water pump just went out..lowest cost option?

tung · 10-13-2009, 01:04 PM

my water pump just went bad and broke the fan clutch. i'm on a budget now so can't take it to the dealership. where do you guys get parts to fix your bimmer? i'm looking for some local mechanic on craigslist hopefully it would be cheaper. thanks

E46330iguy · 10-13-2009, 01:06 PM

Search/ sponsers on this website, They will help you Out, do all the work by yourself. only go to the stealership as a last resort

Focal E46 · 10-13-2009, 01:12 PM

I have a used OEM water pump that I will GIVE you if you are anywhere near hampton roads.

nick17 · 10-13-2009, 01:14 PM

do it yourself, taking the front end of these cars apart is actually fairly easy, and I've taken the fan clutch off before without removing the front end, just the shroud around it and a few alan bolts. I don't remember on the water pump though. there's a write up around here on changing the entire cooling system that would give you an idea.

Focal E46 · 10-13-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick17

do it yourself, taking the front end of these cars apart is actually fairly easy, and I've taken the fan clutch off before without removing the front end, just the shroud around it and a few alan bolts. I don't remember on the water pump though. there's a write up around here on changing the entire cooling system that would give you an idea.

It's very easy, I don't think they could make it much easier. The hardest part is making your own special tool for the fan clutch. You spin that off, pull the shroud and belt and WP pulley and you are done. Reverse with some coolant and enjoy.

tung · 10-13-2009, 01:40 PM

where do you guys get the parts? which sponsor is best? i'm not the mechanic type plus got no tools but I was able to find two guys since i posted one wanted $100 to come and replace the pump and another $200. the shop wanted $500+ for labor totaling around $1300 for the job. thanks for the help guys, i'm gonna order the parts tonight. should I stick to bmw parts or after market?

Focal E46 · 10-13-2009, 01:43 PM

I'll help you for free. It takes like 30 minutes, lol.

Pelican parts has a pump for like $50.

tung · 10-13-2009, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focal E46

I have a used OEM water pump that I will GIVE you if you are anywhere near hampton roads.

hi, thank you for the offer but too bad i'm in northern va though. do you know how many miles you have on that water pump? they only last for about 90k miles right? i think i'm stuck with this car for a while so I don't wanna go through this again. thanks again.

Focal E46 · 10-13-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tung

hi, thank you for the offer but too bad i'm in northern va though. do you know how many miles you have on that water pump? they only last for about 90k miles right? i think i'm stuck with this car for a while so I don't wanna go through this again. thanks again.

About 60k.

tung · 10-13-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Focal E46

I'll help you for free. It takes like 30 minutes, lol.

Pelican parts has a pump for like $50.

you are so lucky i would've taken up your offer but you're like 200 miles away lol. i got AAA plus free towing up to 100 miles. my ride have been sitting there for 4 weeks now i miss that rough ride. i thought it would cost around $1k to fix it so i left it alone but now i know thanks to you guys

fibonacci00782 · 10-13-2009, 02:20 PM

Get one with a metal impeller. The OEM ones are crap made with plastic. I would not suggest installing a used waterpump with plastic impeller, unless you want to repeat this a year from now...

chrisca70 · 10-13-2009, 04:14 PM

I did this thing last weekend not that bad took me like 4 hours with no rush and with beer drinking breaks...I got one made by hamburg technic (german OEM) on eBay for $50 bucks and it has a metal impeller!

-Get the special tools 32mm slim wrench and the pulley holder (I have them and can sell them them to you PM me if interested) they make it definitively more easy

-Make sure to turn the pulley 32mm bolt clockwise to untighten and counter clockwise to tighten.

-take your time when bleeding the cooling system and do not remove completely the drain blue bolt under the radiator to avoid air getting in the system.

Good luck!!

shadow 2 · 10-13-2009, 05:43 PM

If you don't know what you are doing, don't do it unless you want to risk overhheating and destroying your engine. And do not take a water pump with 60K miles on it and put it in your car. It will likely go in less than a year or maybe the day you put it in which means you get to do this job twice.

DiscoStu · 10-13-2009, 05:49 PM

Order all of your replacement parts from www.getbmwparts.com. They are Tischer BMW located in Maryland. Depending on where in Virginia you live, you will get your parts a day after they ship. I'm in Fairfax and usually get my parts a day after I order them. If you're local to Northern Virginia, I wouldn't mind lending a helping hand, and tools, to a beginning DIYer.

Bodo61 · 10-13-2009, 08:00 PM

Also will need jack screws to pull it out (M6 screws about 3 to 4 inches in length, try Auto Zone or Advance Auto parts for the M6 Screws).

carcus · 10-13-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E46330iguy

Search/ sponsers on this website, They will help you Out, do all the work by yourself. only go to the stealership as a last resort

That is a big sig you got there.

tung · 10-13-2009, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiscoStu

Order all of your replacement parts from www.getbmwparts.com. They are Tischer BMW located in Maryland. Depending on where in Virginia you live, you will get your parts a day after they ship. I'm in Fairfax and usually get my parts a day after I order them. If you're local to Northern Virginia, I wouldn't mind lending a helping hand, and tools, to a beginning DIYer.

hi, i'm in falls church. i'll probably swing by them sometime this week when in md and pick up the parts. RMFD. WATER PUMP $92.66= remanufactured? is that recommended? i would love to fix it myself but i have no clue where to start. thanks for the info.

tiloulou330i · 10-13-2009, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fibonacci00782

Get one with a metal impeller. The OEM ones are crap made with plastic. I would not suggest installing a used waterpump with plastic impeller, unless you want to repeat this a year from now...

