e8x electric waterpump failure poll...

[mr.fabulous]

Not sure how to change my vote in the poll... but mine blew this evening. Red thermometer, limp mode. Shit. I was cruising slowly through a great neighborhood, gently pulled over and started making calls (could have been A LOT worse for me). Neighbors were all very nice. The pump noisily and slowly ground to a stop when I shut the motor. Car is on a flatbed on its way to the dealer as I write this.

17 years with my E36 and it stranded me only one time, towards the very end (power steering line blew). Granted, I did a good amount of PM on the thing... but still. There may be a Toyota in my future, I can't have things like this. 49Kmiles, 14mos of CPO remaining...

UPDATE Sat 05 Sep:

Just got off the phone with my dealer, it was the pump. $50 CPO deductible, plus probably about that again to cab it to the dealer.

UPDATE Sun 06 Sep:

SA looked at me like I had three heads when I asked about some sort of extended warranty (100K miles?) on the replacement pump... saying parts from BMW are warrantied for two years or the remaining warranty period when replaced under same... period.

[Mach1er]

Mileage?

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Not sure how to change my vote in the poll... but mine blew this evening. Red thermometer, limp mode. Shit. I was cruising slowly through a great neighborhood, gently pulled over and started making calls (could have been A LOT worse for me). Neighbors were all very nice. The pump noisily and slowly ground to a stop when I shut the motor. Car is on a flatbed on its way to the dealer as I write this.

17 years with my E36 and it stranded me only one time, towards the very end (power steering line blew). Granted, I did a good amount of PM on the thing... but still. There may be a Toyota in my future, I can't have things like this. 49Kmiles, 14mos of CPO remaining...

UPDATE Sat 05 Sep:

Just got off the phone with my dealer, it was the pump. $50 CPO deductible, plus probably about that again to cab it to the dealer.

UPDATE Sun 06 Sep:

SA looked at me like I had three heads when I asked about some sort of extended warranty (100K miles?) on the replacement pump... saying parts from BMW are warrantied for two years or the remaining warranty period when replaced under same... period.

[weiln12]

My 135i is new to me and has 68K miles on it. Previously I had an E90 that lost its water pump at 111K and stranded me in the middle of Utah in -14* weather for 2 hours until a tow truck arrived. I never fully trusted that vehicle again.

I want to avoid that with this since it's my wife's DD and I'm very tempted to just replace it now. I have to take it in for service anyway since they broke the steering wheel cable, and they just replaced both turbo's. I'd rather pay the $1500 now and make sure it's reliable. Is there any way I can visually check to see if the pump is original or has been replaced? I checked with the dealer and they don't have any records for my VIN.

[arrakis]

So the water pump failed on my 2011 CPO 135i with 58k miles failed this morning. It failed at about the worst place it could have (short of a ghetto or a desert). I work in Indianapolis and was on 465 (interstate loop around Indy) stopped in a several mile snarled traffic backup due to a two semi collision that had shut down the entire north side traffic flow for several hours.

So I am sitting in traffic for 30 minutes when the yellow temp light pops on. Then about 2 minutes later the red temp light appears and the car is now in fail safe mode. On an incline. On the interstate. In the middle of a 5 lane highway, gridlocked with no ability to go anywhere in either direction.

I turned the flashers on while people yelled, screamed, honked, flipped me off, etc. I was only concerned about the car. After a few minutes of what I assume is cooling down I was able to get the car to limp/idle over to the off ramp and off to the side of the road. Being that its a shiny Lemans Blue BMW broken down in traffic I wasn't getting a lot of sympathy. Especially from a vast area of domestic car buying rednecks.

At one point there appeared to be a fan that kicked on and the car cooled down. I let it set for 15-20 while talking to BMW Assist. From there the dealer was thankfully only about 5 minutes away via back/side roads. After the car cooled down (mid 60 degrees outside here in Indy) I was able to drive it that short distance with no temp warnings. BMW Assist offered to tow or let me drive it if I thought it would run. After it cooled down it did run but if the light came on again I was going to tow it.

I got to the dealer and mentioned the temp lights and being snarled in traffic and the service rep instantly said "sounds like the electric water pump".

