Failed water pump? Limp to dealer?

dry_heat · 03-25-2014, 10:00 AM

I have an '09 135i with 43k. It was last in the shop two weeks ago for a failing fuel pump. I was driving home last night and as I turned onto my street the car jerked as I entered second gear and I got the "engine hot/drive slowly" warning. It disappeared almost immediately but as I pulled into my carport moments later the fan was blaring at full speed. Engine temp appeared to be normal. I cycled the engine and the fan resumed at full blast. Killed it and went to bed.

All signs point to water pump problems. I have a CPO warranty and an appointment to take the car in tomorrow. The question is, should I try driving it to the dealer or tow it? Normally, the car doesn't even make it to full operating temperature before I get to the dealer. It's about 4.5 miles there. I've heard about these warnings coming on once then not returning for a while, and avoiding the hassle of a tow would be great.

Any thoughts?

3002 tii · 03-25-2014, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dry_heat

I have an '09 135i with 43k. It was last in the shop two weeks ago for a failing fuel pump. I was driving home last night and as I turned onto my street the car jerked as I entered second gear and I got the "engine hot/drive slowly" warning. It disappeared almost immediately but as I pulled into my carport moments later the fan was blaring at full speed. Engine temp appeared to be normal. I cycled the engine and the fan resumed at full blast. Killed it and went to bed.

All signs point to water pump problems. I have a CPO warranty and an appointment to take the car in tomorrow. The question is, should I try driving it to the dealer or tow it? Normally, the car doesn't even make it to full operating temperature before I get to the dealer. It's about 4.5 miles there. I've heard about these warnings coming on once then not returning for a while, and avoiding the hassle of a tow would be great.

Any thoughts?

I would not chance it. I would've taken to dealer 2 weeks ago. Call a flatbed and make sure to pull any mods off (ecu map, downpipes, intake, etc.).

Rob Daman · 03-25-2014, 10:20 AM

tow it. no reason to take chances.

foghat · 03-25-2014, 10:49 AM

The gauge on your dash is for oil temp. Not water. While it takes awhile for oil to get up to temp, not so for water.

Tow it.

MightyMouseTech · 03-25-2014, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dry_heat

Engine temp appeared to be normal.

How would you know that? Do you have an aftermarket gauge?

PA135i · 03-25-2014, 11:08 AM

CPO warranty might include roadside assistance. in that cash car BMW RSA and get them to flatbed it. That's what I did.

edisapimp · 03-25-2014, 12:25 PM

^^^ What they said.

dry_heat · 03-25-2014, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3002 tii

I would not chance it. I would've taken to dealer 2 weeks ago. Call a flatbed and make sure to pull any mods off (ecu map, downpipes, intake, etc.).

The car went to BMW two weeks ago and had the fuel pump replaced. This is an entirely new problem.

dry_heat · 03-25-2014, 01:16 PM

Car starts up fine and doesn't throw any warnings right now. I've made a call to roadside for the morning just to cover my ass but I still would prefer to drive her in. If BMW was even just a mile closer I think i would drive her in.

Cozy · 03-25-2014, 03:38 PM

You won't make it in, well it's unlikely without multiple stop-starts anyway so plan roughly 3hrs to drive those 4.5miles. When the water pump stops, so does the coolant circulating through your engine; not good.

vanbmw · 03-25-2014, 06:48 PM

I say tow. My car died less then a mile from my house. After the yellow light came on I was good to drive the car MAYBE for 30 second before yellow light came on and it lost power. Then I sat for several minutes and did it again. It was a cool day and the car was not warmed up. I was on a quiet back road or I would not have tried to get home.
Be glad you got warranty...it is an expensive unit to replace!

dry_heat · 03-26-2014, 04:21 PM

Got her towed in and I'm heading to get her now. It was indeed the water pump. I think it's time to sell this ride, lovely as she is. I can't afford to keep dealing with these failing components as frequently as they've popped up.

uberschnell · 03-26-2014, 06:05 PM

The N54 runs on the hot side already. I managed to get 6 miles in 45 minutes in my wife's X5 when the pump died. At least 6 stop and cool stops. B#*&! at the dealer told me BMW Assist would not cover it as I was CPO - she was wrong

foghat · 03-27-2014, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dry_heat

Got her towed in and I'm heading to get her now. It was indeed the water pump. I think it's time to sell this ride, lovely as she is. I can't afford to keep dealing with these failing components as frequently as they've popped up.

You should be pretty good now - aside from normal maintenace.

The water pump is known to be problematic on bmws. If in your original post you are referring the hpfp, I hope you didn't pay for that - it should have been covered under a bmw initiated extended warranty. With the newer version of the hpfp (a few years old now), you hardly ever hear about them failing anymore, so you shouldn't have to worry about that one again.

