[Drex335iLov]

Well just got the confirmation that the water pump on my 335i died as I suspected based on everyone's contribution to this fantastic forum.

$1,300+ to fix that and that doesn't even include a new thermostat (which I always assumed you should change if your water pump dies).

They also were FINALLY able to read codes from my car and confirm that SZL sensor (steering angle sensor) had died as well. They kept arguing with me that it was the ABS booster. Another $700 fix.

My car is just a little over 4 years old and just over 45k. I should not be having these issues with such low millage.

I filed a complaint with BMW North America this morning citing numerous issues with the SZL sensor people have been experiencing on this and other forum. Also citing the DIY fix and the hydrocarbons on the laser disk (Again thanks to the users of this forum). A very dangerous thing with the SZL sensor is that the lights at night can get stuck to the left or right depending on when the car can no longer decipher the position of the steering wheel. This happened to my wife with the kid in the car on a foggy night. The system should default the lights to dead ahead if communication with the SZL sensor is interrupted.

Looks like I'm buying an extended warranty for this car as the electrical issues are beginning to pile up and I'm a bit frustrated. Yes you need to pay to play, but with such low mileage, frequent oil changes (I'm anal like that), service my car on factory dates and time, I should not be experiencing these issues. Not at 45k. I should not be experiencing deterioration due to time verses common wear and tear. The wife is in my ass right now, because of a $2k fix after just doing the brakes and rotors myself for less than $600 thanks to ECSTuning.com (we are both light/moderate hard drivers, Atlanta has crazy fast bad drivers here). Looks like the money I saved on the brake job is lost on electrical time stamped failure points. I hope to hell between BMW North America, Nally BMW and myself we can come to some sort of agreement where we all walk away happy. I'll agree to pay a fair portion, but not $2k for these design issues.

Signed,


Frustrated 1st Time BMW Owner/Lover

[gulshan]

Sorry to hear your frustration. There are many e92/n54 owners like me that enjoy stock or happy with just oem mods like PE, ppk etc. We dont track but enjoy spirited driving and occasionally open up on the back roads and interstate. we follow mark miller type maintenance and take good care. We have no issues. I am guessing you have some kind of stage 3 type mod and mucked with the n54's guts. If this is true your complaint is not fair. If you have indeed modded heavily, have you taken steps to handle the power ? (FMIC, catback or whatever - I dont understand all this in detail but know you need things like these...)

[Meeni]

For 1300, it should include the thermostat, even at stealership rate.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by gulshan

Sorry to hear your frustration. There are many e92/n54 owners like me that enjoy stock or happy with just oem mods like PE, ppk etc. We dont track but enjoy spirited driving and occasionally open up on the back roads and interstate. we follow mark miller type maintenance and take good care. We have no issues. I am guessing you have some kind of stage 3 type mod and mucked with the n54's guts. If this is true your complaint is not fair. If you have indeed modded heavily, have you taken steps to handle the power ? (FMIC, catback or whatever - I dont understand all this in detail but know you need things like these...)

BMW waterpumps have shown themselves to be extremely unreliable, I've never seen a serious causal relationship between tuning and waterpump/thermostat failures. They fail out of the blue, suddenly, and generally without a clear cause. It sounds like OP has done a good job taking care of his car, like countless others I think the waterpump just ate it for no particular reason. Even a heavily tuned N54 should be more or less OK at 45K miles, over 4 years that's just not a heavily used vehicle unless the pants were driven off it every single day. OP see what the labor would be at a good ind shop, Turner and I believe ECS sell waterpump and thermostat packages that are merely expensive, not "wife wants to put me on the couch for a month" expensive.

[Drex335iLov]

The only mods are a JB4 on Map 5. Thats it. If you add more hp you should add more braking. I just enjoy being able to stop quickly and safely and well as accelerate in the same fashion. I haven't done the exhaust and see no need to. I have played with the guts of the engine at all. Nor do I intend to. I'm not killing the car every day or at all really. Maybe WOT once or twice a week when I'm by myself and bring her up to 130. I have the full synthetic (bmw rec oil) done every 8k. I am a bit old fashioned when it comes to oil. Even more so on turbo cars. If there is a mod in my future it will be to add a secondary oil cooler. The temps our oils get to these days are just insane. Anything done to reduce the heat of the oil (as long as it's not too cold) pays off in spades in reducing wear on the engine. Change oil frequently is a good way to fend off the German Engine Elves of Mischief.

