[Barefoot-335is]

Well, it looks like I am going to be replacing the Waterpump once again on this thing. This will be the 3rd one in 79k miles, FML!!!
Has anyone attempted to install an aftermarket waterpump on these cars?
I sure wish BMW would have stayed with a Mechanical Pump, this thing seems to be eating them. Original Lasted 4,5 years/52k miles, second 2years/27k miles.
I can’t believe someone in the aftermarket hasn’t come up with an upgrade!

[type-dRew]

Buy from FCP so any future ones won't cost you anything aside from labor

Make sure you do the thermostat also

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...mp-11517563659

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

Well, it looks like I am going to be replacing the Waterpump once again on this thing. This will be the 3rd one in 79k miles, FML!!!
Has anyone attempted to install an aftermarket waterpump on these cars?
I sure wish BMW would have stayed with a Mechanical Pump, this thing seems to be eating them. Original Lasted 4,5 years/52k miles, second 2years/27k miles.
I can’t believe someone in the aftermarket hasn’t come up with an upgrade!

What brand are you using? A water pump should last around 75 to 100,000 miles on an n54/55.

[TemjinX2]

i agree just get the oem from FCP euro and get the life time warranty. There's no gurantee a aftermarket water pump will last any longer then your previous one. I would stick with OEM.

Also bmw switched back to a mechanical water pump on the b58 motor.

[Barefoot-335is]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

What brand are you using? A water pump should last around 75 to 100,000 miles on an n54/55.

I don’t know about that, I have had 2 N54 Cars both have had 3 Waterpumps by 80k miles, on my 08 sedan the second one lasted 1 year.

All have been OEM units

[Barefoot-335is]

My question was Has anyone tried to patch in a complete AfterMarket kit, like mounting it somewhere on the fenderwell and re-piping it.
Being in FLorida, I’m not too worried about keeping the thermostat. Just seems like a better solution at this point. Having one that constantly runs would be ok too.
Does anyone know what the Flow Rates are for the factory pump? How many gallons/minute, pounds of pressure etc

[RSL]

9000 lph. That failure rate is ridiculous.

[mweisdorfer]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

My question was Has anyone tried to patch in a complete AfterMarket kit, like mounting it somewhere on the fenderwell and re-piping it.
Being in FLorida, I'm not too worried about keeping the thermostat. Just seems like a better solution at this point. Having one that constantly runs would be ok too.
Does anyone know what the Flow Rates are for the factory pump? How many gallons/minute, pounds of pressure etc

If someone would have made an after market solution that lasted 125,000 miles or so about 7 years ago, they would be a millionaire today !

[type-dRew]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

My question was Has anyone tried to patch in a complete AfterMarket kit, like mounting it somewhere on the fenderwell and re-piping it.
Being in FLorida, I’m not too worried about keeping the thermostat. Just seems like a better solution at this point. Having one that constantly runs would be ok too.
Does anyone know what the Flow Rates are for the factory pump? How many gallons/minute, pounds of pressure etc

Keep the thermostat and use mhd to lower your cooling targets. You don't want this car operating under temperature, it won't perform correctly.

Upgrade your radiator to mishimoto/csf if you feel a need

[Barefoot-335is]

Originally Posted by RSL

9000 lph. That failure rate is ridiculous.

OK, that converts to about 40 gallon/min, Thanks!

Tell me about it on the failure rate!!!
My thinking is that it might be the heat down here that is taking a toll on the electric parts, plastic and the unit itself.
Wonder if not running the underbody pan would help with that? Been running without it the last couple of days trying to find the leak and the car does seem to run cooler without.

I just think that this water pump issue is absurd and it should offered with extended warranties like turbos etc.

[Barefoot-335is]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

If someone would have made an after market solution that lasted 125,000 miles or so about 7 years ago, they would be a millionaire today !

Agreed!!!!

[type-dRew]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

OK, that converts to about 40 gallon/min, Thanks!

Tell me about it on the failure rate!!!
My thinking is that it might be the heat down here that is taking a toll on the electric parts, plastic and the unit itself.
Wonder if not running the underbody pan would help with that? Been running without it the last couple of days trying to find the leak and the car does seem to run cooler without.

I just think that this water pump issue is absurd and it should offered with extended warranties like turbos etc.

Could always keep the belly pan and add a naca duct or similar near the water pump to direct some air flow at speed.

And I get what you're saying, but again, the most economical realistic thing you can do is order from FCP euro.

[Barefoot-335is]

Originally Posted by type-dRew

Could always keep the belly pan and add a naca duct or similar near the water pump to direct some air flow at speed.

