come up with a bolt on replacement that isn't a POS? this just really surprises me, that with a part that everyone has problems with, there are no other solutions than to replace with the same part that will cause more problems.


Can I go to the dealer and speicially ask them to run a scan on my car to check for pump error codes?

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by AllBlackBimmer

If the water pump goes out and lets just say its covered under warranty, will they automatically replace the T-stat too? or is that a "seperate error code" or whatever and the 2 part failures are "not related" ? ... if and when my pump bows, I'd def change the T-stat since it's only a 100 bucks.


I still cannot believe there is no "aftermarket" water pump for our cars. Esp when this is a KNOWN problem. Tischer or someone couldn't come up with a bolt on replacement that isn't a POS? this just really surprises me, that with a part that everyone has problems with, there are no other solutions than to replace with the same part that will cause more problems.


Can I go to the dealer and speicially ask them to run a scan on my car to check for pump error codes?

No they will not replace the T-Stat for no reason... BMW North America will only warrant replacement parts for things that actually failed.

Yes the water pump has failed for some people, but so can every mechanical part ever made by human. It's not very easy to produce an aftermarket part that is better than OEM... It takes a lot of research, development, engineering, and testing to manufacturer a mechanical part at a reasonable cost, and who is to say it will be better than OEM without long term tests? Besides, the water pump has been redesigned at some point (in 2010 I think).

Yes dealers can run a diagnostic on your car for but it costs an hour's rate. Just buy a BT Tool.

[Bcube]

^^^

First replacement part number up to 6/06
Second replacement pn up to 7/08
Third pn replacement is current.

Besides the 2006 330i/325i, there doesn't appear to be a rash of waterpump/thermostat failures. At least nowhere near the E36/E46 levels. And evidently the aftermarket doesn't see a market to invest the time and money.

[cwn23]

So the water pump from MY 2007 is different than the ones used for 2010...I just changed mine out after only 8500 miles on it as it is not a daily driver..The water pump looked exactly the same as my old one whereas the t-stat is now plastic as to the one I had on the car which was made of aluminum...

[samchoi604]

Originally Posted by cwn23

So the water pump from MY 2007 is different than the ones used for 2010...I just changed mine out after only 8500 miles on it as it is not a daily driver..The water pump looked exactly the same as my old one

ENINTY dissected his old failed pump and believed that it was the electronics that failed. Maybe in the newer ones they updated the electronics, which of course you wouldn't be able to see from outside.

[Saintor]

Originally Posted by cwn23

So the water pump from MY 2007 is different than the ones used for 2010...I just changed mine out after only 8500 miles on it as it is not a daily driver..The water pump looked exactly the same as my old one whereas the t-stat is now plastic as to the one I had on the car which was made of aluminum...

If you have a 328i you are the first one that I hear about a water pump replacement. So far it was about 325i/330i and a few 335i. However your low mileage condition is particular.

[ENINTY]

Only a BMW scan tool will pick up the error codes.

The pump costs $400 from Tischer.

An indy should be able to replace it in 3 hours or less.

It's not a hard job, but only if the car is on a lift. Doing it on your back makes the job more difficult.

The reason there is no aftermarket alternative is because it is a low volume manufactured part. BMW does not sell enough cars for a non-OEM to develop a pump from scratch. BMW has the parts market cornered and prices it accordingly.