As I've said the car isn't really pounded and I'm not cycling up and down the gears like a F1 driver. Do I like to get to 60 quick...yup. Am I looking for races...nope. Car looks and sounds stock. I like sleepers. But I do believe these cars need to be driven. Hell even the techs tell you that.

Just disappointed on the life of these parts for such little use. There should be a backup electric water pump that would prevent you from not moving at all...limp mode is ok, but not DOTSOTR with a tow as your only option.

[ragingclue]

Originally Posted by Drex335iLov

Just disappointed on the life of these parts for such little use. There should be a backup electric water pump that would prevent you from not moving at all...limp mode is ok, but not DOTSOTR with a tow as your only option.

Yeah how they [can] fail is IMO more ridiculous than how often they fail. Mine just about left me assed out in the middle of a busy freeway in Chicago. Little to no warning before the car just quit. It happens on these cars quite a bit, it's a known weak point.

$1300 for the job (not including t-stat) seems like a major ripoff or some sort of miscalculation. That's ridiculous.

[DanielGonz]

Reason #2 why I got an extended warranty through my credit union. I still thank myself for making the decision months later lol

[Drex335iLov]

Amen Daniel...Amen!

[bender rodriguez]

Why does a water pump cost so much.. How much is the part?

[bplewis24]

How does water pump failure manifest itself? I just want to be prepared in case it happens to me.

[///M3NACE]

Why are you surprised? You should anticipate it failing.

[E90Graphite07]

It's an electric water pump for one, and the part alone is about $600-$700. It's eventually going to fail, the big question is when. Some fail early, some fail much later; add on the man hours and misc materials/fluid to replace it, and it basically adds up to near those $$$ numbers from the dealer.

[KwlAznKid]

is this a n54/n55 problem? or do n52s also have water pump failure scares?

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

How does water pump failure manifest itself? I just want to be prepared in case it happens to me.

It just fails. You can't prevent it

[bender rodriguez]

Originally Posted by E90Graphite07

It's an electric water pump for one, and the part alone is about $600-$700. It's eventually going to fail, the big question is when. Some fail early, some fail much later; add on the man hours and misc materials/fluid to replace it, and it basically adds up to near those $$$ numbers from the dealer.

Are they also eletric on the 328is 09? I always read electric was better perforamce and what not

[GoRomeo]

Based on my search here I ve seen more water pump failures on N54 and N55 than N52. Mine still has no issues at 100k miles but ive seen others going over 150k miles. But I am saving some $ already just in case

[ragingclue]

Pretty sure the N52 also has this issue. I could be wrong though.

[Rmk392]

they fail and do so without warning ..dealer prices with thermostat are around $1200 ..indy shops should be around a grand. the pump itself is not cheap

[KwlAznKid]

Originally Posted by ragingclue

Pretty sure the N52 also has this issue. I could be wrong though.

i hope you are! haha

[foghat]

Originally Posted by E90Graphite07

It's an electric water pump for one, and the part alone is about $600-$700. It's eventually going to fail, the big question is when. Some fail early, some fail much later; add on the man hours and misc materials/fluid to replace it, and it basically adds up to near those $$$ numbers from the dealer.

You can get them for under $400 these days. Plus shipping.

Though I can't quite tell if they are remanufactured or not at that price.

[galahad05]

Originally Posted by foghat

You can get them for under $400 these days. Plus shipping.

Though I can't quite tell if they are remanufactured or not at that price.

Considering the fact that brand new pristine units fail within a few years and 50k miles (ish)....I'd say go the re-manufactured units route--won't be any worse.

[135Pats]

Originally Posted by KwlAznKid

is this a n54/n55 problem? or do n52s also have water pump failure scares?

It's a BMW problem, end of story