"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
03/14/2018 at 21:34 • Filed to: None
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15|
"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
03/14/2018 at 21:34 • Filed to: None | 0
| 15 |
My wife’s 2007 X3 is just over 206,000 miles right now. I was chatting with a friend who works at a BMW specialty shop, and he said, “oh yeah, man that electric water pump is a real treat. How many times have you done yours?”
To which I replied, “Uhhh... once.” He looked at me like I just told him I sold my first born for a breakfast sandwich, and said they recommend doing them around every 60k; he’s talked to guys that work in dealerships who do them every 50k on their own vehicles, just because they can. A water pump failure on these can be rather sudden and dramatic, leaving you stranded at best, and with an overheated engine at worst.
My wife is clever enough that when the first one failed at 112k, she pulled over immediately and had the thing flatbedded to a nearby trusted shop - actually the same place where we bought it, about a year prior. The engine never got hot; bullet dodged.
You math majors have figured out that if we replaced it at 112k, we’re now WAY over the supposed recommended interval. Whether or not we’re going to replace the pump again isn’t up for discussion.
The question is, what else should we do at the same time? We did a thermostat before, but is that really necessary again? I mean, I guess the one in there now is the same age as the one that was there in 2013, at 112k mileage. I think the part is around $100. The whole job will be many hundreds in total.
Why don’t you just go look on the forums? I hear you asking. Well, because the forum guys will always tell you just to do the full a-z on everything, and to do it yourself to save on labor. Here’s a video how-to. That’s great, but I have no garage, no time, and a foot of freaking snow outside my house. I’m paying a shop that I know and trust, but they don’t work on a jillion of these so they’re asking if I want to do anything else.
What say you?
Party-vi
> functionoverfashion
03/14/2018 at 21:50 |
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You’ve got balls made out of cobalt if you’re fuckin around with the cooling system on a BMW.
LongbowMkII
> functionoverfashion
03/14/2018 at 21:50 |
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How is it in other regards?
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functionoverfashion
> Party-vi
03/14/2018 at 21:58 |
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On my E46? Piece of cake. Except that expansion tank, what a bitch. I’m not eager to tackle this one, although if I had the space, you bet I’d be tempted.
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Party-vi
> functionoverfashion
03/14/2018 at 22:00 |
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See my expansion tank was a breeze. The toasted auto trans thermostat however was a shitty surprise.
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functionoverfashion
> LongbowMkII
03/14/2018 at 22:00 |
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It’s.... fine. No really, it does drive very well. It’s a 6 speed manual. The brakes I did last year - pads / rotors. We recently did front control arms. It’s a highway commuter car, hence the mileage. Basically, we’re not selling it soon, but at the same time, it’s another $100 that we may not need to spend at this point.
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functionoverfashion
> Party-vi
03/14/2018 at 22:13 |
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See my expansion tank was a breeze. The toasted auto trans thermostat however was a shitty surprise.
Well, there’s your problem, son.
But seriously, though, on my old E46 I could NOT get that thing to come out. This was when I was working at a marina, so I had several “helpers” watching me struggle while drinking beer. Finally they tried, too, and got more and different tools, still couldn’t get it out. I remember we finally lifted up the car and lowered it slowly onto something that pushed the old tank out of its place.
Fortunately, the previous owner of my current car did it just before I bought it.
His Stigness
> functionoverfashion
03/14/2018 at 22:50 |
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Honestly, as a BMW (and VAG), I wouldn’t recommend replacing it. Of course shops would recommend it every 60k miles; once you’ve done a few you can get it done really quickly and make a lot of money. It’s more of a bitch on an X3 because you have to remove the radiator, but that only takes a few minutes.
But if you’re set on doing it then replace the thermostat at the same time. It should be the same labor, or very little extra, as opposed to paying for the whole job all over again.
I really can’t wrap my head around recommending replacing the water pump on a schedule. I am pretty anal and take exceptional care of my cars. I’m talking about 2500 miles between oil changes on my Mercedes. Using the best oil possible. BG engine flushes followed by fresh oil flushes. But changing something like a water pump before it fails? Nope. That’s just dumb.
