e8x electric waterpump failure poll...

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

You're being obtuse. I only picked one thread I found in a search on one sub forum. There are probably other threads out there complaining about the same situation if you look. I've already showed your methods of proving your point is flawed.

While I agree in theory, my experience with forums is that people come to them to complain. Few come to say how their car is reliable. Also, if you combine forums, you have to account for those who complain on multiple forums. This is exactly the same on the BMW motorcycle forums. If you just read a few threads on issues, you will find the same people complain on all of them, and multiple times. It skews the numbers.

Fact is, as said, only BMW has any idea of the real numbers, and they are not sharing.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

While I agree in theory, my experience with forums is that people come to them to complain. Few come to say how their car is reliable. Also, if you combine forums, you have to account for those who complain on multiple forums. This is exactly the same on the BMW motorcycle forums. If you just read a few threads on issues, you will find the same people complain on all of them, and multiple times. It skews the numbers.

Fact is, as said, only BMW has any idea of the real numbers, and they are not sharing.

Well, I would have to trust that the numbers on the 3 series forum isn't going to be skewed too much because the poll was 3 series specific by someone who doesn't have a 3 series.

I'm also factoring in my friend who is a BMW dealer tech. He acknowledges the water pump is a weak point in these vehicles and he's been wrenching for this particular dealership going 3 decades and is one of their senior techs.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

Well, I would have to trust that the numbers on the 3 series forum isn't going to be skewed too much because the poll was 3 series specific by someone who doesn't have a 3 series.

I'm also factoring in my friend who is a BMW dealer tech. He acknowledges the water pump is a weak point in these vehicles and he's been wrenching for this particular dealership going 3 decades and is one of their senior techs.

No offense to your friend, but I have very little faith in comments by dealer techs. They often are completely full of crap, or have just plain bad ideas and concepts.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

No offense to your friend, but I have very little faith in comments by dealer techs. They often are completely full of crap, or have just plain bad ideas and concepts.

That's your perrogative. I know my friend. I've been around the auto repair business enough to know who knows their stuff and who is full of crap. My discussions with him about BMWs in general have yielded very honest and straight forward discussions that are unbiased and not fan boy based.

He's been at this a long time and has seen a greater sampling than pretty much anyone here. So yeah, I am putting more weight on what he says.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Gangplank

To have a useful number & representative sample you need to know the number of cars BMW built & sold with the part, the number of n52 & n54/55 motors, and the number of replacements & mileage of each.

Your saying it’s a low number. I’d best it’s much higher than you think. Not high enough or dangerous enough for the NTSB to require a recall but higher than it should be for the brand.

BMW should have done a goodwill extention of the warranty to 100k miles.

It really is not all that common. We do more N63 engines than 1er water pumps.

[zx10guy]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

It really is not all that common. We do more N63 engines than 1er water pumps.

I read up on the N63 issues. What a nightmare. My buddy is also very familiar with the N63 issues.

[gjm120]

If only I can make my water pump (and all the vulnerable gaskets) fail before I'm off of CPO coverage.

[Lucky1]

Which fuse powers the input of the pump?

Getting 2E85 and 2EF4 regularly. Battery/electrical issue or a pump on its way out? Going to try to disconnect the battery and reset the system

Also can anyone confirm if the coolant temperatures are within expected operation for 5 degree F weather?



Carly for BMW - detailed Fault-Code Log

Found Faults:
--Engine / Motor--
*** 2E85:Electric coolant pump, communication ***
Fault-Set 1 - ( 207152 km)

Coolant temperature OBD: 86.00 deg C
Engine speed: 2688.00 rpm
status Motorsteürung: 2.00 0-n
Voltage cl. 87: 14.62 V

Fault-Set 2 - ( 207168 km)

Coolant temperature OBD: 86.00 deg C
Engine speed: 3072.00 rpm
status Motorsteürung: 2.00 0-n
Voltage cl. 87: 14.73 V

Fault-Set 3 - ( 207552 km)

Coolant temperature OBD: 83.00 deg C
Engine speed: 1984.00 rpm
status Motorsteürung: 2.00 0-n
Voltage cl. 87: 14.73 V

*** 2EF4:Map-controlled thermostat, mechanics ***
Fault-Set 1 - ( 207192 km)

ambient temperature: 1.50 deg C
Coolant temperature Radiator outlet: 75.00 deg C
Engine speed: 2400.00 rpm
Engine temperature at startup: 13.50 deg C

Fault-Set 2 - ( 207328 km)

ambient temperature: 0.00 deg C
Coolant temperature Radiator outlet: 75.75 deg C
Engine speed: 640.00 rpm
Engine temperature at startup: 11.25 deg C

Fault-Set 3 - ( 207456 km)

ambient temperature: 2.25 deg C
Coolant temperature Radiator outlet: 75.75 deg C
Engine speed: 1952.00 rpm
Engine temperature at startup: 12.75 deg C

[printerror]

101k on my 2011 128i 6MT, pump is fine. I'm ordering a replacement this spring and I'll simply swap it out as PM.