The OEM water pump is way better than those metal impeller pumps except possibly the Stewart one.
What goes wrong on the non- OEM pump is the bearing.The weight of the metal impeller causes the bearing to go bad in a short time.
My car has 108k miles with original cooling system.Even tough i have a every single part to do an overhaul i still won't do it this year.

fibonacci00782 · 10-13-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiloulou330i

The OEM water pump is way better than those metal impeller pumps except possibly the Stewart one.
What goes wrong on the non- OEM pump is the bearing.The weight of the metal impeller causes the bearing to go bad in a short time.

I'd be interested in hearing your justification here (not sarcastic) - the majority of water pump-related posts here point to the plastic impeller. I'm going to do mine early next year as a preventative measure, and had planned on going the metal impeller route.

tiloulou330i · 10-13-2009, 08:28 PM

You can always install whatever you want on your car but don't be surprised if the metal impeller pump doesn't last 20k/mi.
When someone in here can claim to have over 60k/mi on those aftermarket pumps i'll use them myself.
I have 108k/mi on my original oem pump,why should i put an unproven aftermarket one?

10-13-2009, 01:04 PM	#1
tung Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: virginia Posts: 17 My Ride: 330CiC View My Garage	water pump just went out..lowest cost option? my water pump just went bad and broke the fan clutch. i'm on a budget now so can't take it to the dealership. where do you guys get parts to fix your bimmer? i'm looking for some local mechanic on craigslist hopefully it would be cheaper. thanks

10-13-2009, 01:06 PM	#2
E46330iguy The Canadian legend Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Canada,SK Posts: 841 My Ride: 330i View My Garage	Search/ sponsers on this website, They will help you Out, do all the work by yourself. only go to the stealership as a last resort __________________ Search for Oil Threads NEVER make a new one! BMW Oil Info

10-13-2009, 01:12 PM	#3
Focal E46 Jesus Built My Hotrod Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Norfolk, Va Posts: 1,135 My Ride: has been tainted!!!! View My Garage	I have a used OEM water pump that I will GIVE you if you are anywhere near hampton roads. __________________

10-13-2009, 01:43 PM	#7
Focal E46 Jesus Built My Hotrod Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Norfolk, Va Posts: 1,135 My Ride: has been tainted!!!! View My Garage	I'll help you for free. It takes like 30 minutes, lol. Pelican parts has a pump for like $50. __________________

10-13-2009, 05:49 PM	#14
DiscoStu Sienna Red Coupe Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 5,456 My Ride: has moderate rake. View My Garage	Order all of your replacement parts from www.getbmwparts.com. They are Tischer BMW located in Maryland. Depending on where in Virginia you live, you will get your parts a day after they ship. I'm in Fairfax and usually get my parts a day after I order them. If you're local to Northern Virginia, I wouldn't mind lending a helping hand, and tools, to a beginning DIYer. __________________ -Gary

10-13-2009, 01:14 PM	#4
nick17 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Harbor Springs Mi. Posts: 29 My Ride: e36, e46, b5 a4 View My Garage	do it yourself, taking the front end of these cars apart is actually fairly easy, and I've taken the fan clutch off before without removing the front end, just the shroud around it and a few alan bolts. I don't remember on the water pump though. there's a write up around here on changing the entire cooling system that would give you an idea.

10-13-2009, 01:40 PM	#6
tung Registered User Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: virginia Posts: 17 My Ride: 330CiC View My Garage	where do you guys get the parts? which sponsor is best? i'm not the mechanic type plus got no tools but I was able to find two guys since i posted one wanted $100 to come and replace the pump and another $200. the shop wanted $500+ for labor totaling around $1300 for the job. thanks for the help guys, i'm gonna order the parts tonight. should I stick to bmw parts or after market?

10-13-2009, 04:14 PM	#12
chrisca70 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 96 My Ride: 323i 99 E46 Sport View My Garage	I did this thing last weekend not that bad took me like 4 hours with no rush and with beer drinking breaks...I got one made by hamburg technic (german OEM) on eBay for $50 bucks and it has a metal impeller! -Get the special tools 32mm slim wrench and the pulley holder (I have them and can sell them them to you PM me if interested) they make it definitively more easy -Make sure to turn the pulley 32mm bolt clockwise to untighten and counter clockwise to tighten. -take your time when bleeding the cooling system and do not remove completely the drain blue bolt under the radiator to avoid air getting in the system. Good luck!!

10-13-2009, 05:43 PM	#13
shadow 2 Registered User Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 431 My Ride: 02 325xi View My Garage	If you don't know what you are doing, don't do it unless you want to risk overhheating and destroying your engine. And do not take a water pump with 60K miles on it and put it in your car. It will likely go in less than a year or maybe the day you put it in which means you get to do this job twice.

10-13-2009, 08:00 PM	#15
Bodo61 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia Posts: 305 My Ride: 323i View My Garage	Also will need jack screws to pull it out (M6 screws about 3 to 4 inches in length, try Auto Zone or Advance Auto parts for the M6 Screws).

10-13-2009, 08:28 PM	#20
tiloulou330i Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 384 My Ride: 02 330i zsp paid off View My Garage	You can always install whatever you want on your car but don't be surprised if the metal impeller pump doesn't last 20k/mi. When someone in here can claim to have over 60k/mi on those aftermarket pumps i'll use them myself. I have 108k/mi on my original oem pump,why should i put an unproven aftermarket one? __________________ Filbert Originally Posted by nawmean? I know I sound naive, but some of the advice I've taken from this board has helped my life quite a bit

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