Fun times.

[mr.fabulous]

Originally Posted by arrakis

So the water pump failed on my 2011 CPO 135i with 58k miles failed this morning....

Man, that sucks. When mine blew, all I could think about is how it could have been a lot worse for me (limp mode at the wrong time could be very, very bad for the driver). Glad you're OK.......

It's a funny thing... "they" want us to believe that these exotic super cars with all their HP should be somehow expected to be more prone to failure. Somehow I think the opposite.

[hynespb]

2009 with 82k failed yesterday on the way to work. Luckily was only a couple miles to the dealer and made it there after a couple cool downs. Getting it replaced with third party warranty over the weekend. No loaner.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mr.fabulous

Man, that sucks. When mine blew, all I could think about is how it could have been a lot worse for me (limp mode at the wrong time could be very, very bad for the driver). Glad you're OK.......

It's a funny thing... "they" want us to believe that these exotic super cars with all their HP should be somehow expected to be more prone to failure. Somehow I think the opposite.

A friend of mine almost bought a classic Lamborghini Espada(a few years back)... that is until he inquired on how much a new water pump would cost. The local Lambo dealer said... well we don't know exactly... you have to place an order for the part... then wait for 19 other people around the world to order that same part... THEN Lambo will commission the part to be produced by an outside firm... then the part comes to the dealer THEN we know the price! lol I could not believe it! And ohh.... knowing how the Italians work... I bet that takes a few years from start to finish.

[twinboost_MD]

Mine just failed on the highway last week. towed it to my house. currently replacing the water pump in my driveway.. PITA

[Mach1er]

Originally Posted by twinboost93

Mine just failed on the highway last week. towed it to my house. currently replacing the water pump in my driveway.. PITA

Mileage/year? Good luck with the repair.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

A friend of mine almost bought a classic Lamborghini Espada(a few years back)... that is until he inquired on how much a new water pump would cost. The local Lambo dealer said... well we don't know exactly... you have to place an order for the part... then wait for 19 other people around the world to order that same part... THEN Lambo will commission the part to be produced by an outside firm... then the part comes to the dealer THEN we know the price! lol I could not believe it! And ohh.... knowing how the Italians work... I bet that takes a few years from start to finish.

Same reason used Ferraris are so cheap. Cheap to buy, sure. Cheap to own? Not a chance.

[twinboost_MD]

Originally Posted by Mach1er

Mileage/year? Good luck with the repair.

2009 with 58k.. just finished it. do not attempt on ramps. did the job for 600 bucks though so kinda worth it i guess

[mmmusty]

So I can buy the Water Pump from the dealer for 426 and change plus 7 for the bolts, this is OEM stuff, what do you guys think as far as the price?

Anywhere with a better deal that you folks know of?

Im planning on tackling this for my 1er's 100k burrrfdaaaay

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mmmusty

So I can buy the Water Pump from the dealer for 426 and change plus 7 for the bolts, this is OEM stuff, what do you guys think as far as the price?

Anywhere with a better deal that you folks know of?

Im planning on tackling this for my 1er's 100k burrrfdaaaay

I think at the dealer your gonna be around closer to 700ish. But I would give your local dealer a shot. Ask them what their best price is, bc you have seen the on the interwebs for $490 for the pump and electronic thermostat. (not sure how much more the bolts are, probably $2 each).

Many vendors like Getbmwparts.com or Turner or ECS.com sell the pumps kits at good prices. Just look around at the Bimmerpost.com forum sponsors.

Don't forget to buy new bolts AND bmw coolant as well.

[mmmusty]

It was listed at 699 actually like you said but we have a parts discount, which BTW, if there are local members to me that need a part here or there (not all the time), I'm down to get it for our members.

after the discount it ended up being that price, i just picked it up today, but they dont come with a thermostat like i thought you said Dack, probably my mistake. At any rate, the thermostat is 111$ roughly for me, do you recommend changing that out as well... i sure hope not LOL

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by mmmusty

It was listed at 699 actually like you said but we have a parts discount, which BTW, if there are local members to me that need a part here or there (not all the time), I'm down to get it for our members.

after the discount it ended up being that price, i just picked it up today, but they dont come with a thermostat like i thought you said Dack, probably my mistake. At any rate, the thermostat is 111$ roughly for me, do you recommend changing that out as well... i sure hope not LOL

Sorry IF you understood the water pump comes with the thermostat(electronic). It does not. Still both are under $500 at most places on line. $111 sounds about right for the thermostat.

