Water pump - replace before it fails???

[johny1]

Everyone says that E39 water pumps fail as early as 60K, the question then is, why don’t we just replace them every 60K without waiting for failure. We all know that the Japanese built the most reliable cars/parts and having said that Lexus GS400 recommends that you change your water pump at 90K. We all know the BMW water pump can not be as reliable as the Lexus so my question is: I am purchasing a 1999 BMW 540i 6sp with 98000 miles and the water pump has never been replaced – should I change it without waiting for failure? Also when they fail, do they simply start leaking a little and you have time to go to shop or they just blow up and you are stuck on the side of the road?


Let me know what your thoughts are, thanks.

 

[dboy11]

Everyone says that E39 water pumps fail as early as 60K, the question then is, why don’t we just replace them every 60K without waiting for failure. We all know that the Japanese built the most reliable cars/parts and having said that Lexus GS400 recommends that you change your water pump at 90K. We all know the BMW water pump can not be as reliable as the Lexus so my question is: I am purchasing a 1999 BMW 540i 6sp with 98000 miles and the water pump has never been replaced – should I change it without waiting for failure? Also when they fail, do they simply start leaking a little and you have time to go to shop or they just blow up and you are stuck on the side of the road?


Let me know what your thoughts are, thanks.

My car has 106K on it and has a second pump in place....from what I have seen is they start with a slow leak that leaks only when its cold as the metal expands and then once cooled the metal shrinks causing small leak....Kind of hard to find even under pressure...My car had a leak but it was the heater regulator and that is being taking care of.

As for what you are saying I agree I would look at proactive maintenance rather than see my car on the back of a tow truck

 

[epj3]

Everyone says that E39 water pumps fail as early as 60K, the question then is, why don’t we just replace them every 60K without waiting for failure. We all know that the Japanese built the most reliable cars/parts and having said that Lexus GS400 recommends that you change your water pump at 90K. We all know the BMW water pump can not be as reliable as the Lexus so my question is: I am purchasing a 1999 BMW 540i 6sp with 98000 miles and the water pump has never been replaced – should I change it without waiting for failure? Also when they fail, do they simply start leaking a little and you have time to go to shop or they just blow up and you are stuck on the side of the road?


Let me know what your thoughts are, thanks.

Odd because the water pump on my 182k mile e30 was the 2nd the car has ever seen, and when I replaced the water pump on my current car at 128,000 miles, it was the original. But they leak and make noise - I've never heard a waterpump on a BMW squeal, they usually start to act weird and if you grab the mechanical fan (while the car is off) and wobble it around, it shouldnt move at all other than the fins flexing. If it moves your waterpump is going bad. Trust me when it goes bad it REALLY goes bad... (sorry about the dirty engine, this was last winter right after I bought the car.)

 

[Kirby]

I replaced the water pump in my E36 without it failing. It cost under $100 to replace it. If it fails catastrophically on the road, it will cost you that plus maybe:

- unexpected/inconvenient $$
- towing
- head rebuild
- engine rebuild
- new engine

Catastrophic failures are known on the E36 water pump, don't know how common that is on the 5er. But why risk it?

 

[johny1]

I thought the E39 water pump has plastic impeller and it simply breaks without leaking, anyone know something about this? I also know that not all pumps have plastic impellers but how can you tell which one you have?

 

[johny1]

I just learned something else - the E39 has an auxiliary water pump, should I change that one too and how often doeas it fail

 

[Kirby]

On the E36, you could *not* tell whether you had a metal or plastic impeller until you pulled it. I assume the same for the E39. It might even be the exact same pump used on both.

Not familiar with the E39, so I can't help with the auxillary question.

 

[Montana]

Everyone says that E39 water pumps fail as early as 60K, the question then is, why don’t we just replace them every 60K without waiting for failure. We all know that the Japanese built the most reliable cars/parts and having said that Lexus GS400 recommends that you change your water pump at 90K. We all know the BMW water pump can not be as reliable as the Lexus so my question is: I am purchasing a 1999 BMW 540i 6sp with 98000 miles and the water pump has never been replaced – should I change it without waiting for failure? Also when they fail, do they simply start leaking a little and you have time to go to shop or they just blow up and you are stuck on the side of the road?


Let me know what your thoughts are, thanks.

