[asado111]

Is it normal for the water pump to fail around 63k miles?

[R608]

Not sure if we know what "normal" is quite yet, but if you search around, you'll find it's not unheard of. Mine croaked at just 50K.

[asado111]

What was the damage? IF it wasn't covered under warranty? Also, do they just have to replace the water pump or do they replace some other part that corresponds with it?

[ihc95]

^+1 how much would this repair cost for those of us out of warranty?

[SpeedBuggy]

Replaced mine with the thermostat under CPO @ approx. 70,000 miles

[John 070]

I got some driving to do, hope to get water pump and turbos under extended warranty. The two of them together would make put the extended warranty in the black.

[mundo74]

Be happy it lasted 60k. I just spent last Saturday changing mine at 33k miles. Not too bad a job if you are not easily intimidated. The new pump pn ends in 885 and is made by continental. Hope it's better than the Siemens pos.

I have 2 in my garage. One came off a 335 with 70k miles. The plastic impeller cracked off the disk. How much weight and hit to mpg would it cost to make the impeller aluminum?

With mine i think the the motor or motor drive died. The motor is a 3 phase winding so I guess the electronics is nothing more than a variable speed 3 phase inverter. I powered mine up and it turned intermittently

This coupled with the injectors and hpfp has given this car a bad name. I think BMW's suppliers oversold them on these technologies

[John 070]

Originally Posted by ihc95

^+1 how much would this repair cost for those of us out of warranty?

I've heard some very unplesant numbers on my friend's 550i, which happened at 54k. Low 1000's.

[flexinator]

Mine went at 58k. $1100 pump and thermostat

[Saintor]

Originally Posted by mundo74

Be happy it lasted 60k. I just spent last Saturday changing mine at 33k miles. Not too bad a job if you are not easily intimidated. The new pump pn ends in 885 and is made by continental. Hope it's better than the Siemens pos.

Interesting.

[Xwahoo]

My water pump went last winter at about 44K miles. Covered by extended warranty so I don't know what it would have cost.

[mundo74]

Originally Posted by Xwahoo

My water pump went last winter at about 44K miles. Covered by extended warranty so I don't know what it would have cost.

Anywhere from $1000 to $1500 parts and labor. Normally change the the thermostat too.

[mashimarho]

mine is having symptoms at 12k miles right now.......

[BMWUltimateDriv3r]

What symptoms of impending failure are usually present?

[mashimarho]

Originally Posted by BMWUltimateDriv3r

What symptoms of impending failure are usually present?

Well, I've been told its related, but mine has the low coolant warning coming on and off every other time I start the car. It's been topped off and brought to the dealer, etc. But,

[mundo74]

Originally Posted by BMWUltimateDriv3r

What symptoms of impending failure are usually present?

Usually none. It just dies. If you are lucky you may see pump related codes if you check prior to failure. In my case I pulled my codes a week before failure. Nothing. After failure I saw the pump codes

[asado111]

my cooling fan in the car started slowly making a lot of noise, i thought it was normal, but then it got very very loud and I didn't know why, but then suddenly down the road the yellow engine sign comes on the dash, then shortly within 5 seconds turns into red and it stops moving.. had to wait for it to cool down 2hrs then drove it to the place.. so pretty much A LOT OF COOLING FAN noise, oh I also smelled something burning. That's about all. I have mine covered under CPO.

[BQTuning]

Originally Posted by asado111

Is it normal for the water pump to fail around 63k miles?

By general reports, yup. Just had a local e90post member, ***********, his pump went down hill on him yesterday and he was at 52k

Seem to be right around 45-55k miles the water pump croaks

Originally Posted by ihc95

^+1 how much would this repair cost for those of us out of warranty?

Dont go to the dealer for this cause it over 1k to have replaced. Just go to a indy shop, of course one that is known to work on BMW

[mashimarho]

Would the tune or downpipe have any link to water pump failures? Or, low coolant warnings?

[BMWUltimateDriv3r]

Is this a huge problem with 328 engines?

[e90will]

It's surprising to hear these water pumps going out early, I have 134K on my car and i'm still on my original water pump and thermostat. Is this unusual or am i considered lucky??

[ThreePedAlways]

Originally Posted by mundo74

Be happy it lasted 60k. I just spent last Saturday changing mine at 33k miles. Not too bad a job if you are not easily intimidated. The new pump pn ends in 885 and is made by continental. Hope it's better than the Siemens pos.

I have 2 in my garage. One came off a 335 with 70k miles. The plastic impeller cracked off the disk. How much weight and hit to mpg would it cost to make the impeller aluminum?

With mine i think the the motor or motor drive died. The motor is a 3 phase winding so I guess the electronics is nothing more than a variable speed 3 phase inverter. I powered mine up and it turned intermittently

This coupled with the injectors and hpfp has given this car a bad name. I think BMW's suppliers oversold them on these technologies

Continental bought Siemens' automotive business a few years ago. Same (German) supplier these days.

All OEM's regardless of stature always want gold for the price of tin. BMW isn't any different. Sure they demand higher technology, but they are asking suppliers to reduce costs at the same time. As a result, if a cheaper material (plastic) passes all tests and requirements, the cheaper material wins. Now in the real world with more variables, the cheapest material doesn't always win

The N55 has solenoid injectors compared to the piezo injectors on the N54, I think. Take a guess which one is cheaper...