I would always change the thermostat when changing the water pump. It's just good sense. I hope you also replace the water pump bolts(bc they are stretch bolts, one time use) and used BMW coolant. There are also two hoses that might need to replaced on the pump IF they feel hard and brittle.

Dackel



DIY electric water pump VIDEO for N-series (N51/N52.N54/N55) engines...
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...7#post15632917

DIY – Water Pump & Thermostadt Replacement (2007, 335i w/Automatic Transmision)
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=784416

Pictures: Electric water pump + thermostat replace
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=347412

[mmmusty]

Yes my mistake. I actually just found it as I was searching the internet, I'm replacing hoses and bolts also, thank you Dackelone

[mmmusty]

For those that are interested, Ive found the Pierburg Water Pump on ebay for 280- to the low 300s.

Behr Thermostat for 63 and change.

Anyone need links let me know,

Good day and happy Friday

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

A friend of mine almost bought a classic Lamborghini Espada(a few years back)... that is until he inquired on how much a new water pump would cost. The local Lambo dealer said... well we don't know exactly... you have to place an order for the part... then wait for 19 other people around the world to order that same part... THEN Lambo will commission the part to be produced by an outside firm... then the part comes to the dealer THEN we know the price! lol I could not believe it! And ohh.... knowing how the Italians work... I bet that takes a few years from start to finish.

Not uncommon for Italian exotics or other rare cars. Your friend would be better off taking his existing pump to a machinist and have him rebuild it, even if that meant some custom made parts it would surly be faster and cheaper than the Lambo pump.

[JohnnyG_TO]

Model Year/Production date: 2011 / Mar 2011
Miles: 56K (90K KM)
Warranty/Good Will? No
Cost: $800 CDN (parts only...self-replaced)
Engine Code: N55

Dealer DID offer to inspect for free and would cover price of water pump, but not thermostat and not labour for any of it. Decided it would be cheaper and quicker just to do it myself.

[i_love_cars]

I've had two 135i cars and both had failing water pumps. N55 and N54.

Model Year/Production date: 2011 / Mar 2011
Miles: 52k
Warranty/Good Will? No
Cost: $450 pump & thermostat - replaced it myself
Engine Code: N55

Model Year/Production date: 2008 / Feb 2008
Miles: 63k
Warranty/Good Will? CPO
Cost: CPO covered but would've been $1450 otherwise at dealer
Engine Code: N54

[marvinp]

My 2009 135i water pump just failed this week. First symptom was the heater not working and then engine heating up yellow warning light.

Model Year/Production date: 2009 / June 2009
Miles: 54k
Warranty/Good Will? BMW Extended Warranty
Cost: $50 co-pay (BMW Extended Warranty). Dealer estimated it would cost $2,000 (this is in California)
Engine Code: N54

I'm somewhat bummed/surprised that this is such a common problem. I figured BMW would make a water pump that lasts longer and doesn't fail shortly after the standard warranty expires. I'm glad I got the Extended Warranty. I got towed for free and all repairs were free.

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by marvinp

My 2009 135i water pump just failed this week. First symptom was the heater not working and then engine heating up yellow warning light.

Model Year/Production date: 2009 / June 2009
Miles: 54k
Warranty/Good Will? BMW Extended Warranty
Cost: $50 co-pay (BMW Extended Warranty). Dealer estimated it would cost $2,000 (this is in California)
Engine Code: N54

I'm somewhat bummed/surprised that this is such a common problem. I figured BMW would make a water pump that lasts longer and doesn't fail shortly after the standard warranty expires. I'm glad I got the Extended Warranty. I got towed for free and all repairs were free.

I'm surprised that they would quote for $2000 for the job, even in CA!