If money is not tight, it's prob worth replacing. If you don't, DO watch for the cooling fan to wobble in and out. THis is a sign the internal bearing is going bad. If that happens then you might have catastrophic failure, seize up, fan belts fly apart, shred radiator and any other parts in the way of disintegrating fan and belts.

Keep a close eye on the center shaft where the fan attaches ot the pump while engine running. If it starts to go in and out and make a clunking noise, watch out.

 

[arditarighi]

As far as I know, e39 WaterPump Blades are not Plastic!

I thought the E39 water pump has plastic impeller and it simply breaks without leaking, anyone know something about this? I also know that not all pumps have plastic impellers but how can you tell which one you have?

I replaced mine at 125K (99e39) and both the original and the replacement had metal blades - I used to own a 92 325is many years ago which had plastic blades.

/A

 

[///M SPEED]

I recently took my M in for the Inspection and other minor issues. When I picked the car up they stated my water pump was showing signs of needing replacement. There was no leak, noise, or movement in the shaft just a little bit of signs around the hosing (like hard water deposits, very little too). They had to special order the part. I took it back and they replaced it under warrantee. The car has less than 42k odometer.

You’re pushing 100k on the odometer. I would not mess around with waiting on the water pump to fail. If/when it fails (usually without notice) it can/will be very very expensive to fix along with the other parts it can damage along with it.

 

[CosmosBlack]

I replaced mine at about 97k miles when there was a "grinding" sound, almost like a train's rhythm. The bearing was worn, good thing I caught that before it got me stranded on the road!

 

[epj3]

I replaced mine at about 97k miles when there was a "grinding" sound, almost like a train's rhythm. The bearing was worn, good thing I caught that before it got me stranded on the road!

That's the same sound I got. I think the bearings go out before anything else with the non-plastic pumps.

 

[johny1]

Anyone driving E39 that has not replaced the water pump by or around 100K???

 

[Abdoman]

If I remember right, my E39 had the water pump replaced at around 90k. I had to replace the water pump on my E36 at around 45k, so who knows. I have never had a catastrophic failure on any of my BMWs only a small leak the indicated it needed to be replaced.

 

[Dr. Beeper]

Must be the UNKARMA

I read this on friday and said "I must be doing alright then"

My 01 has about 77,000 on it and then WHAM it goes out this weekend and is getting fixed as we speak.

So I almost made it to 100,000 but guess not now.

I was glad to see this is common problem so that makes it little easier to take.

 

[johny1]

How did your 01 E39 go out - did the water pump started leaking slowly or blew up leaving you stranded to the side of the road.

I just checked with the dealer and it appears that my 99 540i 6sp has a metal impeller, or at least the replacement part is metal. Having said that, I won't change it befor it fails as I hope that because the metal impeller, when it fails it will start leaking slowly and not blow up!

 

[Dr. Beeper]

water pump

Pulled to store and it starting pouring out. I'm actually glad it happened the way it did instead of screaming down the hway.

So I cant tell you on the blow up thing. I cant imagine its good to have it give out while your cruising down the freeway. I'm glad (I guess) it happened the way it did.


Had towing so no big deal (on cost for me) also replaced the belt at the same time. Probably should have done that earlier but the cracks were just starting to get bad.

 

[johny1]

I talked to 3 bmw dealers and few independent shops about my 99 540i and they all said that I should not change the WP unless if fails - I am so confused but am leaning towards not replacing it. Instead I will put my money into replacing the oxygen sensors (all 4) since my car has 99000 and it is recommended by BMW.

 

[CosmosBlack]

I talked to 3 bmw dealers and few independent shops about my 99 540i and they all said that I should not change the WP unless if fails - I am so confused but am leaning towards not replacing it. Instead I will put my money into replacing the oxygen sensors (all 4) since my car has 99000 and it is recommended by BMW.

Actually, it's the O2 sensors that can wait. They do no harm to leave you stranded or something like that. All you will get is probably poor fuel consumption and some rough idling. Then it's not too late to replace them. I've known people with over 100kmiles and O2 sensors still going strong. But there are some who needs new ones at 70k.

You could also let the water pump be for now, and just keep a watchful eye on signs and symptoms. You never know, it could still give you lots of miles!

Good Luck!

 

[epj3]

Replace the water pump, it's easy. Don't take it to a dealer. If they say you don't need it lie to them and tell them you heard it making noises.