Author Topic: Stupid Cooling System (Read 3193 times)

bmwman91 · « **on:** August 06, 2007, 07:33:35 PM »

Talk about luck. I made the just 287 mile drive both ways without overheating. My car seems to be leaking coolant FAST. After pulling the fan & stuff off, it seems to be dripping out from behind the water pump pulley. I am currently waiting for the motor to cool off so I can disassemble it further. I am praying it is just the O-ring on the pump, but I bet it is the shaft seal. I swear I can hear the sound of a pooped pump when I shut it off. I guess I will be ordering a new pump soon. D'Oh! Of course I did not realize that it was leaking this badly until Talk about luck! I lost about 1L of coolant per 287 miles! Ignorance is bliss...had I checked carefully down there I would have probably ordered a part there and had to take another day off of work.

Details to come. Maybe some pics.

badboypolar · « **Reply #1 on:** August 06, 2007, 09:59:55 PM »

I had the same problem last week. The shaft seal blew and I was leaking coolant like mad and my water pump only had 2200 miles on it.

bmwman91 · « **Reply #2 on:** August 06, 2007, 11:58:42 PM »

Damn, that blows. It seems that the only ones available anymore are the crappy plastic-impeller ones, and the marginally better cast iron impeller ones. The OEM one had a really nice brazed sheet-aluminum one, and I have never seen an equal replacement. A local shop had one in stock, an Airtex one, and I went with it for $58 since I have to drive to work tomorrow morning. Not a bad deal, all in all. I replaced the t-stat O-ring and applied some special cooling system gasket sealer around it. A bit of advice...don't plug that little passageway in the housing...you cannot get the air out without it clear! Phew, shower time!

Vladi · « **Reply #3 on:** August 07, 2007, 04:39:27 AM »

Just changed my water pump yesterday also, had the nice shiny one. It didn't have any problems but i changed it anyway for my peace of mind. The replacement has cast iron impellers.

badboypolar · « **Reply #4 on:** August 07, 2007, 01:34:58 PM »

My replacement was from BMW and had the alum impeller. It was almost twice what you paid though.

gearheadE30 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 07, 2007, 05:49:07 PM »

Huh, I guess my car has had the pump replaced. It has a cast iron impeller, which I thought was stock. Previous owner didn't mention that...

christophbmw · « **Reply #6 on:** August 07, 2007, 07:26:45 PM »

Quote from: badboypolar;31175

My replacement was from BMW and had the alum impeller. It was almost twice what you paid though.

yeah but yours will last twice as long

. i have 185K on my original one, when i did the rebuild 45K ago the water pump was the only thing i did not replace, i did not replace it because the one i was going to replace it with had a plastic impellar.

With my 16 canoe ontop of my car at 75MPH in 104 degree whether with the car FULL of camping gear while going UPHILL with the A/C on, the needle stays pegged at the center mark on the temp gauge....you gotta love the M42 :rolleyes:.

thebigbadyeti · « **Reply #7 on:** August 09, 2007, 03:20:36 PM »

Pelican parts sells a metal impeller one for a reasonable price. they also have the water pump super kit. I guess for super peace of mind?