Water pump seized, and...

[plexus]

So apparently my water pump seized. this caused the belt to go crazy around the pullies eventually shredding and snapping. this then took out the fan and fan clutch (how, i don't know). this cut up the upper and lower rad hoses.

i get the water pump seizing and the belt and damage to the fan and hoses. they (the mechanic) has the broken fan and shards so i can't dispute that happening. i dont get how the fan clutch broke though but i do know the fan wasnt easy to turn (if at all).

thing is... they quoted $1600 for the job (canadian but right now canadian = USD). they are an indie shop and they have been great to do business with so i trust them as much as i can trust a good shop. they quoted $400 for the fan clutch so they are obviously using an expensive parts source.

but what can i do? i can't say, don't do the job because then what? i limp the car home, order the parts online, and try and do this job in -10C weather outside in toronto?

sigh. i lament for me 84 528e... a seized water pump would not have cause this much expensive damage. i guess thats the difference between an 84 528e "iron" and a 2000 540i.

[Craig in Canada]

Will they let you provide parts? You could have a lot of that next-day from autopartsway.ca (free shipping over $75) in my experience.

With a non-functional water pump and cut up hoses you won't be limping anywhere. The fan clutch and fan don't matter at all in weather anything like we're having - so you could leave both of those out completely if you want.

What do you need to get on the road? Pump, belt and two hoses?

[plexus]

yeah, pump belts and two hoses. i suppose i could ask them to only do part of the job and do the rest myself (fan and clutch) but... oy... part of me just wants to get this done and over with. its pretty deflating. i HATE that i dont have a place to do my own work. there used to be a DIY garage in town where you can rent a bay. what to do...?

[plexus]

Thanks for the heads up about autopartsway.ca that is a great resource!

I added up all the parts from that site, including next day shipping and it comes to $550. The shop is quoting $1100. i just spoke to them. they are saying they are ok with me supplying the parts but advise against it. they said they did the same job on a 2000 750 and they used aftermarket parts. the whole thing failed again and because the shop supplied they parts they covered the tow and repair under warranty. they re-did the job with dealer OEM parts and the owner didn't have the problem again.

so they are advising me to go with OEM parts to avoid this problem. if i supply my own parts they wont warranty the work.

if i have them only put in a pump, hoses and belts to get the car on the road, that would cut about $600 off the parts costs (they said about $200 for the fan and $400 for the clutch).

then i have to source these myself and install them. how much of a PITA is this? i know that fan clutch work can be a real drag. also, what do you think about this idea of using OEM parts only for this kind of job?

[plexus]

Should i have them replace all the pullies and tensioners too?

(is there a way to edit posts on this forum)plexus
http://www.oldbmw.com
00 540i M sport/6sp (Dieter)
71 3.0CS euro (Anelise)
84 528e (Florian - decommissioned)

[PeterBivo]

advice you not to get parts on your own". They want to soak you & charge list price. They think people are stupid & will just buy whatever is the least expensive. I'd never let an Indy touch my 528 or X5. My dealer up here suggests authausaz.com for the parts. They are more than happy to provide labor if you're smart enough to get OEM parts thru an online wholesaler.

[JKRIT]

Agree with PB TVC: If the mechanic lets you bring the parts, then get the same parts, i.e. OEM parts from the lower cost internet sources. Good places like autohaus or rmeuropean clearly identify which parts are OEM and which are not.
'03 525i Sapphire Blu/Grey, SP, Nav
'02 325it Orient Blu./Grey, SP, Nav
'98 323is Arctic Sil./Blk, SP
'95 M3 Cosmos Blk./Blk

[JimLev]

"Drive It Like You Stole It, A Sickness for Quickness"
The Bottle Rocket "King of Spray" 2 Stage Nitrous Oxide
Dare to be different and stand out among the crowd of me-to-cars!
No guts, no glory! Tire smoke, not traction control!
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[JimLev]

"Drive It Like You Stole It, A Sickness for Quickness"
The Bottle Rocket "King of Spray" 2 Stage Nitrous Oxide
Dare to be different and stand out among the crowd of me-to-cars!
No guts, no glory! Tire smoke, not traction control!
Zionsville all aluminum radiator to replace the 3 leak prone Nissens Radiators!

