[TRoN]

Mine died a few months ago. 2006 323i(Canada), 175,000 km. Cost about $380 for pump, $80 for thermostat, I think $20 for new bolts and $25 for coolant. Labour by a friend of a friend was $150. Dealer would probably be 3 times that.

[asnieze]

We have another winner here! Coming home from work last night (I have a 2007 335i, +sport pack, approx. 58,000 miles) get about two blocks from home, yellow temp warning pops. Panic. "Please God, not another problem, I just replaced a cracked rim two weeks ago". Another block, Red warning pops. Double panic, memories of being on I95 as a kid in my family's Dodge K-Car (hey, it was the 80's) with the engine massively over-heating run through my head. The fan starts going nuts. I get it to my complex's lot, albeit parked crookedly in a spot and shut the car off. Battery warning in yellow pops. I don't smell anything, no sweet smell of coolant, no steam from beneath the hood. I can't leave it all crooked ass in the spot, so I wait about 10 minutes and move the car maybe 4 feet, no problem, no fan noise, no warning. It was dark, so I didn't pop the hood. But from what I've read, it's definitely the water pump. I really love this car, but I've had more money spent on this car in 4 years than in my previous 20 years and 5 cars put together.

[rotarypower101]

Has there ever been a statistical average of mileage and failure on this component for those that have had issues?

Just a rough guess but 70k?



How many have preemptively replaced this component?

[.fLip.]

i think thats around the same. but many have made it will over 100k. i got lucky and mine went out pretty much at home. i still feel its best to ride it out because people have changed their pump and it went out in 10k

[LittleBlue]

mine went out at 60k miles. $1300. pump, thermostat and radiator flush.

[StealYourFace]

At 138,500 I finally broke down for a preventative water pump/stat. Also did serp belt/tension again for preventative measure. Beats the shit out of being caught out on the road. This car has been damn good to me, no reason not to continue following a good PM schedule. This car will be in the family long after I am done with it. I'm 35, and have many younger fam members with their eyes on it

[kewlguy210]

I have 06 330xi with almost 55k. No sign of failure or anything. Do you guys think I should do preventative maintenance now? Or just buy water pump and thermostat to leave at home in case.

[woodpecka]

Originally Posted by kewlguy210

I have 06 330xi with almost 55k. No sign of failure or anything. Do you guys think I should do preventative maintenance now? Or just buy water pump and thermostat to leave at home in case.

I did change my WP as a preventive measure after 125 000 km.

55k is not a lot..

[StealYourFace]

Originally Posted by kewlguy210

I have 06 330xi with almost 55k. No sign of failure or anything. Do you guys think I should do preventative maintenance now? Or just buy water pump and thermostat to leave at home in case.

I'd buy the parts if I were you, can keep them in the trunk if you do a road trip more than 100 miles from home, just in case it lets go. It's an electric part that fails at the whim of the motor, unlike a traditional pump that fails more predictably based on miles (and noise and leaks).

[pkdan167]

+1

2006 330i with 106k miles on it. Had the yellow warning followed by the red warning this past Monday. After letting it cool down I drove the 2 miles home. Ordered my water pump and screws on Tuesday. Got the delivery today.

I had a low coolant warning this past winter and topped it off. Ran fine til now.

Not sure if it's a symptom or not but I hear a metallic rattling when idling before topping off the coolant. After filling it up it was quiet.

Hopefully I can replace it this weekend. The diys don't make it look too difficult. The one from bavauto seems very helpful too.

[Rayden]

Looks like mine had just went out as well. Went on limp mode on an exit ramp that forks to North/South Beltway 8 in Houston couple of days ago. The coolant reservoir cap, when opened, had brown gooey slushy stuffs on it, and looking down the reservoir, it looks similar. Anyone had this before?

[3.1L Z]

Add me to the list. 65K. Nice feature of the Cobb unit. Ran the codes and failed water pump. Think I'm going to get the VDO brand unit and save $150 bucks. Certainly nothing great about the OEM unit!!!

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by Rayden

Looks like mine had just went out as well. Went on limp mode on an exit ramp that forks to North/South Beltway 8 in Houston couple of days ago. The coolant reservoir cap, when opened, had brown gooey slushy stuffs on it, and looking down the reservoir, it looks similar. Anyone had this before?

That sounds like Oil in your coolant!

[joe__]

Mine went at 52k.

I plan on replacing it again myself around 120 just to be safe.

[maupineda]

What you think? Is it time or mileage that affects the most? Mi car is a 130i and it has only 36k miles (57k kms). Is it fine or is the time that kills them?

[Big Busa]

Yup!!! Add me to the list. 07 335i 6mt sport, 80k. Died on Saturday while leaving a restaurant in Charlotte heading to the South Park mall. Was getting no warning but did have reduced power going from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd. Then at a light waiting to make a left turn, the dreaded yellow temp light, 10 secs later, RED! Good thing at the corner was a gas station. Pulled in going 1 mph because of the limp mode and had her towed home. Ordering the parts tomorrow and will do it myself. Will let you know how it goes.

[Rayden]

That could be. Think leakage from head gasket?

Originally Posted by Richwm

That sounds like Oil in your coolant!

[Richwm]

Originally Posted by Rayden

That could be. Think leakage from head gasket?

Could be, how long did the engine run after the light came on? Also might be the oil cooler gasket. I would drain the oil and look for coolant in your oil before you start the engine again.

[pkdan167]

just finished up replacing the water pump. less than $400 for the pump and screws from BavAuto. Took me less than 5 hours with this site's DIY and also changed my oil. The hardest part was the top screw on the pump. Drove the car around for 15 miles with no issues. Fan didn't kick in at turbo speed, no warning lights, or power loss.

[GoRomeo]

Originally Posted by pkdan167

just finished up replacing the water pump. less than $400 for the pump and screws from BavAuto. Took me less than 5 hours with this site's DIY and also changed my oil. The hardest part was the top screw on the pump. Drove the car around for 15 miles with no issues. Fan didn't kick in at turbo speed, no warning lights, or power loss.

Did you replace your thermostat?

[Pauloxxi]

Kind of bad 1/2 dozen pages in this forum thread dedicated only to failures on the water pump. I'm another one, left stranded outside the road with my wife.
It can happen to all car brands, but some others are not as expensive.
Anyway, I have two BMW in my home, and was decided to replace one of them by an X3. However, I'm now starting to think that I do not need to invest as much, by going to a different brand.

[3.1L Z]

Dealer was $800 for all 3 parts. (Pump, stat and U-shaped hose). Bought from Auto Parts Geeks for $450.