I've had my car for 2 years now and I've only had to replace the taillight assemblies and the vanos solenoids. Both easy diy items.

darkrom · 03-27-2014, 03:41 PM

Tow it don't be crazy. If you overheat it and blow the motor, knowing you have the water pump out, it'll be 100% your fault. That would be turning a minor setback into a disaster.

mike@x-ph.com · 03-27-2014, 09:39 PM

tow it

03-25-2014, 10:00 AM	#1
dry_heat Private 5 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: tucson, az iTrader: (0)	Failed water pump? Limp to dealer? I have an '09 135i with 43k. It was last in the shop two weeks ago for a failing fuel pump. I was driving home last night and as I turned onto my street the car jerked as I entered second gear and I got the "engine hot/drive slowly" warning. It disappeared almost immediately but as I pulled into my carport moments later the fan was blaring at full speed. Engine temp appeared to be normal. I cycled the engine and the fan resumed at full blast. Killed it and went to bed. All signs point to water pump problems. I have a CPO warranty and an appointment to take the car in tomorrow. The question is, should I try driving it to the dealer or tow it? Normally, the car doesn't even make it to full operating temperature before I get to the dealer. It's about 4.5 miles there. I've heard about these warnings coming on once then not returning for a while, and avoiding the hassle of a tow would be great. Any thoughts?
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03-25-2014, 10:20 AM	#3
Rob Daman Captain 32 Rep 826 Posts Drives: 2007 E90 335i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: OC, CA USA iTrader: (2)	tow it. no reason to take chances.
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03-25-2014, 10:49 AM	#4
foghat Captain 59 Rep 913 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Great White North iTrader: (1)	The gauge on your dash is for oil temp. Not water. While it takes awhile for oil to get up to temp, not so for water. Tow it.
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03-25-2014, 11:08 AM	#6
PA135i Brigadier General 968 Rep 3,323 Posts Drives: 08 135i 08 CR-V Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	CPO warranty might include roadside assistance. in that cash car BMW RSA and get them to flatbed it. That's what I did. __________________ Sparkling Graphite Metallic / 6MT / Terracotta Boston Leather / Sport Package / Comfort Access system / Gray Poplar wood trim / Heated front seats / iPod and USB adapter / HD radio / Premium hi-fi system / OE Tuning / VRSF Intercooler & charge pipe / BMW Performance short shift kit / BMW M Performance Handbrake Handle / BMW Stainless steel pedals / V1 hardwired / rear sun shades *Pennsylvania 20 electoral votes*
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03-25-2014, 12:25 PM	#7
edisapimp Civil Rights Activist 115 Rep 949 Posts Drives: E46 Sedan, E88 Vert Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Long Island iTrader: (0)	^^^ What they said. __________________ E88 Crimson Red Vert MSport 6MT - Listing your mods in your signature is lame. BMS DCI/MHD E30 Flash!!/AA Sport FMIC/VRSF CP w Tial BOV/VRSF 3" DPs/550i clutch w SPEC SMFW/Apex EC-7s/Whiteline RSFB/E92 M3 FCAs/Bilstein B12 Pro Kit/VRSF inlets
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03-25-2014, 01:16 PM	#9
dry_heat Private 5 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: tucson, az iTrader: (0)	Car starts up fine and doesn't throw any warnings right now. I've made a call to roadside for the morning just to cover my ass but I still would prefer to drive her in. If BMW was even just a mile closer I think i would drive her in.
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03-25-2014, 03:38 PM	#10
Cozy Major 111 Rep 1,487 Posts Drives: E82 135i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Surrey, England iTrader: (0)	You won't make it in, well it's unlikely without multiple stop-starts anyway so plan roughly 3hrs to drive those 4.5miles. When the water pump stops, so does the coolant circulating through your engine; not good.
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03-25-2014, 06:48 PM	#11
vanbmw Major 130 Rep 1,101 Posts Drives: 2015 Black 335i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	I say tow. My car died less then a mile from my house. After the yellow light came on I was good to drive the car MAYBE for 30 second before yellow light came on and it lost power. Then I sat for several minutes and did it again. It was a cool day and the car was not warmed up. I was on a quiet back road or I would not have tried to get home. Be glad you got warranty...it is an expensive unit to replace!
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03-26-2014, 04:21 PM	#12
dry_heat Private 5 Rep 82 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: tucson, az iTrader: (0)	Got her towed in and I'm heading to get her now. It was indeed the water pump. I think it's time to sell this ride, lovely as she is. I can't afford to keep dealing with these failing components as frequently as they've popped up.
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03-26-2014, 06:05 PM	#13
uberschnell Brigadier General 674 Rep 4,080 Posts Drives: Wide Body 1 Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (48)	The N54 runs on the hot side already. I managed to get 6 miles in 45 minutes in my wife's X5 when the pump died. At least 6 stop and cool stops. B#*&! at the dealer told me BMW Assist would not cover it as I was CPO - she was wrong
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03-27-2014, 03:41 PM	#15
darkrom Colonel 188 Rep 2,224 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Rhode Island iTrader: (5)	Tow it don't be crazy. If you overheat it and blow the motor, knowing you have the water pump out, it'll be 100% your fault. That would be turning a minor setback into a disaster.
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03-27-2014, 09:39 PM	#16
mike@x-ph.com Joint Chiefs of Staff 24174 Rep 190,750 Posts Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (23)	tow it __________________ Check out our current sale by clicking on this link! https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435
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