NOS Progressive 2 Stage Controller with port injection
Snow's Performance Methanol/Water Injection
Dinan downloads, VAC Under Drive Pulleys
Dinan Carbon Fiber CAI
Dinan Front Strut Bar
Electric Cooling Fan w/PWM controller
NGK Iridium Plugs
DDE Enhanced Angel Eyes, Smoked Lenses
Koni FSD's/H&R Springs, BAV Brass Caliper Bushings
Eisenmann Race Exhaust (from H8-Rain's car)
///M5 3.15 LSD
///M5 Sway Bars, Front & Rear
Energy Suspension Polyurethane Sway Bar Bushings
///M5 Gauge Cluster Rings ///M5 Lip Spoiler
///M5 Mirrors and Switches
Leather Z weighted shift knob (thanks H8-Rain)
Rogue “Octane” Short Shift kit w/WSR
Rogue Tranny Mounts
StopTech Brake Lines Front & Rear
Axxis Deluxe Plus pads Front & Rear
Staggered M Parallel 66, Xenons
Modified CDV, UGDO
Euro Storage Tray (thanks Zombywolf)
Redline in Diff and Tranny
Passport 8500 X50, Escort ZR3 Laser Jammer
G-Tech/Competition Pro Data Logger
Auto Enginuity OBD-II Scan Tool
25% Tint, X-Pel, LoJack
PIAA Driving Lights
BMW CCA Member Boston Chapter

[lezonebay]

don't blame it on the car. A factory parts will cost the same for no matter what you are putting it on. The parts from indy parts warehouses will cost you 450-550usd and labor should be same.

I would let them change a pump and 2 hoses (would supply my own parts)
and change the fan and clutch in their parking lot by myself.

ask them not to put the fan shroud on and then put the fan/clutch on (which should be around 150usd) and then go back and tell them now they can put the shroud back on.


you might not have a way back there anymore...


1997 BMW 840CiA
1990 BMW Z1
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2002 Astro Van AWD
2003 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Package
1987 BMW 535i with 5spd manual (for sale)
1992 BMW 735iL (needs head and interior)
1977 BMW 320i (project racecar)
2007 Mazda CX9 AWD (Wife mobile)
1998 Yamaha Blaster+Breeze

1995 850CSI CD00177 (SOLD)

[Craig in Canada]

First: You aren't using AFTERMARKET PARTS. You're using OE parts. Make sure you select from the OE (or other high quality) brand of your choice - I'm NOT advising you to go cheap aftermarket. If they don't have a brand of your liking, look at other places like bimmerspecialist.ca. Those guys take a lot longer for parts to arrive, though, since they ship from the US but cover all of the customs/taxes.

Behr for fan clutch. Conti (I think) for hoses. INA for any tensioners or rollers you need. Behr t-stat. OE/BMW t-stat housing. Conti for belts. For pumps there's been a lot of discussion but I've had good luck with my GRAF. Others have had good luck with GEBA. Feel free to poll for wpump brand results if you're unsure.

Second: Autopartsway ships from Toronto warehouses whenever I've ordered. WITHOUT paying for next day shipping I've received a lot of stuff next day. I know that you might not be in a position to gamble, though, and you're saving a bundle even if you pay for next day shipping.

[plexus]

I had little choice this time. I had to rush to work and it was a busy day at work. I don't want to tell the shop to hold the car until I decide what to do, tray and source parts, all that crap. In the future i will try and be a little more on the ball about it and look at that Canadian parts place. my mech was ok with me supplying my own parts with the caveate that they wont warrant the work. fine. I've accepted those conditions in the past. he scared me with the stories about this happening with aftermarket parts. i was also confused because i understood pets labeled as OE were as good as Dealer parts. so i questioned that based on what he said. i simply did not have time today to check this message board for advice and told them to just do the job.

i will say however that on my E28 if the pump seized, which has happened to me, it wouldn't result in $1750 worth of damage. it seems the E39 had some poor and costly design in the front cooling area of the engine. With this failure and the possible clutch job i hVe to et done, i may not be able to afford this car. we shall see. that and its a crazy gas guzzler!

thanks for your help.
plexus
http://www.oldbmw.com
00 540i M sport/6sp (Dieter)
71 3.0CS euro (Anelise)
84 528e (Florian - decommissioned)

[JimLev]

It supports the expansion tank. The fan and clutch can easily be installed as a unit (it spins back on the WP shaft, no tools required) with the shroud on, there is plenty of room to do it after you remove the MAF and tube going to the throttle body, a 2 min job to remove.

[Whorse]

No need to even remove the MAF. Ive gotten the fan off and on no prob. Just got to angle it out the right way

Andreas
Queens NY
BMWCCA# 186796
86 325es (wrecked by careless driver)
87 325 (project for life)
00 540is 6spd (daily driver)

[Tan]

I've seen on Pellican Parts the Graft water pump with metal impeller, is this considered an upgrade to the OEM plastic one?

[Panos]

it just shredded the belt. No damage otherwise. I guess I was lucky!