And I get what you're saying, but again, the most economical realistic thing you can do is order from FCP euro.

By using FCP Euro, You don’t have to buy the pump again but you have to keep installing them. What a PITA! If you read the reviews on FCP Euro, one customer has had to install 3 of their pumps in a year...Not Fun, Not really Economical.

I found this
http://https://www.jegs.com/i/Davies...2/-1#reviewTab

The pump itself is like $160, the controller brings it up to $396

The link doesn’t want to work but the product is a Davies Craig DC-8970 Contoller and Pump

[RSL]

Originally Posted by Barefoot-335is

OK, that converts to about 40 gallon/min, Thanks!

Tell me about it on the failure rate!!!
My thinking is that it might be the heat down here that is taking a toll on the electric parts, plastic and the unit itself.
Wonder if not running the underbody pan would help with that? Been running without it the last couple of days trying to find the leak and the car does seem to run cooler without.

I just think that this water pump issue is absurd and it should offered with extended warranties like turbos etc.

It would depend what the failure point is as to what the cause may be, but anything could certainly be heat related. More so with impacts taken into account. A lot/all replacements pumps don't seem to have the rubber bushings to isolate the pumps at mounting points anymore. They get constant vibration from the motor and chassis impacts. Heat cycle some low grade plastic and something is bound to give sooner or later. If you drive on crappy roads, have little suspension travel on the car, worn shocks/motor mounts, etc. something is bound to crack faster.

My car was in TX its whole life and ran high+KFT mode daily for months straight each year. Pump runs full speed nearly the entire time it's on for that, but keeps the internal electronics and plastics much cooler than any other mode. Combine that with original pump that still has rubber isolators and probably a metal casing still for the electronics and it's still kicking at 90k. I've been waiting for it to go anytime for the last 30k miles and am curious to see just how far it goes at this point. That's why I haven't preemptively replaced it. Well, that and replacements seem an obvious step down in durability.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by mweisdorfer

What brand are you using? A water pump should last around 75 to 100,000 miles on an n54/55.

Only one brand is available: VDO-Siemens-Continental. Mileage hasn't nothing to do with how long the pump would last. I had 3 fail within 100k

[MysticRob]

Originally Posted by feuer

... Mileage hasn't (sic) nothing to do with how long the pump would last. I had 3 fail within 100k...

This should be in school textbooks and asked on tests. No matter what, it's typically a crapshoot.
My Dad tells the story of a Saturn dealership customer who bought a new Vue off the lot, turned onto the street to take it home, and promptly broke down a couple hundred feet later. The crappy CVT tranny in that thing had busted the internal chain link 'belt' and they found a hundred pieces in the pan. Other customers made it quite a few more miles than that with the same setup.

[bluemonstr]

Originally Posted by RSL

My car was in TX its whole life and ran high+KFT mode daily for months straight each year. Pump runs full speed nearly the entire time it's on for that, but keeps the internal electronics and plastics much cooler than any other mode. Combine that with original pump that still has rubber isolators and probably a metal casing still for the electronics and it's still kicking at 90k. I've been waiting for it to go anytime for the last 30k miles and am curious to see just how far it goes at this point. That's why I haven't preemptively replaced it. Well, that and replacements seem an obvious step down in durability.

I've been wondering about this type of correlation. I too run my pump higher than 'normal'. I keep my water temps between 185-200 most of the time. I strongly believe that part of the problem for these pumps is how high 'normal' the tune lets the temps get (230 in certain conditions). I think that is just too hot. I replaced my 2nd pump at around 100k miles (and didn't worry about what brand/name was on it- figured why should I). I'm up to 140k (and have lowered the temps since around 110k) miles now and am curious how long will this go...or will I just replace, only time will tell. I don't like the idea of a ticking time bomb.

[OTO335i]

Wow that failure rate is ridiculous! Has anyone ever tried to put in a N52 pump in place and changing the connector on the harness? They're both 4 pin so it may work? It's figuring out the pin out I would imagine? I may be way off!!

[diolev]

still on my original water pump on my 98 m3 240k miles

hopefully the second on on this car lasts awhile

[type-dRew]

Originally Posted by diolev

still on my original water pump on my 98 m3 240k miles

ok

[Barefoot-335is]

LOL, Yeah, I had an 86 M535i E28 that had almost 400k miles on it and still ran great no issues at all but not really relevant, the e28 was on it’s second water pump

[turbohugh]

comparing a NA cooling system to a stressed N54/N55 cooling system is apples vs oranges