[mackeroni]

I give up Dack! I finally had my water pump replaced at 65,010 miles, even though it was still working fine. Now I can worry less, and enjoy driving more. Haha!

Peace... Mack

[kevspassat]

'12 with 33k and failed pump.

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by kevspassat

'12 with 33k and failed pump.

That’s scary. What indication did you have? Low miles for sure...

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Which fuse powers the input of the pump?

Getting 2E85 and 2EF4 regularly. Battery/electrical issue or a pump on its way out? Going to try to disconnect the battery and reset the system

Also can anyone confirm if the coolant temperatures are within expected operation for 5 degree F weather?



Carly for BMW - detailed Fault-Code Log

Found Faults:
--Engine / Motor--
*** 2E85:Electric coolant pump, communication ***
Fault-Set 1 - ( 207152 km)

Coolant temperature OBD: 86.00 deg C
Engine speed: 2688.00 rpm
status Motorsteürung: 2.00 0-n
Voltage cl. 87: 14.62 V

Fault-Set 2 - ( 207168 km)

Coolant temperature OBD: 86.00 deg C
Engine speed: 3072.00 rpm
status Motorsteürung: 2.00 0-n
Voltage cl. 87: 14.73 V

Fault-Set 3 - ( 207552 km)

Coolant temperature OBD: 83.00 deg C
Engine speed: 1984.00 rpm
status Motorsteürung: 2.00 0-n
Voltage cl. 87: 14.73 V

*** 2EF4:Map-controlled thermostat, mechanics ***
Fault-Set 1 - ( 207192 km)

ambient temperature: 1.50 deg C
Coolant temperature Radiator outlet: 75.00 deg C
Engine speed: 2400.00 rpm
Engine temperature at startup: 13.50 deg C

Fault-Set 2 - ( 207328 km)

ambient temperature: 0.00 deg C
Coolant temperature Radiator outlet: 75.75 deg C
Engine speed: 640.00 rpm
Engine temperature at startup: 11.25 deg C

Fault-Set 3 - ( 207456 km)

ambient temperature: 2.25 deg C
Coolant temperature Radiator outlet: 75.75 deg C
Engine speed: 1952.00 rpm
Engine temperature at startup: 12.75 deg C

Replaced the pump, all is well. It lasted 130k miles.

[kevspassat]

Originally Posted by JHZR2

That’s scary. What indication did you have? Low miles for sure...

I forget what the exact code was, but it was the one that pops up when the pumps fail. I had all the symptoms of a failing/failed pump based on what I found on other threads.

Swapped it out and is good to go, so thats the good news. Seriously hoping I get at least 75k out of this one....

[dsocold]

A update on my 09 135i my new water pump** i bought from fcp went bad in 2 months. Luckily i replaced it for free through fcp and installed it myself.

[MAMSport]

2013 with 46k miles still fine N52 modified with 3-stage and software. Will be doing coolant flush soon.

[brew99]

2008 / april 2008 ______85k kms______cost me $1700 Cdn. not covered under warranty or good will_______N54

Replacement pump actually failed two weeks after which was then covered under warranty.

[WP1]

2010 135i Convertible N54 @74,500 miles


Fan flowing at full blast. Got the infamous Overheated message yesterday evening.

Was doing an errand and for my luck it happened half a mile from the auto shop I have started to take my car. I was able to drive it in 3 limp mode drives - waited 5 minutes and opened the hood each time.

The shop called me and $750 for for thermostat and water pump. My wife wants this car out of the house....

[fly_inverted]

2012 / Mar 2012 ______80Kms______cost me $1800 no warranty_______N55

usual overheating message, limped off the highway. got it towed to local dealership who had it back on the road next day.

have had the car since new and this is the first time its failed me on the road, so can't complain really.

[ruffstik]

Twice now . 80k miles

[Greenarcher707]

A little off topic but does the 135i engine run hot normally? Under normal driving my temp would go from mininum to about half way but never goes beyond. Is that about the way it usually is? Sorry, my first forced induction vehicle.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Greenarcher707

A little off topic but does the 135i engine run hot normally? Under normal driving my temp would go from mininum to about half way but never goes beyond. Is that about the way it usually is? Sorry, my first forced induction vehicle.

The 135i's do not have a coolant temp gauge.

The gauge you are looking at under the tachometer is the oil temp. Normal oil temp is from 180'F to 250'F. Sometimes I can get the oil temp up to 265'F... but thats only after a V-Max run on the Autobahn or when driving up an Alpine pass with lots of hair pin turns and rev-ing out the engine.

Even on the Autobahn the oil gauge stays under 240'F most of the time. But I have seen as high as 265'F a few times.


BMW Performance steering wheel...



Btw... you can use an App like Torque or the like(with a USB dongle in the OBDII port) to see your actual water/coolant temp. This is how the BMW Performance steering wheel gets the temp signal as well as the P3 digital vent gauge that lots of people run.

Dack