[derryck]

We replaced my factory water pump and thermostat around 44K miles...there was nothing wrong with them but we did this proactively when we installed the RB turbos. I have now replaced the water pump twice in 7K miles since then.

[///Mposter]

Just want to throw it out there . The n52 has a metal housing and the n54 uses a plastic . It's odd that on the n52 pump, they use rubber grommets for the hard mounting points to the engine. Then for a plastic version n54 they don't use the rubber grommets and change the layout for the connector to the front of the housing.
It also looks like the crack comes from the molded parts where the connector mold connects with the "turbo" scroll portion. I bet the removal of those bolts and the inspection would show that they use a "Z" stepped mold to bring the two pieces together. So the inside portion mold line would be where you drew the red line on the outside.

My suggestion would be to also look at your motor mounts . There might be a side load it is seeing .

[travis94ZX]

Originally Posted by Jklad

I never torqued my wp down when i did the install. honestly with the pia angles you need to even get the freakin bolts on, how the hell would you accurately torque them down anyways? This job sucks, I can't imagine having to do it 4 times in a year. Opmust be lightning fast at it by now!!

Yes...I can pretty much do them in my sleep. Never the less, it is a nightmare. No pun intended...

[vitan]

Originally Posted by Cloud9blue

How would a torque wrench affect bolts that the installers would never touch??? The crack appears on the plastic housing, not around the mounting points to the engine...

Exactly!

[travis94ZX]

Anyone interested in filing a group class action lawsuit if VDO Continental refuses to address and fix the problem? I am willing to be the head of the spear.

[Julian2485]

Originally Posted by travis94ZX

Anyone interested in filing a group class action lawsuit if VDO Continental refuses to address and fix the problem? I am willing to be the head of the spear.

I'm in

[n54teek]

iv gone through 2 wp this year. 3rd ones leaking again...

[JoeyH335i]

sub'd

I have a few pictures of the water pumps (new and old).

i will be taking apart the old one to see what is going on inside of the plastic housing.

[CptJoe732]

Did bmw revise these pump at all? My org one failed and I went to bmw and replaced it myself. Then it failed again during some hard driving and got a warranty replacement. The one now is holding up but not sure if they made any improvements?

[travis94ZX]

Originally Posted by CptJoe732

Did bmw revise these pump at all? My org one failed and I went to bmw and replaced it myself. Then it failed again during some hard driving and got a warranty replacement. The one now is holding up but not sure if they made any improvements?

As I understand it, there was some sort of revision because there are now two part numbers. The last one I bought even advertised it as "revised" pump.

Seeing them side by side, I can't see any difference. Regardless, something is causing these things to crack and they are not owning up to the faulty design!

[Grand_hustle17]

Originally Posted by travis94ZX

Anyone interested in filing a group class action lawsuit if VDO Continental refuses to address and fix the problem? I am willing to be the head of the spear.

Havent gone through any as yet but im in

[Dann]

I bet that crack forms along a knit line in the plastic moulding. Has anyone taken one apart and got photos of the back of it?

[Wolf 335]

I'll just leave this here for reference, in case someone needs it.

Good luck guys, hope you sort this out.

[sk55]

Originally Posted by travis94ZX

To clarify, this is not a water pump FAILURE. It is literally cracking the plastic that houses the impeller. I have added a photo with a red line to indicate the location of the crack. It has happened 4 times in the last year! I just installed new motor mounts as they were worn out but NOT broken.

The water pump sits bolted to the bottom of the engine block (as all of you probably know already). It appears that there is enough clearance between the steering rack and the compressor of one of the turbos (that sits right above it).

Is anyone else experiencing this...specifically a CRACKED water pump in the location I depicted in the photo?

can you measure the inlet and outlets....?

i will talk to their engineers about it..


i was talking to the guys at stewart water pumps they i could possible wire there electric pump instead....

http://www.stewartcomponents.com/ind...&product_id=70

they made a excellent pump replacement for my e46 basically the best pump
i ever seen with a lifetime warranty.


i got 70k+ miles so i prob have to do this soon.. so i am interested in this thread.

[Milan]

Same issue here...water pump didn't fail, housing cracked. Plastic FTL, way to go BMW

[tb30570]

my 2nd pump started leaking too.

Does anybody make a water pump for the N54 besides Continental?

Has anybody tried swapping a non-leaking housing from a pump with bad internals for a leaking housing from a pump with good internals? There is no lack of failed pumps out there to get housings from. Not sure about the gasket though.

Here is a video of where it cracks:
http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=...VDFSRV&fsscr=0

Also, what the hell is this supposed to be?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-OEM-QUAL...lWqTFt&vxp=mtr

[tb30570]

there are broken pumps available on ebay for $35.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182001592901...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I asked the seller and they said the housings are fine but the internals are defective.

Could I using the plastic part of the housing from the ebay pump on a newer replacement pump with a bad housing?

[Julian2485]

What about pumps from the f8x m's. Wish we could retro fit those and the hpfp

[3.1L Z]

Other brands? Here you go:

https://www.oembimmerparts.com/E9X-E...rts-s/1864.htm

[ferocity02]

Pretty sure you can't easily swap just the plastic housing because the electrical pins are molded into the plastic, or so I recall from when I pulled my broken one apart.

[ferocity02]

Originally Posted by 3.1L Z

Other brands? Here you go:

https://www.oembimmerparts.com/E9X-E...rts-s/1864.htm

That doesn't fit the 335i.

[tb30570]

Originally Posted by ferocity02

Pretty sure you can't easily swap just the plastic housing because the electrical pins are molded into the plastic, or so I recall from when I pulled my broken one apart.

That stinks