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His Stigness
> Party-vi
03/14/2018 at 22:50 |
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Don’t feel too bad, it almost ALWAYS breaks when the expansion tank is replaced.
JGrabowMSt
> functionoverfashion
03/14/2018 at 22:55 |
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Thermostat isnt really a wear item. It works or it doesnt, kind of like the electric water pump. Rubber coolant hoses are a wear item though. My wagon is much simpler than this, but similar mileage. In terms of what needs replacing, just rubber hoses, fluids, and youre good. If you wanted to change the thermostat, possibly go to a lower temp, HOWEVER, you have to be careful with how low you go. Too low is just as bad as too high. I went from a 210F thermostat to a 180F one, but ran an oil cooler to offset the low temps so it actually warms up. We also have cold winters, so running too low never lets anything reach temp correctly.
Depending on the age, changing the radiator itself wouldnt hurt. The plastic gets brittle over time, and im pretty nervous about the 27 year old radiator in my NA. Corrosion isnt usually that bad in just 10 years, but the plastic may not hold up as well.
Thats what I think at least..
AM3R, lost another burner
> functionoverfashion
03/15/2018 at 00:47 |
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The system is pretty foolproof. If it fails, the car tells you, and goes into limp mode. Just wait for it to fail unless your wife being stuck is absolutely a no go. On my 328i I just crossed 100k on the original water pump, and I’m just gonna wait til it fails before I get it towed and replaced. I know not to drive after it fails, so I’m not really worried. Your shop is exagerraring it, if I told the techs at my local dealer that I want to change my water pump every 50k they’d laugh at me and gladly take my money.
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> functionoverfashion
03/15/2018 at 01:03 |
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If it ain’t broke, don’t even LOOK at it.
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functionoverfashion
> His Stigness
03/15/2018 at 06:49 |
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Well, I generally agree with you, however: the previous pump quit at 112k and left my wife stranded on the highway. She drives about 50 miles each way on the highway to work every day, and I’m not eager to have something like that happen again. When she’s not driving it, I am, with a 3 and 5 year old in it.
Thanks for the thoughts though. I’m glad to hear an opposing opinion, and I will take it into consideration regarding the timing of this. This is why I asked here and not a BMW forum!
Cheers
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functionoverfashion
> AM3R, lost another burner
03/15/2018 at 06:52 |
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I agree that 50k is waaay overkill. Maybe the older E46 plastic impeller pumps, but not these. However, my wife’s 50-mile-each-way highway commute is the big reason... getting stranded on the highway is pretty low on her list.
Giulia Sprint
> functionoverfashion
03/15/2018 at 09:11 |
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I changed the water pump, thermostat and the u pipe that connects them on my 08 X3 about a year ago. It is totally not necessary to remove the radiator. Tool me a few hours and wasn’t difficult at all. It was just enough of a job that I would recommend doing all three things at once. No reason not to for reliability’s sake. I highly recommend you checking out this forum:
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=65
The water pump does exhibit failure symptoms before it goes out. If you know what to watch out for you should be able to keep an eye on it. Most importantly pick up a code scanner such as a creator c130.
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functionoverfashion
> Giulia Sprint
03/15/2018 at 10:10 |
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Thanks for the advice. I’ve been on that forum, actually - just not as much lately. I was on there all the time when I first got my E46, but at the time, the X3 hadn’t really been around long enough for the forum to be as active as the E46 side. That was 9 years ago, though - wow. So... I’ll do some more poking around over there.
I’ve considered letting her drive the E46 and/or the Volvo for a while, and I’ll drive her car locally only in the meantime.
Also, great tip on the code scanner. I have a basic one, but that one clearly does quite a bit more. I’ve shied away from paying more than $20 for the basic kind, but that’s pretty reasonable ($64 on amazon). The Volvo world wants me to get a Vida/Vadis setup going on an old laptop for that car... there are only so many hours in the day, you know?