Water Pump Help

[zielritter]

Hi, All -
Using the holiday break to do a little preventative maintenance on my '99 2.3. I ordered a new water pump with metal impellers with the expectation of replacing what I thought would be the stock water pump with the prone-to-failure plastic impellers. However, to my surprise when I got the stock pump out it appears to have some sort of metal impellers already! Can someone help me out here? As the picture shows the impeller part is stamped BMW 173135 and clearly looks to be aluminum (albeit a thinner variety than the aftermarket OEM equiv I purchased). Is this one good to go and I can return the other one I bought?

 

[t-tony]

Hi, All -
Using the holiday break to do a little preventative maintenance on my '99 2.3. I ordered a new water pump with metal impellers with the expectation of replacing what I thought would be the stock water pump with the prone-to-failure plastic impellers. However, to my surprise when I got the stock pump out it appears to have some sort of metal impellers already! Can someone help me out here? As the picture shows the impeller part is stamped BMW 173135 and clearly looks to be aluminum (albeit a thinner variety than the aftermarket OEM equiv I purchased). Is this one good to go and I can return the other one I bought?

View attachment 93028 View attachment 93029

Hi, what miles has the original one covered? If it's much, having gone to the trouble of stripping out the old one personally I would fit the new one regardless.

Tony.

 

[zielritter]

Hi, what miles has the original one covered? If it's much, having gone to the trouble of stripping out the old one personally I would fit the new one regardless.

Tony.

It has just under 71,000 miles. It was a pretty easy job getting it out. I had a pair of m6 screws that I used per Pelican Parts that made it incredibly simple to pull the stock unit out. I just didn't realize there was a stock unit with aluminum impellers.

 

[Sean d]

Hi, All -
Using the holiday break to do a little preventative maintenance on my '99 2.3. I ordered a new water pump with metal impellers with the expectation of replacing what I thought would be the stock water pump with the prone-to-failure plastic impellers. However, to my surprise when I got the stock pump out it appears to have some sort of metal impellers already! Can someone help me out here? As the picture shows the impeller part is stamped BMW 173135 and clearly looks to be aluminum (albeit a thinner variety than the aftermarket OEM equiv I purchased). Is this one good to go and I can return the other one I bought?

View attachment 93028 View attachment 93029

If it was me I would replace it

 

[Jack Ratt]

Me too

 

[Dino D]

Metal ones are not failure proof either as I’ve had one fail..
It’s a service item that needs changing eventually.

 

[Mazza]

I am currently replacing mine, and the one I have taken out looks ok, but there is some play in the bearing.
Also the new one has a cast metal impeller.

 

[mrscalex]

It's a service item at the end of the day and I would replace it.

 

[zielritter]

Thanks everyone. Your sentiments seem to be the consensus everywhere I asked. Apparently this is a Graf unit made of sheet metal and is still prone to coming apart.

 

[mrscalex]

Thanks everyone. Your sentiments seem to be the consensus everywhere I asked. Apparently this is a Graf unit made of sheet metal and is still prone to coming apart.

The bearings can wear out or even seize too. Hence the advise.

 

[t-tony]

Thanks everyone. Your sentiments seem to be the consensus everywhere I asked. Apparently this is a Graf unit made of sheet metal and is still prone to coming apart.

Hell, you're done the hard work, reap the benefits and fit the new one Happy Thanks Giving.

Tony.