Water Pump Replacement with Mechanical

mjfox75 · 08-27-2013, 11:18 PM

Over Heating - Electrical Water Pump Failure

My 2006 330xi has 114,000 and the Water Pump failed. There are some sites on the internet showing a mechanical option, mine has an electric pump. Is it possible to convert to the mechanical? Has anyone done this? Much cheaper, and I know in older cars they ran better with mechanical.

Bartman619 · 08-27-2013, 11:32 PM

not possible. The e90 electric wp is external to the engine block, which means its not directly installed into the engine block like conventional cars. Instead it is external. The mechanical pump on e46 and diesel e90's are connected directly to the block. Plus the mechanical pump is belt driven and not electric like ours.

Efthreeoh · 08-28-2013, 04:54 AM

It goes much farther than that. The water pump is electronically controlled by the ECU to maintain a steady engine temperature, and to provide a controlled engine warm up (for cold start emissions control). If the pump were mechanically driven none of those requirements could be met. The sites that are showing a mechanical pump are quoting a water pump for the 2006 E46 325Ci (2-door coupe), which was still in production in 2006 when the E90 chassis (4-door sedan) was introduced to the US market. The E46 uses a different engine (M54 I think) than the E90, which is an N52.

Raptor3DPilot · 08-28-2013, 11:19 AM

I had my waterpump fail at 60k. It was a pretty simple replacement once I followed the directions that I found online. I went ahead and replaced the thermostat as well since I pretty much had it out for the water pump.

08-28-2013, 11:39 PM

The waterpump is has been updated 3-4 times already, just replace it, its not possible the electronics are complicated, the pump is very sophisticated, It can run when the car is off for example among many other variables it does based on the current operating conditions of the car.

Three_thirty_I · 08-29-2013, 08:13 AM

As said above, has to be replaced with the same type for the ECU and engine to function properly. Might be a plan to change the thermostat while you are at it...

d1saster · 10-16-2013, 10:00 AM

2006 330i. Curently RealOEM shows two pumps (besides the one that is ended):

Remanufactured coolant pump, electric 11517586925 $493.75
Coolant pump, electric 11517586924 $312.91

I guess the newer number and more expensive is the better!? Also it is not very clear do I need the short or long bolts for the pump.

08-27-2013, 11:18 PM	#1
mjfox75 Registered 1 Rep 4 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lewiston, Maine iTrader: (0)	Water Pump Replacement with Mechanical Over Heating - Electrical Water Pump Failure My 2006 330xi has 114,000 and the Water Pump failed. There are some sites on the internet showing a mechanical option, mine has an electric pump. Is it possible to convert to the mechanical? Has anyone done this? Much cheaper, and I know in older cars they ran better with mechanical.
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08-27-2013, 11:32 PM	#2
Bartman619 Captain 24 Rep 701 Posts Drives: Bimmer Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: SDCA iTrader: (2)	not possible. The e90 electric wp is external to the engine block, which means its not directly installed into the engine block like conventional cars. Instead it is external. The mechanical pump on e46 and diesel e90's are connected directly to the block. Plus the mechanical pump is belt driven and not electric like ours.
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08-28-2013, 04:54 AM	#3
Efthreeoh General 17207 Rep 18,696 Posts Drives: The E90 + Z4 Coupe & Z3 R'ster Join Date: May 2012 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	It goes much farther than that. The water pump is electronically controlled by the ECU to maintain a steady engine temperature, and to provide a controlled engine warm up (for cold start emissions control). If the pump were mechanically driven none of those requirements could be met. The sites that are showing a mechanical pump are quoting a water pump for the 2006 E46 325Ci (2-door coupe), which was still in production in 2006 when the E90 chassis (4-door sedan) was introduced to the US market. The E46 uses a different engine (M54 I think) than the E90, which is an N52.
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08-28-2013, 11:19 AM	#4
Raptor3DPilot New Member 4 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 330i w/Sport Package Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (0)	I had my waterpump fail at 60k. It was a pretty simple replacement once I followed the directions that I found online. I went ahead and replaced the thermostat as well since I pretty much had it out for the water pump.
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08-28-2013, 11:39 PM	#5
RemovedUser Guest 0 Rep n/a Posts Drives:	The waterpump is has been updated 3-4 times already, just replace it, its not possible the electronics are complicated, the pump is very sophisticated, It can run when the car is off for example among many other variables it does based on the current operating conditions of the car.
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08-29-2013, 08:13 AM	#6
Three_thirty_I Lieutenant Colonel 200 Rep 1,834 Posts Drives: '05 E90 330i Manual Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Cape Town, South Africa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 BMW E90 330i [0.00]	As said above, has to be replaced with the same type for the ECU and engine to function properly. Might be a plan to change the thermostat while you are at it... __________________ BMW E90 330i (M) '05 (His) \| (Hers) BMW E46 320i f/l (M) '03
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10-16-2013, 10:00 AM	#7
d1saster Captain 60 Rep 675 Posts Drives: F15 N55 & E93 N51 Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (0)	2006 330i. Curently RealOEM shows two pumps (besides the one that is ended): Remanufactured coolant pump, electric 11517586925 $493.75 Coolant pump, electric 11517586924 $312.91 I guess the newer number and more expensive is the better!? Also it is not very clear do I need the short or long bolts for the pump.
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