water pump

[RED IS 91]

I see this pump on ebay and was wondering what your opinions were ??:confused:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-BMW-318i-iC-318is-ic-ti-E30-E36-Z3-1-9-Water-Pump_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33604QQihZ001QQite mZ110031875158QQrdZ1

[bmwman91]

That looks like a plastic-rotor unit. I would stay away from it...the plastic has been known to shatter, scattering debris throughout the cooling system.

A new one from Pelican/BMA/Autohaus is like $55 I think.

[asubimmer]

I bought a new oem one (has a new plastic impellor that won't break etc, like the old ones). BMW improved the new ones over the old style that will eventually self destruct. I bought one off ebay w/ the metal impellor (idk why I would have done that lol) and when I tried to install it the casing of the waterpump broke in half. No lie, it just fell apart. I shouldn't have bought one off ebay but it was cheap and I wasn't thinking at the moment. Also aftermarket ones aren't exactly right, they may be a little off here and there and will start to leak or fail later down the road.

IMO OEM is the only way w/ components like that. My OEM one lasted about 15yrs and the new style one should last even longer. Not to mention the only reason mine went out was b/c the tstat got stuck closed and overheated the pmastic impellor. Do it right the first time ;)

[m42 fan]

+1 on going with the OEM W/P. Ours don't fail like the M20/E-34/36/39/46/etc ones. $55 from BMA.

[melloh]

Ok... so here's a question - what IS oem?

Graf?
Wahler?
Geba?
Laso?
Lemfordher?
Hepu? (never heard of this one)

These are all trusted names for BMW parts (at least when I was buying parts forthe e21). If to choose, which one? Thanks much.

Henry

[D. Clay]

Hard to say. I have a plastic envelope an OEM BMW (from dealer) part came in that also said made in South Africa. Manufacturers sub out and "source" a lot of stuff, for example Girling, ATE, and Brembo brakes on BMW's. My 318is has an OEM Nippodenso A/C compressor. Then there's Bosch, Behr, Lemforder and who knows how many more. Lemforder was just bought by someone else. I do know that Autozone's house brands are the all time worst ever except for those incredibly cheap made in China rotors. Go figure.
I heard on R3V a long time ago to ask for Patrick at BMAParts.com. He knows aftermarket, what's good and what's not, and can also get BMW OEM parts at a discount. FAP99.com for low prices.

[bmwpower]

Replacing mine now. Old one..not sure what brand it is, but it has a smooth metal impeller. The new one is a Graf with a rough metal impeller. Anyone have problems with Graf pumps? Box says it's made in Italy.

[Jak318]

That looks like a plastic-rotor unit. I would stay away from it...the plastic has been known to shatter, scattering debris throughout the cooling system.

A new one from Pelican/BMA/Autohaus is like $55 I think.

I just put one in from BMA and had the same issue of the housing breaking. Fortunately, It didnt break completely off just pulled away so I was still able to torque it down and close the gap. No leaks yet and that was over 1000 miles ago.

It seems when you install the pump make sure to tighten the larger bolt first then the smaller ones. Thats how I eventually got it in without further damage to it.

[strad]

I put in a Graf two weeks ago. Didn't know about the housing possibly breaking, or I might have done it slightly differently. I didn't bust it though.